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First time with denshield.

30K views 80 replies 19 participants last post by  CO762 
#1 ·
First time using denshield in a little shower where doing. The home owner doesn't want to spend the money for a wedi or Schuler shower kit. It's a family friend so all of you know how these jobs go. I was at least going to use perma base and use aquadefense as we use to before all the nice new products. The homeowner really wants to use denshield and I'm not really familiar with it. Any info will be much appreciated. Can I use aqua defense or red guard on it or is the coating on it good enough. Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
Just fiberfuse the seams and use the aqua d over the seams. I'd do the whole shabang just for good measure. Not really saving much money at that point however. It doesn't get much cheaper than kerdi board when you factor everything in and pay yourself to do it.
 
#6 ·
Like it has been said. AD and Fibafuse the seams and like Matt said, there is no harm in AD'ing the entire shower at that point. If you decide not to AD the whole thing, don't forget the screw holes. Any penetration should be sealed.
 
#9 ·
Denshield saves you one seam on the back wall because it's a 4' wide sheet.
The problem with Denshield is the core. The edges aren't sealed at the factory but you can seal them with Aquadefense or Redguard. Any cuts or penetrations should be sealed. Where the sheet meets a tub lip, the instructions say to seal with a flexible caulk. Caulk doesn't stick to gypsum too well unless you seal it first. That's wasting time.

Next, if you can't use it for a thresehold or into the mud base then you have mixed products on the wall. And, "if it isn't good enough for the bottom of the shower walls,why put it on the top of the shower walls?" types of questions from the HO.
 
#15 ·
tenon0774 said:
Aqua D on everything?

Then why not just use regular drywall, skip the dens shield altogether?

:whistling
I wouldn't ever even if kerdi was being used. I can't get warm and squishy about denshield, let alone drywall in a shower. I prefer cement board. I just don't get only coating screws and the lower couple of feet. Just offering my crazy opinion!
 
#29 ·
CO762 said:
I don't trust menards as far as I could spit. They are price point retailers ("save big money!", so their world is all about the cheapest thing out there. And if they have to buy mainstream products, it seems as though they are end runs. Most of their stuff seems to be end runs, culls, or cheap clones. Cust got a pal of 'hardibacker' and I saw it was certainteed fecal matter. And to top it off, they were cupped in the middle and the long edges were all curled up. He saved "big money!" up front, but paid a lot more (material waste and greater labor costs) having it done.

One has to be very knowledgeable in order to buy anything from them.
For their flooring and others items yes. Their electrical stock is great. I still shop at my regular suppliers and yard, but for a quick item they are alright and I dont have any flooring suppliers close other than competitors that install.

The finpan product is available from distributors as well is the only reason I looked at it. Menards also has a Homax brand kerdi style fabric....won't be using that!
 
#30 · (Edited)
Yup, they do have some good things and some not so good things. A bit tired so may have been a bit rough with menards.
At HD today I needed a few scrap 2x4s and saw one of their 'culls' bundles, but I couldn't buy just the two I needed, I needed to buy the whole bundle, $90. I don't need $90 of scrap wood. ;)

It's best to be a wise consumer, but then again, everyone should be everywhere.
 
#37 ·
FYI... I called and received the prices on Kerdi board (Huntsville Al.)

1/2"x48"x64" is 53.80 ea. = 2.52 per sq'
1/2"x48"x96" is 80.68 ea. = 2.52 per sq'
plus screws and fasteners

Densshield
1/2'x32"x60" is 10.95 ea. = 1.25 per sq'
plus screws

If you are going to use Kerdi, then the Kerdi board looks to be a very good deal.(labor wise)
 
#38 ·
Sorry, but I'm finding several errors in the use of DensShield within this thread. Might be just a misconception and they've perhaps never installed it like they speak about here.

Some are recommending applying a liquid membrane over the whole thing for example. You should never apply a membrane over a membrane.

Others didn't know not to use it on curbs "Do
not use DensShield Tile Backer in the curb."


That you can not bury it in the shower deck mortar bed the way we usually do with real concrete backers. "Do not place DensShield Tile Backer into a conventional shower pan mortar bed. Leave minimum 1/8” (3 mm) gap and fill with flexible sealant."

I recommend anyone who uses it read the instructions and study the sketches?

Those prices for Kerdiboard seem correct. But remember you should not be re-selling it for those prices. You should not keep giving it away by recovering your net cost.

Jaz
 
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#40 · (Edited)
Scott,

No, I would not recommend Dens over other methods. DensShield might be 3rd choice or so.

I think Kerdi is the best way to build a shower. It does cost more and it's more tedious so it takes more time, but I don't care about that.

I'm not afraid of DensShield and have used it in the past, mostly floors. But I would never use it for shower stalls for the reasons I already mentioned. Mainly you can not bury it in the mortar bed. That's a problem for me cuz I want to lock the CBU with the deck mud.

Jaz
 
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