Basement Shower - First Kerdi

[-Christopher]

May as well start this... I always welcome advice.

Beginning a 3'x4' basement shower, mud pan w/Kerdi Drain, etc.



First question... Which beer goes best with deck mud and chipped concrete?

-Christopher

[cwilde72]

Sam Adams while you do the work then treat yourself to a Stella when the work is all done

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Make sure it's non-modified variety before you drink it.

[Chugiak]

I dunno, a 8066095615 fortified with a citric agent is a proven application.

[John Bridge]

Just don't fall into the "light beer" trap. Get a full bodied brewskie, and you'll be fine.

[muskymike]

Grab some Buds.

[-Christopher]

I may have to rotate through the brands to see what works best.. I'm starting with Sam Adams... Winterfest....

1st question.. The bathroom is in the basement and 2 concrete fllor slabs meet, splitting the bathroom down the middle,including the edge of the shower (not easy to see in the picture after the plumbing was concreted over). Should I run ditra under everything to isolate the showerpan and floor tile field from possible movement?

[cx]

Welcome, Christopher.

If you have a construction/expansion joint between two slabs you're going to need to honor it all the way through your tile surface if you really want to protect the tile installation.

Ditra is not a crack isolation membrane, but even if it were the above would still apply. Indeed, the manufacturer of Ditra requires that the membrane even be separated over such joints.

For your Kerdi shower, I think your best option is to lay down a cleavage membrane and a mud bed at least 1 1/4" thick at its thinnest point with welded metal mesh in the vertical center. That won't really meet any industry standard over such a joint, but I think it'll give you more protection than any other option.

And you'll want to be sure you use a flexible sealant at your tile floor/wall joint in there. And cross your fingers, of course.

My opinion; worth price charge.

[-Christopher]

Im goin to need more beer...

Do you have a preferred clevage membrane to recommend?

[Houston Remodeler]

Whatever is handy, cheap, and works. If we don't remember to bring a section of tar paper, we use a plastic trash bag laid nice and flat

[-Christopher]

btw.. Merry Christmas!