Tiling a Shower Walls Ceiling Floor - Best order

[CTfirsttimer]

I am building a house and intend to install a Kerdi shower system.

I ordered a PVC kit but I now relize I have an ABS drain. Is this a big issue?

[johntrent]

Hugh - somebody will be here shortly with more technical info but my understanding can be summed up like this -

PVC - requires cleaner & glue & must be held together for 5-10 seconds for the chemical reaction to occur causing the glue to melt the pipes together. If you don't use the cleaner it will leak.

ABS - only requires glue & forms a more instant bond. No cleaner required.

Guessin now that really doesn't help you - hang on.

Here ya go - read this thread -

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/...ad.php?t=53237

[sandbagger]

if at all possible I would send it back for a trade. There are glues that will connect PVC to ABS but I don't know how good they are. Of course, there isn't any pressure on a drain so it might be OK. At a minimum I would call Schluter.

[CTfirsttimer]

Ok - I've been reading these forums and the Kerdi Book for the last few weeks. I have my shower kit, the framing is done and the dry wall has been hung.

I will start doing the kerdi build tomorrow.

I have a few questions, probably more to follow after I ponder a bit more.

1. The curb - do I need to wrap in dry wall or can I just wrap in Kerdi?
2. This will be a steam shower also - so should I kerdi the ceiling?
3. How far should I space screws in the subfloor that will go under the kerdi pan.

Hugh

[Kman]

1. Use drywall for the curb. Kerdi is not meant to bond to wood.

2. With a steam shower, you need Kerdi on all surfaces, including the ceiling.

3. If the subfloor your referring to is the only layer of plywood, you need to screw it to the joists about every six inches. If the subfloor is less than 3/4", it would be best to add a layer of 1/2" ply on top. No glue, screw it the subfloor every six inches around the perimeter and every eight inches in the field.

[bathroomremodeler]

Hugh,

If you have the shower kit ... I assume you have the Kerdi curb. If so, no need to put sheetrock on it. Just wrap it with Kerdi.

Many folks recommend having the ceiling slant a touch, so that the droplets of hot water will not drip on you.

[ceramictec]

If you have the shower kit ... I assume you have the Kerdi curb. If so, no need to put sheetrock on it. Just wrap it with Kerdi.

[CTfirsttimer]

Thanks for the feedback.

I have the kit, my contractor did the framing and built a wood curb. I was at the jobsite this morning and the drywaller has already wrapped the curb. So I am going to skip the kerdi curb.

The subfloor is currently 3/4 OSB over I-joist. I am going to put another 3/4 of ply on top.

The actual internal dimensions are now 49X49.5 inches, slightly bigger than the tray. So I will fill the gap with portland cement. Do I need pure portland or will the basic quickcrete (yellow bag) suffice?

[Cain]

sand topping should be just fine. it is the closest to 5-1 deck mud

[Brian in San Diego]

Hugh,

I would definitely investigate the slope of the shower ceiling. I don't remember if the slope has to be as much as for a slope (1/4" in 12") but it definitely needs to be sloped. If it isn't you may not enjoy that steam as much as you would have.

Brian

[CTfirsttimer]

Cain

Pardon my ignorance - by sand topping you mean the yellow bag? I am a DIY'r and my knowledge is not as extensive as you pro's. hahahah!

Hugh

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Hugh, take a look at this post in the Liberry.

Originally Posted by bathroomremodeler

Many folks recommend having the ceiling slant a touch, so that the droplets of hot water will not drip on you.

Dean's gotta little typo. Moisture is condensing on the ceiling and drips back as cold drops.

[Brian in San Diego]

Hugh,

Look at what the writing on the yellow bag says. It will say "Sand Topping Mix" on it. That designation indicates that there is 3 parts sand for 1 part portland cement in that bag. Different manufacturers use different color bags so w/o seeing it it's hard to tell. Quikrete does use a yellow bag for their sand topping mix but they use yellow bags for other products as well.

Brian

[CTfirsttimer]

thanks for the clarification!

One more question. Do I need to let this cure before putting the kerdi over the floor?

[bathroomremodeler]

Pack it down hard and then use a light touch with trowel & thinset and you should be ok to put floor kerdi down.