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Ditra vs RedGard

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Seven-Delta-FortyOne

· Goin' Down in Flames....
Highwayman
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10,870 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I’m sure this has been beat to death here before, but I’ve been around long enough that I can just start a new thread, dang it. 👍😳😙


Im trying to wrap my head around why I would install tile on a foam backer.

If you’re a good craftsman, and are able to slope a shower floor, frame your own niches, and generally produce tight work, what is the advantage to what seems to me like a very expensive and complicated system, vs just Hardi and RedGard?
 
#2 ·
Less error, supposedly, even by seasoned folks. so...

1) ease and speed. 2) not enough folks pre-slope anyway (but damned if they don't all claim to do it - just b.s..)... 3) you don't get a mortar bed "sponge" full of skank ...and where some portion of water within in the bed never gets over the bottom drain flange...and into teh weep holes..if they remembered to add some pea gravel (which they often forget.)...and 4) the floor might feel a little warmer that over just mortar in a basement.

On the other hand...don't put a pebble floor over foam...it'll get soft spots. Need 2x2's,at least.
 
#3 ·
I have done a shower or two with a Schluter base and drain and cement board and Red Gaurd walls. No niche but solid surface corner shelf’s that I make. I used Kerdo band around the base and two inches up the wall and then Red Gaurd over the band and up the walls.

nicko
 
#5 ·
Last one I did I did the shower pan the old way with a sand/cement mix.

Then redguard over the whole then, the kerdi membrane over that.

I want that sucker to last 100 years without a leak.

Did kill a lot of time though.

I love both kerdi and ditra, and price them into ever tile job. I've never used the foam board stuff though for making pans and alcoves, but I don't do a lot of tile.
 
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#9 ·
I can set a Schluter shower system with niche and be tiling the same day. Red Guard this is not possible.

I carried a 5x5x10 Schluter shower system up a 3 story exposed rear porch in Chicago, in December, 2 trips. I was grateful the owner supplied all the tile and setting mortar.

A cost analysis when I was doing tile work more showed the Schluter system cost less than 10¢ more per square foot.

If you are planning to try one of these systems, Schluter has great info both in training and videos. I also have a lot of tips for you.

Tom
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
I would love to chat with you about it. I’ve seen your tile work and it’s top notch.

I spent quite a bit of time at my tile guys place today, and he ran me through the whole Schluter system.

It certainly seems convenient. Humping foam boards upstairs sure beats Hardi.

And it seems to be an excellent system for less skilled laborers.

But I’m wondering about what would make it a better, as in more durable and/or longer lasting installation than cement board and a waterproof membrane, especially for someone who has a higher skill level.
 
#15 ·
I have probably done about fifteen or so showers. Years ago it was mud base w rubber liner and plastic on the walls under the cement board. that was in the late 80’s. Then I went to Kerdi over cement board. Something about drywall in the shower I didn’t like. Now I have been using Kerri board. You still have to band all the seams and corners but it’s a lot less mess than troweling loose mix thin set on the walls. I have only done the Schluter base and Redgaurd walls once or twice because the customer wanted it that way to save a few bucks. It is not my go to method.
nicko
Kingcarpenter1 said:
Just sayin: I’ve seen Redford fail more than once

Mike
Click to expand...
 
#17 ·
As Andrew pointed out————always do a flood test 24 hours minimum.

I can start tiling the same day by using a ledger system. Hot glue and a Kerdi board cut off.

When using Kerdi board I rarely band the corners of the board. I slice the board, cutting through only one face sheet, snap the board and place the snap in the corner.

The pan gets banded And cornered unless in installing Ditra Heat on the pan, then I’ll over cut the Kerdi 2" each side, I still corner this installation.

I patch cover the washers and screws as I tile up most times.

Tom
 
#20 ·
Never used kerdi board I usually float my showers but the outfit I'm with calls for a lot of redgard. I laughed at first but I had a job with 15 showers that needed to be inspected by the city. I started the flood test but the job got completely shut down the next day. Long story short I didn't get much sleep for the next week knowing the showers were full of water and was shocked to find not one of them leaked. That said if it were my house I'd probably use the kerdi system lol.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 
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