Walk-in Shower in New Slab Home

[run2jeepn]

I've been working on my house for nearly a year now. (new build) I left my walk-in shower for last as it would be the biggest project for me. I've done tile work but not much water proofing. I did walls for my tub/shower combo. Used GoBoard. I liked how easy it was to work with.

When I hired out the sheetrock work. He told me they normally put Greenboard in all Showers. So thats what they did. I wish I would have just had GoBoard installed then. Well they packed up and left. I noticed they installed a mix of Drywall and Greenboard in my Shower.

I was going to just RedGuard it all but ended up ripping it all out and bought 6 sheets of GoBoard. Last week I found a Kerdi Pan at Lowes for 50% off. 48x72. Figured it was too good of a deal to pass up.

So I picked it up as well.

So far I have built my P-Trap, Set my concrete, grinded down my high points and have 2 layers of primer for some self lever. The Slab was level but where I poured new concrete wasn't perfect. Was going to float it with thin-set, but was advised to use self lever instead.

Once I self level and install my pre-sloped Kerdi Pan. With my GoBoard installed after. Besides GoBoard sealant. What do I use at the base of the walls where it meets the Kerdi Pan? I have some MAPEI Mapelastic Aquadefense and banding material. Should I use that or should I use Mesh Tape and GoBoard sealant?

[cx]

Welcome, Jarod.

I can't tell by the sequence of your photos where your project is right now.

Is this Schluter "Kerdi pan" a foam tray with waterproofing membrane on it, or just a bare foam tray?

You indicate that your slab is level, but to use one of those Schluter foam trays your slab must be near perfectly flat and perfectly level. Just one of the drawbacks to those foam shower trays.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[run2jeepn]

The picture with the curb, primed floor and sealed edges. That is where I am at right now. Getting ready to mix up the leveler. Hoping to get my Pan set tomorrow night. Then all my GoBoard put up the next day.

[run2jeepn]

This is where I'm at now. I put another coat of Primer. Will be pouring leveler this evening.

What can I use to join the Pre-Sloped Schluter Pan to the GoBoard walls? Is QuadMax/GoBoard Sealant enough?

I have on hand right now...
FibaTape Alkali-Resistant Mesh Tape
75ft of 6in banding Material
1gal Mapelastic Aquadefense
GoBoard Sealant and QuadMax Sealant
2x 50lb MAPEI Uncoupling Membrane
4x Schluter Corners

This is the pan I have


My 2nd question is. Before I pour the self lever. Do I need to do anything more then QuadMAX sealant around base?

[me1483]

Actually, the GoBoard to Kerdi interface was discussed not too long ago. The thread was called "New bathroom in old house". Andrew tested a few different ways to connect the Kerdi and the GoBoard. That part starts on page 2 of the thread:

https://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin...=132839&page=2

[AR]

Hi Jarod,

My experiments around this showed that using kerdi band (and preformed corners) applied with thinset is sufficient to waterproof the goboard to kerdi seam. In my case what I did first was I applied sealant to the seam for added insurance, then the kerdi band with thinset.

[run2jeepn]

Thanks @me1483 for pointing me in the right direction and @AR for taking the time to answer a few questions...

Self Leveler poured and curing now.

[ss3964spd]

Probably needless to say, Jarod, but if you intend to install the foam tray before installing the go Board, be sure to cover the tray with something thick enough to distribute your weight. Otherwise you'll leave dents all over the foam tray.

[run2jeepn]

The Pan doesn't fit with the walls in. So the walls have to go in 2nd.

What's some stuff guys have used to protect the tray when working?

[smifwal]

You could always trim the pan...

This is how I do showers (foam tray or mud bed)I would install the wall boards, tile the walls expect the bottom row), grout. Then trim and install your pan, tie the waterproofing together and flood test. Then install your floor tile and grout it. Then install your bottom rows and grout.

If you are using the same color grout on the floor and walls skip the grouting to the end

[run2jeepn]

@smifwal - Don't you want the walls to sit on top of the pan?

I've seen many guys tile all the walls, but bottom row. How do you keep the tile from shifting down? Just place tile w/o mortar on the bottom row?

[AR]

I framed mine out so I could put the wall boards in first, but I agree I sort of like the idea of the walls sitting on top of the pan. The pan is pretty dense xps foam and you can walk on it gently without damaging it if you are very careful, but if you put a couple layers of cardboard down to stand on while doing your walls you'll probably be fine. Just try to avoid putting a ladder or stool on it where the legs would push down and leave dimples.

Here is a good video on how to plan your wall layout with a story pole and then install ledger boards to support tiling from the second row. When done, you just remove the ledger boards and plug the screw holes with sealant.

https://youtu.be/aXXSzl6z2qs

Also, in my case, after I installed all the goboard and kerdi pan, I tiled and grouted the floor first. Then covered that with cardboard. That way I knew I could stand on the pan and not worry about damaging the foam.

[cx]

Originally Posted by Jarod

I've seen many guys tile all the walls, but bottom row. How do you keep the tile from shifting down?

Most common is to attach a ledger board to support the first row of tiles above the shower floor, Jarod. I prefer 5 or 6-inch rips of half-inch plywood for such ledgers. You'll want your fasteners positioned such that when the ledger is removed you can patch the holes in your waterproofing. Or you can set your ledger board on some other kind of support to avoid the fasteners.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[ss3964spd]

Jarod, at one point or another you'll need to climb a ladder in there to fasten your GB and to tile. If your plan is to use a membrane like Kerdi Band to water proof your GB to the Kerdi tray, and you're comfortable with that approach, it won't matter if the GB "sits" on the tray or not, the band will water proof the joint. The foam trays are very easy to trim. You don't want dents in the tray which you may not see/find until it's too late.

[smifwal]

Originally Posted by run2jeepn

Don't you want the walls to sit on top of the pan?

nope. I want to be able to work freely not worried about dropping anything, or gently placing a platform, or stepping from one platform to another and having to be gingerly about it. I also put down cardboard over the subfloor so when I am ready to set the pan there is no clean up.

If you are going to go AR's route or tile then cover I would recommend plywood instead of cardboard. I have seen a few members here that have dropped a tile while setting the walls and had quite a bit of work to fix the tile on the pan