Schluter Kerdi Drain Leak

[chRichmond]

I am doing a leak test on a Schluter Kerdi shower drain. I have had water in for 6 hours now and the amount of weeping around the drain is concerning me. It appears that the water has leaked all the way up to the outer ring of the drain flange.


I have attached a photo showing that the water stains have spread to about 2 1/2 to 3 inches beyond the exposed edge of the Kerdi drain flange. (Note, the 3/4 inch white ring is Kerdi-Fix.)

Should this amount of seepage be a concern? If so, how can this be repaired?

[muskymike]

Hi Richmond, welcome! What kinna thinset did you use? Looks like it just weeped into the thinset. Also did you cut the Kerdi to where your pic shows?

[chRichmond]

The thinset used is unmodified Schluter DitraSet.

The Kerdi was only cut at the ring at the drain flange - roughly where the tip of the measuring tape is placed.

Based on the pattern of the seepage line, it looks like the water has reached the outer ring of holes in the Kerdi drain. Based on this, I am afraid that it has reached the mud base and would at this point be weeping into it.

[Lazarus]

On the other hand....with a leak test, there is pressure there....something you don't have during normal operation.... Probably OK.

[muskymike]

I haven't seen this before. I use Ditra set alla time and never had a problem with it. If you have some Kerdi fix, you could peel up about a 1/4" to a 1/2" and squirt some in and mush it down.

[chRichmond]

Will Kerdi Fix adhere to itself?
The long story... During the first 10 minutes of our first attempt at a flood test, we had seepage to about 1" under the Kerdi at the drain flange, so stopped the test, dried everything off, applied a "good" coat of Kerdi Fix to the exposed edge of the Kerdi at the drain flange ring, waited 24 hours for the Kerdi Fix to dry, then restarted the test. So at this point if we peel back the Kerdi about 1/4" to squirt Kerdi Fix under the Kerdi membrane , we will be "breaking" the ring of Kerdi Fix at the exposed edge. So... to make a long story longer, the Kerdi Fix we add will need to adhere to what we already have in place - or - we will need to scrape off the Kerdi fix we already have in place?


BTW - thanks for your input & advice!!!

[muskymike]

Kerdi Fix will adhere to anything.

[ceramictec]

I cut my Kerdi closer to the start of the lower ring.
And the seepage from the water "head pressure" isn't going to be there once it's tiled.
But you can smear Kerdi fix or silicone at the edge there to seal it.

[cx]

Welcome, chRichmond. Please change that permanent signature line to a first name for us to use.

I think the most likely cause of what you're seeing is an excessive amount of thinset mortar under the Kerdi at the drain's bonding flange.

My opinion; worth price charged.