KERDI is specifically designed as a waterproofing membrane to be used in conjunction with ceramic and stone tile coverings. With the flat trowel, taper down the mortar towards the shower drain. Hassle with 5/8" first layer, especially with OSB, is that it's very easy to strip the hole with the screw. But remember, the code is a minimum standard and not a measure of fine home building. Quikrete makes two products that work well when building DIY shower pans. Clean the Subfloor. Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. After you have put down a double layer of plywood to provide the base for a custom walk-in shower pan, you need to cover the subfloor with a layer of tar paper, in this case referred to as a vapor barrier or a moisture barrier. above the finished threshold, whether its at the floor level or on a raised curb. With the KERDI-SHOWER-TT thin shower tray on a wood subfloor, you can build up the rest of the bathroom floor by installing either a 5/8" or 3/4" plywood/OSB panel on top of the wood subfloor along with DITRA or another Schluter-Systems uncoupling membrane. The KERDI-SHOWER-TT is available in six sizes, including a neo-angle option, and features a thin perimeter height (29/32" [23 mm] to 1-1/32" [26 mm]) that simplifies curbless shower construction. Using Tile To Create a Custom Shower Floor in Your Bathroom. Coat both sides of the seam with the primer or sealer appropriate to the material, covering about 4 inches from the edges. TileTip.com is your premier source for tile information and all the remodeling questions you have before, during, and after the installation. 2 and 3 outlets are available making it simple to connect to standard plumbing. 1. For hardwood finish flooring, which average about 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch in thickness, 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch-thick plywood is the preferred subfloor, though there are a variety of . The question of whether the code requires a similar liner over shower seats often comes up, but the IRC offers no guidance here. A dependable, waterproof shower pan, or floor, is essential to the overall operation of the shower. KERDI is a pliable, sheet-applied, bonded waterproof membrane and vapor retarder that is fitted between the tile and tile substrate (gypsum, cement board, etc.). His hobbies include horses, motorcycles, road racing and sport fishing. For curbless showers without such a dam, the floor-level threshold at the opening serves the same purpose. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 9mm . What is the difference between a shower tray and a shower pan? Upstairs shower pan on floor that bounces slightly. With the trowel, taper down the mortar to the shower drain. Remove any residual mortar by hand or with the trowel. Field-fabricated shower pans (or receptors, as the code refers to them) have been acknowledged by plumbing codes at least as far back as the 1955 Uniform Plumbing code. It is going to be 4 tall or so from the bathroom floor. >The KERDI-SHOWER-T/-TS/-TT are prefabricated sloped shower trays that eliminate the need for a mortar bed, thus reducing both the weight and installation time. This means that you will have a steeper slope on the walls closer to the drain. Otherwise, you must install sister joints before . 2. Did the Golden Gate Bridge 'flatten' under the weight of 300,000 people in 1987? *Recessing the floor of a shower must be done in a way that preserves the structural integrity and safety of the construction. Install the shower liner. 399K views 1 year ago Dry Pack mortar or Deck Mud, as it is called in California, is an important step in the construction of a tile shower pan. You should end up with material leading to the edge of your framed walls and shower curb. In the mixing tray, mix the mortar with water, using a garden hoe. This can be concrete or closed cell foam. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. The thickness of the subfloor for a shower pan depends on several factors, including the specific requirements of your local building code as well as the finished floor material you will be using. Thus, additional measures must be taken to protect wall cavities from water and vapor penetration. 2) The pre-slope under the pan liner channels any water that gets through the tile and grout into the weep holes in the drain assembly. Learn more about the essentials of waterproofing. Determine whether the floor needs to be leveled and mark the floor at the low spots. Usually installers prefer to start with a half-inch of mud around the drain and slope their way upwards from there, roughly 1/8-inch per linear foot. With the trowel, taper down the mortar to the shower drain. rev2023.4.21.43403. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Nail the top of the waterproof material to the studs to prevent it from falling. Where you have obstructions such as pipes, use one-by-six lumber or use a router to create a groove to accommodate the obstruction. Floor & Subfloor Thickness | Home Guides | SF Gate If you're planning to install a shower base or manufactured shower pan on a subfloor, it's necessary to make sure the pan will be level and stable. How to Build Shower Pans (DIY) | Family Handyman Waterproofing membrane and vapor retarder: Schluter-KERDI, 4. How to Create a Shower Floor - Part 1 - The Floor Elf Replace the top cap and screw or bolt it tightly into position. One side will be resting on a wall, the other side the joists will be hung. Mark a piece of 1-by-4 pine or fir as a leveling rod for the mortar, using the 3-foot level. Made of polyethylene, DITRA serves as a waterproofing layer that protects moisture-sensitive substrates, such as plywood/OSB. Alternatively, add small amounts of mortar to fill the low spot and repeat the process. Subfloors provide the necessary support for the shower pan and prevent any shifting, settling, or warping in the future. Press the material firmly into the silicone on the shower drain. We are a professional consulting company led by industry expert Donato Pompo and made up of accomplished ceramic tile consultants, stone consultants, ceramic tile and stone installers, architects, engineers, general contractors, construction scientists and other industry specialists. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. How to Prepare a Subfloor for a New Fiberglass Shower Pan Make sure the shower pan is aligned . DITRA performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering. I am putting in a whole new floor, joist and all, and the span is the 40". The only time you won't need a pan is if you have a fully tiled wet room space without a shower enclosure. higher than the drain, but not more than 9 in. The lower area of the shower walls should be open, with no cement boards in place yet. per ft. toward weep holes in the subdrain. Has the cause of a rocket failure ever been mis-identified, such that another launch failed due to the same problem? KERDI-DRAIN features an integrated bonding flange to which the KERDI waterproofing membrane is adhered and forms a waterproof connection at the top of the tile assembly. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. He studied architecture at Taft Junior College. I plan on replacing some studs and sistering others. How thick should the Mortar Bed for a Shower Pan Floor in a Shower? Install the Subfloor. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The tile is set in a thin bed of mortar or thinset. The grate assembly accommodates a wide range of tile thicknesses and allows lateral and tilt adjustment as well. Seal the shower liner to the shower drain. Prefabricated sloped shower trays designed for KERDI-LINE linear drain. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Different options and thicknesses of DITRA membrane are available to best suit the needs of your project. The anchoring fleece is embedded in thin-set mortar to provide a mechanical bond to the substrate. The KERDI-SHOWER-TS features an off-center drain placement and is 1-1/2" (38 mm) high. Floating Tile Floors: Basics and Availability, How to Install Floor Cement Board Underlayment for Tile, Prefabricated Stall vs. Tiled Shower: Product Comparison Guide. It will never come into contact with the pan liner. Cut two-by-six lumber to fit between the studs of the shower stall. How to Install a Shower Pan Liner: Build a Waterproof Shower from the Continuing Education for Architects & Designers. You can also use the two-by-four as a screed to smooth down the mortar. If you use the DITRA and cover the seems that should be waterproof so there really should not be moisture getting to the subfloor. The KERDI-SHOWER-LT/-LTS sloped shower trays feature integrated waterproofing and are designed to integrate with KERDI-LINE drains. or 40 mil. Based on the comments to this answer, updated answer: Since you're waterproofing the entire room, its not essential. 1) The metal lath or reinforcement can be placed over a cleavage membrane on top of the subfloor. Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the The same answer, I presume, is applicable to a dry pack pan as well? DITRA-XL is 5/16 (7 mm)-thick and allows for ceramic tile application over single layer plywood/OSB subfloors on joists spaced at 24 (610 mm) o.c. Waterproofing corners Schluter-KERDI-KERECK, 1. Let the tile fully cure. The preslope is laid on tar paper. Donato Pompo, CTC CMR CSI CDT MBA, is the leading tile and stone forensic expert and consultant in North America, and he is a National Tile Contractors Association Recognized Consultant. Measure from the liner to the top of the 2 x 4. KERDI-BAND is only 4 one-thousands of an inch (4 mil)-thick, half the thickness of KERDI thus limiting buildup, and ensuring a smooth surface for tile installation.. Waterproofing strip seals abutting joints of membranes and building panels. A secondary drain, mounted on the waterproof pan under the showers finished floor, drains this water away. The liner itself must be recessed into its backing so as not to occupy the space required for the wall covering. In other words, the face of the liner should be flush with the face of the studs so the wall covering can be installed flat to the wall. DITRA-XL is 5/16 (7 mm)-thick and allows for ceramic tile application over single layer plywood/OSB subfloors on joists spaced at 24 (610 mm) o.c. DITRA has a nominal 1/8" (3 mm)-thickness which minimizes tile assembly thickness. This provides the bonding element for the concrete and gives it something to hold onto. With lengths from 20" to 72" (50 cm to 180 cm) in 4" (10 cm) increments, KERDI-LINE can fit virtually any shower design. Send us an email: , Using a Prefabricated Shower Tray and Ramp, 1. Prepare shower pan for the first mortar layer. Cut and lay down the tar paper on the floor of the shower. The flange is fusion welded to the perimeter of the shower base's core. Concrete Shower Floor (Pros and Cons & Design Guide) Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive deals you wont find anywhere else straight to your inbox! In this photo it is (or close enough to) 4 3/4. Hold the 1-by-4 rod on edge against the surface of the subfloor and move it across the surface of the mortar in a sawing motion. IMHO, if you will be tiling the floor I would put a water proof membrane under the entire floor and not worry about using pressure treated wood for the subfloor. Because of this, hand-fabricating shower pans can increase the chance of failure, and code provisions generally address two hazards: leaks and sanitation. The combination of these four essential functions allows for the successful installation of tile over a wide range of substrates, including plywood/ OSB, concrete, gypsum, heated floors, etc. 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. The subbase must slope 1/4 in. beyond and around rough jambs at the opening and at least 2 in. Free-space on the underside of the matting provides a route for excess moisture and vapor to prevent damage to the tile layer above. Due to its thin perimeter height, the KERDI-SHOWER-TT is an ideal choice. The KERDI-SHOWER-TT prefabricated sloped shower trays eliminate the need for a mortar bed which ultimately reduces the weight and installation time. Afterwards, a shower pan liner is installed on top of the slope bed, flattened and stretched tight across the shower pan and stapled into place roughly 6 inches up the wall studs. Perforations or nails cannot penetrate the liner less than 1 in. Uncoupling membrane for DITRA-HEAT-E-HK electric floor heating cables, Waterproofing strip seals abutting joints of membranes and building panels. in reply: 1) Lawrence Taylor - The subfloor is the first layer of plywood over the joists, which I lowerd about 1 1/2 inches by removing 2-by material that was put over these joints by the last guy who remodeled this bathroom. Three sides of the shower pan are bounded by shower walls. Run a thin bead of silicone around the perimeter of the drain. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. With a screw gun, install 2-inch deck screws alongside each existing nail or screw to securely fasten the subfloor to the joists.