Linear Drain in a Mud Pan

[dman97]

I am planning on converting my tub to walk in shower. I am planning on installing a single layer mud pan on an OSB floor with kerdi membrane and a liner shower drain. The drain will be a Royal Linear Shower Drain By Serene Steam.

The detail on the product page for the drain shows the use of a shower drain base with a rubber gasket. All the videos I have seen for installation of a linear drain in a mud pan show the use of a no-hub coupling.

I have a couple of questions about installing the drain

1. What is the preferred method (drain base or no-hub)
2. If I use the no-hub do I need to seal the gap between the drain pipe and the OSB floor.
3. How much mud do I put between the drain bottom and the floor? Can it sit directly on the floor?

Thank you.

[rmckee84]

I'm afraid your drain and waterproofing won't mix from what I can see. You need a route for water that makes its way under the tile to drain. With the lip that the drain pictured has there will be no way for the water to escape. Schluter and other bonding flange drains have a way for water to drain because of they way they are made. They have a form a weep holes in the assembly.

[dman97]

Thanks for pointing this out, I did not notice that. The vendor's information says it is compatible for use with Kerdi. After Seeing your post I emailed them to ask about the weep holes and they said I would instill the Kerdi under the drain to the 2" CPE fitting and use the weep holes in that.

[makethatkerdistick]

I doubt this will be a reliable solution, Derek. If you want the Kerdi membrane, you'll have to eat up the expense for a Kerdi drain as well. I know, they're expensive but the money you save now by doing this cheaper drain will come back later to bite you.
The bond between the Kerdi flange attached to the drain and the channel body is individually factory-checked for integrity (according to the sticker on the drain body). That's part of the price you pay. This is the most critical area in your installation, and you want it to be 100% waterproof now and many years from now as well.

If it's any consolation, linear Kerdi drains are made of 316 stainless steel, a step up from the traditional 304 alloy, making it even more corrosion resistant, especially against chlorine and salts.

[jadnashua]

The diagram isn't detailed enough to tell if there are actually any weep holes or not. IF there are, they'd need to be even with the seal they show in the diagram.

What does the installation instructions set say about making the seal between the drain body and the seal itself, and how is that seal mated up with the Kerdi membrane on the rest of the shower floor? The Kerdi drain has a membrane bonded to it that you fold out and then attach to the Kerdi like any other seam when using their system. Getting a good bond to the SS body would not work with thinset...KerdiFix should do it, though.

The bottom of the drain flange must be supported so it doesn't move. Depending on the height of your actual drain adapter would determine how thick your mud bed will need to be.

[dman97]

I do not have the drain and I was not able to have find installation instructions online. All the installation input I have is email replies to my questions from the vendor selling the drain.


My initial plan was to use kerdi fix to adhere the membrane to the flange. But, if there are no weep holes this plan will obviously not work. I could probably drill holes but, that probably is not the best option either.

Is a kerdi drain the best option? what about their competitor products like tru-gard or wedi? Are there any more economical options?


Thanks for your input.

[rmckee84]

I have seen them in person, it is not compatible with schluter. Trueguard may work but they are a knockoff Kerdi and I wouldn't put my faith in them. Bite the bullet and buy the correct drain if you want to use kerdi.

[dman97]

For a 24" Kerdi drain, would these be what I would need to get or is there anything else I should get?

Kerdi Line 3/4" Frame (KLB19EB60)
Kerdi Line Channel Body (KLV60E60)

I would still like to use the mud pan with kerdi membrane.

Thanks,

[workhurts]

Think those are approximate measurements but close. Best to check drawings to make sure. Also correct if you want perforated. I like the solid but they also have one you can tile.

Think the frame comes in two different heights for thicker tile if need so double check that. Search a bit online, there's a little variance in prices here and there.

[jadnashua]

The least expensive drain cover is the one designed to be tiled. Once installed in the base, there's a small slot all around the tiled section.

[dman97]

how close can the kerdi-line drain be installed to the wall? I was planning to have the drain 2 1/4" away from the stud wall with the other drain I was looking at.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

[workhurts]

If you have a drawing or plan or napkin sketch, feel free to post.

If the drain is going on the back wall and you're doing a curb? It probably doesn't matter that much.

Kerdi drains come in 4" increments if I'm remembering correctly. Best to visit the Schluter site and get exact dimensions.

[makethatkerdistick]

Derek, are you talking about width or length in terms of wall placement?
The Kerdi linear drain can be directly placed against the wall with the long side. Depending on your design, this might be an attractive option. You do this by abutting the channel body directly against your substrate. The tile will then overlap the lip of the frame and make it look good. Installed tile thickness can go all the way to 1/2 in or even a tad more for it to look neat. I did this in my recent shower remodel, and it worked well. I didn't see a benefit in keeping it away from the wall.

Jim is right that the tileable grate is the cheapest. I personally like the solid stainless grate the best but they make a variety of designs from which you can choose.

[dman97]

This is what I was planning to do.

[jemhunter]

Glad to find this thread. I am planning to do the same with my second bath. I did the first bath with kerdi few years back and oh boy it is expensive.

I didn't like doing the mud bed at all thus looking for affordable options with those premade bases and a linear drain.

I looked at other linear drains because there are more variety but I also couldn't figured how they would work with a membrane.