Schluter Shower Systems

J&J Home Imp.

Does anyone frequently use there products? I just got the info pack from them and watched the install video and looks to be a good product but I haven't used it yet in the field. I don't do many showers so I am still developing my technique and I really struggle with the mud beds being that I have only done 3. I really like the idea of the presloped floor they have. Obviously it will only work in pretty standard applications but I just wondered what ya'll thought.

numbknees

never tried
probably never will
i prefer old school methods


bill.

justin savage

The schluter products are awesome, the ctef school in south carolina lined a cardboard box over 5 years ago with there kerdi membrane and have used it ever since for an ice chest for drinks for there tile school. justin

MattCoops

you can buy membranes that will hold up just as long as Kerdi
at your local tile shop.

we get ours for about $1.50 / sq ft.

and some bags of sand and portland cement

and mud the pan

you can mud a shower pan for under $200

that whole kerdi shower kit is over $600

save a bunch by doing some research and getting your hands dirty

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

firemike

Like Justin said - The Schluter products are awesome.

I am working on a custom steam shower right now and using all Schluter/Kerdi products. I have never used the preslope pans yet as I do mostly custom work and the size/shape varies from their stock pan sizes, and I still prefer the good old-fashioned mud decks.

A few of the local wholesalers carry different products (Nobelseal, etc) but I still prefer the schluter stuff.

Their trim pieces, edge treatments, etc. really make the job look better. I love the Ditra for floors too!

__________________
-Mike-

J&J Home Imp.

The presloped beds would have helped me a lot in the last one I did. I never had anyone show me how to do a shower so i had to take the basic idea and kinda figure it out. Still am not very good at it and I fight it alot so the Schluter will help me a lot where I can use it. A lot of guys I know here in the area are still hung up on old school stuff and I know there are better ways. I know one guy that still does the hot mop tar pans. I guess its about what ya know.

justin savage

There other membranes that are very good Noble for one .But the kerdi from schluter is only about 1.12 a sqft. , also the shower system for a 48" shower is about $ 325- includes premade pan,curb, drain,and kerdi for the walls. Go to www.tileprotection.com justin

J&J Home Imp.

Thats a good link there. I book marked it. They have a really good price on ditra if you buy it by the 6 roll pack.

JJC

I've been reading this thread and noticing the cost of the Kerdi. It lists for $1.59 per sq. ft. in the large roll. Matt, if you are paying 1.50 per ft. then I'd be looking for a different supplier. Justin is paying a fair price as a contractor for the product. I'll bet you can get it for even less by shopping the distributors. I pay $0.98 per sq. ft. To be fair, I do volume buying.
I've been using Schluter products for the last 9 or 10 years, and I only do showers and steam rooms with Kerdi. The pans are a good product, but not for every application. When used, it saves a tremendous amount of time, and money. An example is a 48x48" shower. 20 minutes to install shower base and curb for plumber to hook up drain. I still charge the labor as if it is a mud pan going in. First stop of the day, 7AM install shower base, talk with plumber awhile, pick up my stuff, and I'm on my way to another job by 8AM. People should be taking a very serious look into using it more. It's just food for thought.
Jim

__________________
Jim
Regional Director NTCA
"You can't afford not to do it right"

dshcontracting

You can do custom sloped pans using the membrane also. The best part is that you never have water actually getting into the mortar bed. Old school mortar beds do work well. Like 1940's and early 50's around here seem to hold up real well. In the 60s and 70's, too much volume building, all garbage. So it's really all about the installer. I use schluter and it helps out on our speed and costs. (time is money) Believe it or not, most people around here have no idea how to make a mortar pan anymore.

Bud Cline

Times are changing and Schluter offers state-of-the-art products to speed up a job and gaurantee accuracy and reliability. I haven't done a double-cast mud slope in about five years. I do large odd ball custom showers that still require a hand-cast mud slope but I still use KERDI.

The Schluter Shower Kit is tops and worth every penny, there is as much profit in using the kit as there is in casting mud. If the standard kit is too small for a desired shower floor simply place the kit and extend it with mud, it all gets covered with KERDI.

Justin is correct about the price, I have no idea where the $600 estimate comes from I have never paid that much.

With the exception of the tile-ready products and the Great Noble Company offerings there is no other shower system that lets you start the pan and finish the tile shower floor all in one day. I have found that around here the only guys that complain about the Schluter System and Noble System shower product is the hacks that can't come up with four hundred dollars lump sum to buy the kit.

J&J Home Improvement if you feel you are struggling with mud pans please feel free to email me. I don't know if I can help but I'd be glad to try.

budcline@inebraska.com

I might also suggest that you take a look at the mud course offered by the CTEF. Dave Gobis and the guys there would be glad to show you how to do it efficiently and profitably.

J&J Home Imp.

It would be worth my while to learn from someone. i have turned down some good money custom showers cause I had no clue how to do the pan. The next one I do will be Schluter for sure and I'll see how that goes.

Rich Turley

J&J --

I agree, it probably would be good to learn from someone. I hired a guy this summer to help me out with some custom stuff. I paid him $55 an hour, but it was worth every penny. Wether or not anothers experience would be the same might be determined by how you approach it and the guys personality. The guy I hired has oodles of experience and I think he was a closet teacher, seemed to enjoy imparting his knowledge and tips. Course, it doesn't hurt that he was getting hourly.

I still call him now and then with a question and he has referred a couple of customers to me.

Rich

J&J Home Imp.

Thats cool. The problem with a bunch of the custom guys around here is they are getting harder and harder to find so they are kinda being greedy with their knowlege so they can keep charging what they do. They are getting double what I get easy, and they stay booked. For being in business only 2 years I am not doing too bad but I still have a bit to learn.

Graeson

1. Using Kerdi in a tub surround - What do I do where the Kerdi meets the tub - AKA what's the proper way to create a seal here?

2. Different job - 2"x12" Island Stone Slate Cladding in a tub surround on Kerdi - the customer wants it to be free of grout joints - Can this be done?

Have at it guys - anyone?

G.

angus242

I'd say NO. I have first hand knowledge of this:
http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...332#post380332
Read this too:
http://www.fcimag.com/CDA/Articles/C...00000000238555

Graeson

Thanks Angus!

sawdustrules

Jim - Please tell me I'm reading this wrong. Do you mean to tell me that you are putting in a system that takes you 20 mins but still billing a customer for more than 4-6 hours of labor? Don't allow me to be anywhere close to your work area or I'll report you to the BBB as a fellow contractor faster thatn you can install this new system!!

Double-A

If he's not selling a mud pan, but a Kerdi system, what difference does it make if he charges the same as a mud pan? A fair price is fair when both parties to the price agree it's fair.

If he's not time and material, but bid the job, where is the infraction?

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

angus242

Wow, the contractor police are here

Seriously though, you have no idea what he's doing. It may take 20 mins to install the foam pan but what prep work does he do? Is there more to his installations? I don't think you should get all bent about this. Schluter stuff is FAR from new. Sounds like you are not familiar with them so why start throwing BBB threats around?
Maybe you should look into a Schluter system. It may be a way for you to increase productivity and profits.

__________________
Angus
L+M+O+P=C
"Promise only what you can deliver. Then deliver more than you promise"