Curved shower wall--help

[Beej]

Here's the skinny,

This crazy lady is remodleing her house and the master bathroom is one of the rooms. She is having a shower built in the corner of the bathroom and a curved wall made of glass block and tile will make up the wall with the plumbing. It looks like a piece of pie. (yeah, yeah I know "we love pictures") In the midst of this curved wall is a section about 20" wide that holds all the plumbing: this section will be tiled. I am just learning how to do mud work on the floor and have never done mud on the walls. (It will be a last resort option).
What should I put on this section of wall for an underlayment?

And oh by the way the tile will be a 4" tumbled limestone. I may be able to talk the lady into using the 2x2s that are going to be on the floor-- the point being that it doesn't have to be perfectly curved.

Oh I should add that the wall will be tiled on both sides so I have a convex and concave curve that needs to be tiled. As far as waterproofing I was planning on using the kerdi membrane if I can find it somewhere.

Thanks in advance

[Jason_Butler]

Depending on the radius of the curve, the 4" tiles should not be a problem; at least to make the curve. I would be more concerned about the use of limestone in a shower.

As for the substrate, you can mud the wall or you can use strips of CBU to make the curve. The problem with the CBU in this case is finding enough blocking to nail to.

For a waterproofing membrane, I would use either the Latricrete or the Custom brand roll on membrane. The Kerdi may suffice but I've never used it.

Good Luck

Jason

[madmax]

If you are not comfortable with mud you can use cement board on the walls. Before you are ready to do the job, lay the boards between two saw hourses and they will bend on their own. 1/4" cement board bends very easy. You can use more than one layer if necessary.

[Beej]

Good ideas.

I do have enough cross bracing to attach strips of hardibacker verticallly. If I cut each strip about 4" wide, the same as the tile, and liquid nail and screw them do you think it would be structurally sound? I was thinking of using 1/2" hardibacker but what about two layers of 1/4"? I may be able to just bend the 1/4".

[Cisco]

Permabase Flexable Cement board. Do it in one piece...


http://www.national-gypsum.com/produ...t:5&product=46


©

[John Bridge]

Yes, but I don't see how you're going to attach the thin strips of backer board without making holes in the liner. In my opinion, you should do the mud curb and then set the glass blocks on top of it.

I did answer your email, BTW.

[Beej]

I sent you e-mail?

No, from your answer you mis-understood the situation. I know, I know...I will get some pics and post em.

I think I have an answer worked out.

[John Bridge]

Pictures are bueno.

In this picture there is a mudded curb under the blocks. In order to keep it slim, we used on two by four laid on edge as the core, wrapped the pan up and over and then bent lath over, nailing it at the outside face. Pretty much like in this article, except that the glass blocks go directly on the mud. Ther is no tile under them. http://johnbridge.com/shower_curbs2.htm

The same thing will work on a radius wall.

I guess I'm having trouble understanding the talk about backer boards. Help.