Kerdi 7 Day Flood Test

[Kman]

[Kman]

And post #153

[916tile]

Originally Posted by speed51133

can you elaborate here? I am a bit confused what you are explaining. Are you talking about thinset to adhere the kerdi to the wall?

I am talking about the thinset on top of the kerdi to adhere the tile.

Originally Posted by 916tile

The only reason I could see it being an issue is if there are areas of thinset voids where water would sit in between an impervious tile and the kerdi

this was in response to a "real world" issue where water may sit on top of kerdi for extended periods of time

[makethatkerdistick]

Isaac, I also was afraid of those expansion gaps where floor meets walls. I've completely filled mine in with silicone sealant to avoid having water pool in those areas.

[John Bridge]

Thanks, Kevin. That's classic.

[Lazarus]

I was there in 07 and saw Dave on the forklift. Classic! (and he later used his Camero as well!)

[koihito]

So, with both Schluiter and USG showers I've had to wait on plumbing inspections for over a week (once for 9 days) on several occasions. I've just left the water in the pans and I've never seen any signifigant drop in water levels; certainly no evidence of leaking anywhere.

IF water is migrating deep into the assembly its neither getting far enough to be a "leak" nor is it enough to actually lose any measureable amount of water. I can't help but feel like this is a non issue in any real world senario.

[jadnashua]

Don't have voids or excessive thinset in your seams, and it works...

[tilemanct]

I think this was a well engineered ploy to see Dave on that forklift pic again.

[916tile]

Originally Posted by jadnashua

Don't have voids or excessive thinset in your seams, and it works...

I agree it "works". My testing was merely to show what happens in a 7 day flood test with Ardex X-5 thinset.

Try this, its pretty easy....
1.)Cut yourself a 8"x8" piece of 1/2" kerdi board.
2.) Thinset a 8" long piece of kerdi band to the 8"x8" kerdi board.
3.) Let cure for 24 hrs.
4.) Submerge the piece in a bucket of water with something heavy to hold it down.
5.) Let it soak for 7 days.

Let us all know how much the moisture has migrated between the band and the kerdi board. Even better, make 3 or 4 of them and take them out at 24, 48, and 72hr intervals.

BTW, I got my hands on a tub of Kerdi-Coll. Can't wait to play around with it.

[Tiger Mountain Tile Inc]

This is just more evidence of the need to flood test every shower.

I don't care how closely one thinks that they followed the instructions the only thing that really matters is the bottom line: it works or it doesn't.

My most recent shower is a Wedi shower with Subliner Dry membrane on the pan (think Kerdi) that sat for 10 days with water in it. Because of snow and subcontractor schedules, it was inspected but I just let it sit since there was other work being done in the bathroom. When I came back I checked it. It was right on the money.

But I've had them leak before also. How do I know it leaked? Because every single shower gets tested.

Schluter's competitors would love nothing more than for the Kerdi system to be flawed. They've tested it and they've all copied it. What does that tell you?

edit: But Issac should be commended for real-world testing and sharing it publically. It's not easy to put yourself out there and open yourself up for the criticism.

[tilemanct]

Isaac,
When I was at a distributor last week I saw a couple of "Test" buckets of the Coll . Looks like the Ardex Product 8+9.

[916tile]

Originally Posted by tilemanct

When I was at a distributor last week I saw a couple of "Test" buckets of the Coll . Looks like the Ardex Product 8+9

Yes, same stuff. Acrylic base and reactive cement powder. I have tested both products.
I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see it on the market here soon.

[tilemanct]

I know they allow the use of Ardex 8+9 in swimming pools.

[HS345]

If memory serves, Kerdi Coll was a single component adhesive out of a bucket. That would be nothing like Ardex 8+9.

Obviously it's not like that now. Looks just like 8+9. https://www.schluter.co.uk/kerdi-coll.aspx