Kerdi Mortar Help?

[Sardian]

I laid my 1st piece of Kerdi today. I started with the floor, which is a mud bed. I spread the mortar, laid the Kerdi, and used the flat side of my trowel and a sheetrock knife to press out the air bubbles and mortar lumps.

By time all the bubbles and lumps were gone I felt like I pressed all the mortar out from under the Kerdi. Is this something to worry about?

I can see the Kerdi pressed down into the mortar and it looks like it has made good contact. I just want to be sure I'm not taking out too much, or if it's even possible to push out too much.

I can't see any other way to get the lumps and bubbles out than to keep going over it till they are all gone.

Thanks,

Russell

[ceramictec]

Hi Russel,

as long as your thinset was at the right consistency you made good contact.
I try not to press super hard but enough that I know I have 100% coverage on the Kerdi.

what thinset did you use?

[Sardian]

I used KeraBond.

I think it could have been mixed a little wetter but it flowed out pretty well and I can see the gray color through the Kerdi and saw it darken the Kerdi as I pressed out the excess mortar and air.

I'm a newbie to say the least. Being in the plumbing business I have done old style pans but this Kerdi is a new animal to me.

My shower has made me a nervous wreck. I have so many questions but if I asked them all at once I'm sure some would get overlooked. So I'm asking them as they come up.

My next one is: In the JB Kerdi book (I bought last week) it says to not drive the drywall screws in too deep into the top layer of drywall paper. Some of mine are ever so slightly above the surface of the drywall. After laying the Kerdi on the floor, I can see how these screws may cause the Kerdi to be bumpy and not make contact to the wall.

Should I drive the screws in a little bit more to get them below the surface of the sheetrock?

[ceramictec]

I always shoot my nails in and I have to adjust my pressure on my compressor to make them flush if not a "tad" lower.

[dhagin]

I think it could have been mixed a little wetter but it flowed out pretty well and I can see the gray color through the Kerdi and saw it darken the Kerdi as I pressed out the excess mortar and air.

Sounds like you got it right from your description.

Should I drive the screws in a little bit more to get them below the surface of the sheetrock?

The screws should be just below the surface of the drywall and put a small 'dimple' in the paper, but not cut or tear the paper. If you tear the paper, stop and put another one in about 1" away.

And don't sweat havin questions, none of us knows everything, so ask away