Kerdi shower base used with regular drain, is this possible?

[Breezyone]

We have been working for months on our dream home, doing all the tile work, flooring, etc. I have used kerdi membrane for the first time in our shower and just realized that the plumber installed the wrong drain. I have the kerdi base installed and covered it with kerdi membrane. Our custom ordered 2 x 2 tiles came in yesterday and when I tested the height next to the drain they will be too high when the tiles are installed. Our plumber took a look at it and he and my husband are trying to figure out a solution, my husband says that I did not tell him the right drain but that is another story. I guess he assumed that the Schulter base would be the same height as a mud base, not the case. This is a large shower 48 x 58 with kerdi curb and glass block on top of that instead of a shower door. I was so upset with them, I left last night and have not been back yet. Will I have to tear out this drain and buy a Kerdi drain and redo the entire drain system. I put the Kerdi membrane on the base on Sunday so I will have to know quickly before I will need a sledge hammer get at it and the shower is on the second floor so no access through the dining room ceiling. Please help with any advice.
Wendy:

[jondon]

Wendy,

Not real clear on what you got there, can you post a pic? If you used the kerdi tray in place of a conventional mud pan you need the kerdi drain, yes. What kind of drain is there now? If it is conventional you can convert it to the Kerdi but we would need to take a look at it to figure out what you got, to give you the best advice

Also you can use a kerdi drain with a mud pan, just no preslope and kerdi on top.

[bbcamp]

Wendy, Schluter makes a Kerdi-mat "coolie hat" adapter for old school clamping ring drains, but it won't work with the styrofoam pans. You can use the system you have now, but you'll have to build up a mud bed over the Kerdi, install the coolie hat and new Kerdi-mat over the mud. I don't like this plan because it traps the mud between two layers of Kerdi mat. If you could remove the Kerdi mat and tray, then you could build your mud bed on the subfloor. If the tray is down but not covered with Kerdimat, you could mud over it with no problem.

[Breezyone]

Thanks so much for the quick response, I don't have picture but will try to get one, it is a three piece clamp drain. You think we can convert it, that would be great if we could, we thought of grinding it down and removing the middle part but then there is nothing to the thread the top grate into. I was disgusted with my hubby and plumber (I know it wasn't his fault he just did what hubby told him) but I am the one who lays all the tile. Ron supervises. I am taking the day off so I can cool down, if we survive this new house build it will be something. With four tile jobs on the go and two almost done and two left to do, I am at my wits end with this dilemma. I have done lots of jobs up until this point but it is my first experience with kerdi. I have researched the product so much, I thought I knew it well.

[Breezyone]

I thought of putting mud on top but that is way more work then I thought I wanted to do and that there may be an easier solution in just modifying the drain since I don't need weeping holes. The plumber took the drain parts so I hope he comes back with a solution for us.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Wendy

[Honeydo]

Kerdi adapter drain.... watch this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3KZwDaszWY

[ceramictec]

wendy,

I dont know why or how you would install the kerdi on the tray when the Shcluter kerdi drain wasn't in place.

but like Jondon said....can you post a picture ?

I doubt the adapter will work because it uses a predetermined height that
has already been set. and the "Kerdi hat" will be pretty much the same thing.

you might have to chop out to cut the pipe to fit in the kerdi drain.

[Breezyone]

Great name, I have a son and brother named Brian. I don't have a Kerdi drain, wish I did. The plumber plumbed in the regular three part drain prior to me installing the kerdi tray and kerdi membrane. Dumb me, I didn't measure the height difference as I used a liner and dry pack the first shower I did, I few years back at my cottage. Even with the tough winter months here in Prince Edward Island, Canada and lots of movement of the cottage, no cracks or leaks. My Plumber is supposed to come by tomorrow with a solution. Thanks so much for your help and I will try to get a photo. I did a lovely subway tile backsplash today and it looks great in the kitchen. I will try to post some photos of all my projects at my new house, we will be moving in this weekend, I doubt I will have the shower done though.

[ceramictec]

If your mud is already done and the plumber installed a clamping drain you might be able to do a divot or use the Kerdi hat or Noble adapter.
But you drain and mud would have to be made to make this happen.