Master Bath Renovation 8/1/09

[iagaoe]

Demo'ed the master bath this weekend. Major Water and termite damage.
We will be closing in the window.

Quesiton, when i go to sheet rock, do i put the sheet rock all the way to the ground or leave a gap between the slab and sheet rock?

Secondly, when putting in a curb, should i use 2x4s mounted straight to the slab or should there be anything between the 2x4s and the slab?

Thanks,
Chad

[matman]

Quesiton, when i go to sheet rock, do i put the sheet rock all the way to the ground or leave a gap between the slab and sheet rock?

Chad, you shouldn't install sheetrock in a shower (those days are over) unless you are planning to do a Kerdi shower. If you do a search in the liberry you'll find plenty of info on that.

Secondly, when putting in a curb, should i use 2x4s mounted straight to the slab or should there be anything between the 2x4s and the slab?

You could install 2x4's directly to the slab but code calls for pressure treated wood if the wood is in direct contact with the slab. Pressure treated wood is not tile friendly and shouldn't be used. In your case a masonry curb might be best choice though to waterproof it properly be prepared to buy a premade curb or to build a custom mud curb.

You also need lots of other stuff like a sloped pan liner, some water protection for your wall frame proper wall board and fasteners and stuff.

Read up on shower construction in the liberry for starts.

[iagaoe]

Sorry i wasn't alittle more clear.

Yes i am doing kerdi and have the basic understanding of it.

For the curb, pressure treated 2x4's are then going to be wraped in dry wall and then kerdi'ed. I didn't know if there was anything that should go between the slab and 2x4's?

Thanks,

[KennyZ]

No pressure treated wood.

[matman]

No pressure treated Chad. They could warp on you. If you're doing a kerdi shower use the block, you can wrap that with kerdi and it will be a super curb. Set them in mortar nice and straight/level with a slight tip towards the shower.

[John Bridge]

Hi Chad, Welcome aboard.

I do lots of Kerdi showers over concrete slabs, and I never use wood for the curbs, only bricks and mortar. I then adhere the Kerdi membrane directly to the bricks.

I've had problems with wood drawing moisture from the slab and swelling, consequently cracking the tile installation on the curb.

[iagaoe]

Thats what i was afraid of, when i ripped up the old shower the curb was soaked....like it had never dried out.

So now i need to research how to build a curb with brick and mortar. Can't be that hard...

What about the dry wall...should i leave a gap between it and the slab or go all the way to the slab? Would it soak up moisture as well if its down to the slab?

Thanks.

[dhagin]

Hi Chad,

I think you'd do well to get yourself a couple a books that'll explain the curb and lots more. That guy who posted reply #6 has a link in his signature line. Click on that and I'd get both books. They're invaluable in putting together the shower you'd always hoped for.

Oh, and you can hold the drywall up a little, about 1/2" or so would be fine.

[iagaoe]

Dry wall is starting to come up.

I did a brick and mortar curb yesterday. Pretty easy stuff. Makes me feel a lot better than 2x4's as the curb. This thing looks sturdy.

[cx]

Yep, that'll work.

Need to git you some sheetrock inside that niche, too.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[tilelayer]

i suggest putting a level on that curb to see if its level. It looks like it has a hump in the center of it. Make sure your curbs level and pitches slightly to the inside of the shower. It all makes for a better job in the end

[iagaoe]

I looked at it and leveled it again. No hump. Glad to because that thing is solid as a rock.
Thanks,