Trout's Kerdi Basement Shower

[jefftrout]

Greetings,

Been lurking for a few weeks and decided to start a thread with perhaps a few questions as my project develops. As you can see from the pictures (which I hope turn out visible), we tore out a tub and are replacing it with a shower; new shower will be approx 60x44. My teenagers can't wait! If I could just get them to help...

I echo the folks who have commented on the wealth of info here! I have learned a ton in the last few weeks (and from both John's books). So I feel pretty good so far.

We have demoed everything to the studs. I had to replace a few because of water damage from the previous tub install (no vapor barrier). But its all good now (I think). Plumber has been here and done the magic with copper and jackhammer. Electrician will be here tomorrow to do a few little things (can light in ceiling). Been really busy lately at my real job and called in reinforcements for that stuff. Then it is time for the sheet rock. And mud floor. Which brings me to my first questions:

1) I have a hole in the concrete floor that is about 30" x 8" by 6" deep. The plumbers' threw all the scraps back in there from moving the drain. Do I remove all that and just use my 5:1 mud mix to fill it back in? Just mud on top of the scraps (seems like that would settle and not be a good thing to do)?

2) I believe that I read on here that I should pack more of a 3:1 mud mix under the Kerdi drain (and make it slightly wetter)? I am planning on an inch under the drain total. How much of that is or should be 3:1? How far out from around the drain should the 3:1 go if I do use it?

I'm sure I will think of more questions later. Thanks for reading..

><> jeff

[bbcamp]

Welcome, Jeff!

1) Remove the scraps (concrete, I assume) down to least 4 inches from the top of the slab, then tamp whatever is left with a length of 2x4 or some such. Paint the sides of the hole with a slurry of thinset (any kind but premix), then fill in with your 5:1 deck mud, packed firmly.

2) 1 inch under the Kerdi flange should be enough room, but you will have to use your fingers, sections of dowels or other tools to get the mud all the way in. Take your time and get full support under that flange. 3 or 4:1 is fine to the edge of the flange or so. In fact, unless you just want to make 2 batches of deck mud, use the same stuff for the whole floor. Don't make the mud too much wetter than usual, since additional water leads to shrinkage. Try to keep a "wet edge" on the mud as you work to the edges of the shower. This avoids the potential for the dreaded cold joints.