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Job Order: Curbless Shower and heated Floors?

16 years ago

What is the best method to proceed in building a curbless shower and putting in heated floors? Completely Kerdi and tile the shower and shower floor first, then put down the mats and room floor tile next?

What procedure would insure that the floor tile and shower floor tile will be the same height to allow for a smooth roll in, and for the door to open properly in both directions?

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Comments (4)

bill_vincent
16 years ago
I think I'd be looking to install the mats and mortar over them, first, so as to know how far up I'd have to go at the door so as to have a nice smooth transition. You may not have a curb, but you're going to have to slightly ramp up the floor from both sides or you'll have a hard time containing the water in the shower.
mommielady
Original Author
16 years ago
Bill,

Do you mean "install the mats, mortar over them, and lay the tile as well?" Some installations recommend securing the mats to the floor, laying a thin layer of thinset over the mats and let it dry. Then come back with the 2nd coat of thinset that you will use to lay the tile.

Given the problem that Flyleft had, who mentioned that the wires (at least Thermasoft) are VERY small, almost threadlike, I would be a little leery of laying the mats down without immediately placing the tile over (for additional protection of the wires). If not, the installer would still be walking over the 'mats in thinset' the whole time he was building the shower, until the finished tile was laid on the floor.

But that may not be what you meant, and if it was, what do I know? :)
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With a curbless shower, I see two issues you may be facing. If he is planning on using a traditional rubber liner, a pre-slope under the liner is required. This slope is a minimum if 1/4" per foot from the drain to the farthest wall. In this case, I assume that to be the entry. I fugure that to be about 2 3/4" higher at the entry than at the drain. The rubber or vinyl liner sits on this and a FINAL mudbed is then formed over the liner. As you can see, there will be issues with no curb and how you'll terminate the slope to a feather edge at the entry. I don't see how that can be done. The other issue is with the liner itself. I see no way to attach it to a mudbed that would have to end at a feather edge. These liners are designed to go UP the vertical walls about 6-8" and nailed into place. Having built these before, scrap the liner and use the Kerdi. It's a bulletproof install, you only need ONE mudbed as the material is bonded directly to the mud and you can generally extend the Kerdi six or eight inches into the bathroom for a bit more insurance. On one hand, yes...it's a bit more cost, but realistically, it's also a shower you'll probably never need to repair or replace. The Kerdi is under $1.40 sq/ft. Their drain will run about a hundred bucks. On the other hand, you only have the cost of one mudbed, you eleminate the vinyl liner, as Kerdi is completely waterproof, you can save by using standard drywall in the shower as opposed to cement board. This is what Schluter recommends. Bottom line is that you'll pay a little more but get a far superior shower. If your tile installer isn't comfortable or familiar with Kerdi, find one that is. Here is a link that might be useful: Kerdi Shower Handbook
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bill_vincent
16 years ago
Keep in mind, that with a curbless shower, the entire floor is supposed to flow. It all pretty much needs to be done at the say time. I would not put the mats down until I was ready to do the shower floor, and once I was, it would all get done at the same time-- mud the shower pan, lay down the mats, and mortar them in, and then the following day, tile all of it.
mommielady
Original Author
16 years ago
You know Bill,
This process probably sounds pretty simple to you, because you are so accomplished. But I will be introducing my contractor to Kerdi AND heated floor mats, all while expecting him to get perfectly level floors for a curbless shower. That sounds like a pretty big undertaking, with neither of us experienced in at least two of the areas. If I were he, I probably wouldn't like me very much.

I'm beginning to wonder if I should remove at least one of the vaiables, and maybe just do a curbed shower? I had earlier misgivings about overflow issues with curbless, but I really like the convenience and looks of one. The dilemmas continue...

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