Accent Build Out

[CaliGrown]

Following is how I build out for an accent/deco strip. Works for most cases, and has proven effective and efficient for me. Set your field tile and leave the predetermined space out for your accent strip. Take and burn in your thinset and follow it up with the notched side. Next fill in the space with some fat mud or type s masons mix. Set some screed sticks for your accent tile plus bond coat thickness. Screed it out with a straight edge and follow it out with a jig screed if you have it. Spread some thinset over it and place your tile, take anything/something to ensure the tile sits flat to the field tile. Adjust your joints and done.

[Davy]

I like it, nice job.

[CaliGrown]

Thanks Davy, me too. I don’t like floating with thinset, this is a lot easier and more solid. Building out for an accent always seems to be a job by job basis. What else does everyone like to do for build outs? Kerdi band the tile, build out with ditra or some slim backer, anything else?

[Davy]

Thinset isn't designed for doing this but I've used it many times if it only needs 1/8 or so. They make patching material that works but I don't always have it handy. I have used Ditra and if it needs quite a bit I'll use fat mud bonded with thinset.

[CaliGrown]

Speaking of fat mud..
Say we got our kerdi on the pan and walls, could we do a one coat job over the kerdi? Treat it like felt and hand out wire over the kerdi walls? Or spread thinset and fat mud over that?
While we’re at it whats the best way to run kerdi over fat mud, without having a moisture sandwhich from the felt behind the mud?

I haven’t done either of these, when I float the felt is my moisture barrier when I kerdi I put tile over it. Just wondering if the kerdi could be used like the felt if we have the pan waterproofed with kerdi already.

[CaliGrown]

Hell..
Run the kerdi up the wall 2’, with the pan waterproofed with a kerdi drain assembly, run felt over the solid backing the rest of the way over hanging the kerdi on the walls, and staple in the lath minus the bottom 9” then do a one coat mud job. Wouldn’t this work or is it just plain stupid thinking?

[Davy]

Who knows, it might work but I've never done a shower that way. If you want the benefits of mud and Kerdi then mud the walls and install Kerdi over it. I've done that a few times.

[smifwal]

Originally Posted by Caligrown

run felt over the solid backing the rest

you are onto something here. Why weren't you in the mud work tips and tricks thread when I was asking these same questions? We could have collaborated to come up with a awesome idea. I was thinking the same thing just couldn't figure out how to tie the 2 together. you got my brain spinning

[CaliGrown]

You’re right Davy, can’t argue with that. Just would hate to add those overlaps all over the mud, although regardless of where ya put kerdi, overlaps are inevitable along with the build up.

I missed that section, Shawn. I’ve had this Kerdi-mud hybrid on my mind ever since I went to Schluterization 1. That’s where I heard some naysayers depict mud showers in a negative light. I’d think that it’d work out just fine with overlapping the felt, then by the time the wall floats out 5/8”, you have crisp corners without buildup and you still have your quick drying kerdi style pan.

[Davy]

Yeah, my dad was an old mud man from way back. I mudded a shower and let him tile it. It was a steamer so we put Kerdi over the mud. His exact words, we had some nice flat walls before you covered it with that orange stuff.