where is that "happy medium" for shower pan floors?

[mlpdiy]

I've done some tile before but never a shower floor...yet. so reading about the 2 main options (Kerdi and traditional mud). Per the deck mud calculator, a 48x48 pan requires over 400 lbs of "mud" and 5lbs of PVC sandwiched between those layers. And the new kid, Kerdi, uses about 5lbs of Styrofoam and a few ounces of cloth glued down with thinset...(.not a Kerdi fan-boy)....so where is the happy medium...not invented even after more than 2000 years of indoor plumbing?

[leon82]

You could put the kerdi over a single sloped mud bed.

[jadnashua]

There are a fair number of bonded membranes out there, Kerdi being one of the oldest with the longest track record (Noble's is older). Of the choices, any of them can work, but I think that Kerdi is easier than most. As stated, their foam pan works (rated at over 500psi compressive strength once covered in tile and Kerdi), but your subflooring must be perfectly level before you install it. A mudbed is less expensive, and can easily compensate for any unevenness on the subflooring. But, either one can work quite well. Of all of the different shower construction methods in the TCNA handbook, I feel most comfortable with B422, which uses a bonded membrane for waterproofing. It's nice to not have much of anything that can absorb moisture and stay damp.

[centerisl]

Originally Posted by jadnashua

Of all of the different shower construction methods in the TCNA handbook, I feel most comfortable with B422, which uses a bonded membrane for waterproofing. It's nice to not have much of anything that can absorb moisture and stay damp

I came to the same conclusion, but opted for a trowel-on Ultra-Set Advanced membrane - it's also ANSI A118.10 per B422-13 but we are using it to create a secondary waterproof pan that encompasses all the fixtures and a backup shower overflow. I was more comfortable with the continuous material compared to joining multiple sections of membrane.

[dhagin]

Originally Posted by marty

so where is the happy medium

Please clarify. What is it that you'd like to discuss/know?

[Davy]

Yeah, I'm with Dana. Clarify a little more. Like the others said, there are several methods to choose from. Each one has it's pros and cons.

[Shady at Best]

Durock makes a 4x4 foot shower kit. Includes the pan and everything. My local tile store said it was around 350$. I am sure there is a kerdi shower kit also.

[1HappyDad]

If it didn't cost so much, I would have used Kerdiboard on my walls in a flash. However, I picked up my 12 sheets of Durorock for $93.96 using a 20% off coupon at Lowe's.

That's hard to beat.


Davy is correct above -- you can get hung up on backerboard as each of them have pro's and con's. Just pick a quality material and the applicable waterproofing membrane; you can't go wrong as long as your installation process is correct.

[cx]

Thread's 7 years old, James.

[1HappyDad]

LMAO, I need to get to sleep. I scrolled down to 'similar threads' and paid no mind to the date.

ah well, I brought one up from the grave...