Lay it on me. I got four weeks.

[Danny Ferguson]

Just sold my first steam shower material and install. Tile is Westminster American Potter Collection. 5X10 walls, 2X2 floor, 5X5 bench/ceiling, 2 rows of listellos, crownmold, base, chair rail, 2 soaps, 2 shampoos, and 1/4 round. Will be here in about 4 weeks.

Here's my plan. Vappor barrier over stud walls, bench, and ceiling. (what mill?). 1/2" Hardi on walls(nail or screw?). Kerdi pan, curb, and drain. waterproff walls, bench, and ceiling with Laticrete 9235, tape all hardi seams, corners, and walls to kerdi membrane over pan and curb. Stick tile with LATICRETE 255 MultiMax Multipurpose Thin-Set Mortar white. Does Hardi need expansion anywhere? I'm going to leave about 1/4" expansion on tile everywhere. Would you stick the crown molding and base to hardi or would you stick it over the 5X10 field tile?

That's all I got for now, so lay it on me.

Thank you,

Danny Ferguson

[Trask]

Danny Nice sell man...all the nice upgrades too.

I would talk to your Schluter rep. Do a complete Kerdi shower from floor over ceiling. Delete the need for a vapor barrier and do add expansion joints...Kerdi has a complimentary band that serves the purpose and still remains waterproof.

I wouldn't mix systems though. If you're more comfortable with Laticrete for example, go with them...but get someone from their respective company involved and use there complete system...Can't tell you how many mistakes I've made not getting manufactures involved in projects I was scratching my head on and tried to "mix & match" products...Always a bad idea.

[Kx250]

Here's a Quote from the http://www.laticrete.com/Portals/0/d...ts/LDS2360.pdf



"Limitations

Do not use as a vapor barrier (especially in steam rooms)"

Now not sure what they mean by that but might want to ask Laticrete to see if they just mean as a secondary barrier?

[Trask]

Oops...I forgot that most liquid aplied membranes are not vapor/steam proof Thanks Jesse..I know this is also the case with Ultra-set even being Urethane based.

A sheet membrane (surface bonded) would be my first choice. Over a vertical mudset would be the best..but it's a bit more work.

[stullis]

Danny, Danny, Danny...

Do you think you sold the install for enough?

[doitright]

Hi Danny

Good job!

Now the steam room debate continues!

Are you sloping the ceiling (as recommended by the TCNA manual).

Personally, I'd rather use another backer unit than hardi. Even with prewetting, It sucks the moisture right out of the thinset, which can be a real challenge applying sheet membranes. I suppose if your fast enough though....

[Kx250]

Hey Trask, I called Bostik, Hydroment about Ultra Set advanced, and asked about steam showers they said yes to residential and even said if you followed all the directions for tile standards for a commercial steam shower you could do those too. They said a few of there products would work for steam showers, but not the black guard or something like that.

[Danny Ferguson]

Thanks guys great info so far. I checked the TCA handbook and it said use vapor barrier on cement mortar install, and no vapor barrier on thinset install. I also looked at Jesses link on laticrete 9235, and it did say don't use a vapor barrier in steam shower. TCA also said 2" slope per ft on ceiling.

What type of insulation and R value do I need? Does Dura Rock have an advantage over Hardi in a steam shower? Is the cure time actually 7 day on the 9235?

[Danny Ferguson]

Jesse, I got to reading the laticrete 9235 link a little more and noticed at the top of the page this ▪ Steam rooms (when used in conjunction with a vapor barrier). and on limitations it read ▪ Do not use as a vapor barrier (especially in steam rooms). So now I'm thinking I do use a vapor barrier, but not 9235 as the vapor barrier. I also talked to my Laticrete rep who varified this. The wording on limitations threw me off.

[Kx250]

Ya, wording looked a bit off or missing something, but that's good to know.

[tilemanct]

Do a full Kerdi Shower and forget about the vapor details. The Kerdi is the barrier. Just remember that when you construct the vapor barrier behind the liquid membrane, it must go all the way to the weep holes of the drain. A very difficult detail to construct properly.

[Danny Ferguson]

Is there a particular brand of light fixture that needs to be installed in a steam shower to mount on a sloped ceiling? Customer has some type of can light in there now. Customer is going to have a foam insulation sprayed in after plumbing is finished.

[doitright]

Hi Danny

I have seen fans, lights, fan/lights, vents, etc. all used in residential steam showers. Just make sure what ever is used is approved with the manufacturer.

[Trask]

We have lots of steam baths around here..(Finns )..most people myself and dad included use exterior marine lights in ours. Get them at a Marine supply or boat store. They hold up very well even when it's too steamy to see

[Danny Ferguson]

Customer has some gold looking fixtures going in steam shower. Do you think the Kerdi drain cover could be powder coated to match? None of the four colors they offer match very well.

I'm now thinking I will use whole Kerdi system on the steam shower, instead of mixing Laticrete 9235 with the Kerdi pan. To much money tied up in this one. Thanks for all the replies so far.