Ditra XL Now On Market!!

jarvis design

For those who use Schluter Ditra and haven't heard, Ditra XL is now on the market and should be available (it is here in Canada)

It is a thicker version of Ditra - approximately 5/16"
It was mainly developed to allow for virtually flush floors when meeting with 3/4" hardwood.

Its other benefit is it can be applied over single layer plywood with joists at 24" o/c.

I think their website should have all the updated information.

www.schluter.com

www.jarvisdesignbuild.ca

wyoming 1

I will have to check it out we started using ditra last year sometimes it is a tuff sale to the customer because it looks like the cheepiest plastic cheesiest stuff out there but man it sure works great

JazMan

Yes, I heard Ditra XL was finally available in Canada, not sure if we have it in Michigan yet. Schluter has been working on it for several years. I'll have to check the price and also consider the extra cost because we'll use even more thinset. I'm sure I'll use it, just gotta figure how much more I'll have to charge in this market. It'll also take more time to install.

Jarvis, it took me about 10-12 years after learning about Ditra to finally decide to use it for just that reason. I thought people would not accept my using this funny looking orange stuff that seems so flimsy. "How would it work under ceramic", I thought they would think. I finally stated using it about 10 years on a 14" polished porcelain floor in my neighborhood. Worked great and on every job since...It's much better than cement backer boards, just costs more, but worth it.

Jaz

__________________
Tile 4 You llc
KERDI Shower
specialist...DITRA Installs...
www.tile4you.com

jarvis design

Hey Jaz,

I think that the XL is just slightly more than the regular Ditra.
It's funny you mention that you waited 10 years before using it!! - I just started using it myself- always installed concrete board. As for "selling" the benefits - I now give my customers a quick lesson on the history of tiling - going back hundreds of years to when installers used a sand strata layer as an uncoupling membrane - (which are still standing today)
I then explain the evolution of the direct bond method -starting from mud beds to the last 40-50 years of installing on pretty much anything!!

The interesting thing I have found is that I seem to be the only installer that actually explains how and why things are done. I was just at a clients house the other day telling them how I would do their bathroom and they mentioned that the "other" guy didn't explain a thing!!
I ended up being $4000.00 more than him (and $2000.00 more than they wanted to spend), but I still walked away with a deposit and a job.

Cheers,

Mike Jarvis

www.jarvisdesignbuild.ca

Bud Cline

And therein lies the secret of competing with all the lowballers and hacks that are in our industry these days. A smart operator will know both the future and the history of his trade and keep up with the changes that take place regularly. For an installer to rest on his statement "I've been doing it like this for thirty years" is just plain stupid and the sign of someone that really doesn't care about anything but himself.