Tampa, Florida Schluter Kerdi shower waterproofing installation

Picked up the Schluter Kerdi and Kerdi drain from Tampa Tile for the Lutz, Florida shower project #tile #shower #waterproofing #kerdi #lutz #ceramictec

Schluter Kerdi shower specialists serving Hillsborough and Pasco county waterproofing custom tile showers. 

Importance of Waterproofing a Shower....

Being a Professional Tile Contractor/Installer in Tampa, Florida and helping out on tile help forums I have noticed people are always asking about info on damaged showers and tubs for water damage, rot, grout discoloration, efflorescence, leaks or black mold.

The lack of a pan liner or surface membrane is usually the main reason these problems occur. Professional tile contractors who know the importance of a properly built shower with a pan liner & pre-slope, a bonded waterproofing sheet membrane or a liquid applied membrane.

Mold and rot occur when water gets absorbed into the grout and then seeps into the cementboard or drywall and then starts rotting the studs. Also when drywall is used the problems are even worse because the mold feeds on the paper face of the drywall. Mold loves cellulose and spreads throughout the damp wet area behind your wall.
As the leak goes unnoticed the damage and mold become worse.

When a shower liner is used without a pre-slope the water sits in the mud pan and slowly deteriorates/breaks down the mud bed and fills with mold/sludge. Sometimes the weep holes then become clogged with calcium deposits and efflorescence forms on the grout joints from the water drying up through the grout to the surface. A bonded surface membrane will solve these problems.

While we still do and have been doing traditional pan liners for as long back as I have been doing tile for (21 years), newer, updated ways of waterproofing a shower have been developed like Schluter Kerdi, Noble TS, Laticrete HydroBan Laticrete Hydro Barrier & Custom Building Products Redgard.
All excellent surface applied waterproofing membranes.

I tell customers it's good to spend the extra money now to do it right or you will spend 3 times the money tearing it out a few years later by doing it wrong.

Accessible Handicap Shower.....

I just wanted to post this video documentary that the homeowners
emailed me of them and their child.

An Unexpected Gift

after seeing the documentary I am very happy to have done this
special tile job and shower waterproofing for them and Caleb.

I worked my hardest to give them what they wanted
and tried my best to make it perfect.

this was the accessible shower I just built for them.............

there was mold and a rotted sub floor under old laminate floor.
the one piece tub was cut and removed. mold was cleaned up.


joists were cut to make new area lower.
joists were also sistered on both sides


Kerdi drain was set to proper height.
new shower sub floor was installed, glued and nailed.
tar paper and metal lath were install prior to mudbed.


Schluter Kerdi was done on the shower walls.
the shower mud bed was packed along with the Ditra.


Kerdi was installed on the shower floor.
wall tile was laid out and started to install.


1x1 shower floor tile laid out to the Kerdi drain.
shower floor tile set with unmodified thinset.


12x12 main floor tile set flush with shower floor.

Grouted & Complete






A letter from the homeowners:

Dear Brian,

Thank you so much for a job well done!
We were impressed with your work from the time we found your website,
during the process, and upon completion.
Your attention to detail and craftsmanship were evident throughout.
You are a true professional.
You ensured quality and integrity, and we believe you delivered.
It was truly a pleasure to meet you and work with you!

Sincerely,
Scott & Tammy Hutchison & the little cookie monsters :)


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Barrier Free, Accessible, Curbless, Roll In Shower.....

These showers are becoming increasingly popular with older people who
don't feel like or cant step over a curb. Some homeowners even want it for the smooth style flowing look. Or the most important reason for building one is a child, elderly or loved one who is handicapped. In any of these cases someone can benefit by having a low curb or barrier free accessible shower.

I have built curbless, roll in, barrier free accessible showers for over 15 years.
more so in Hotels where required by ADA code they need to have available some showers for the Handicap on the first floor.

the waterproofing is tricky with these types of showers and I have come
to like working with Schluter Kerdi & Ditra. the Kerdi Drain is amazing.
and also Laticrete's Hydroban and Custom's RedGard both a great
liquid membrane to work with.

I could guarantee my showers using
one of these product for years.

Like this Custom Roll-In Shower:



Or this 3" Low Curb shower:

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Using Proper Tile Setting Materials.......

I'm sure this has been written a thousand ways.............
But choosing the right setting material for your job is very important.

there are certain types of adhesives used to set various types of tile.

The most common used material is thinset. thinset mortar is a blend of
portland cement, finely graded sand and a water retention compound
that allows the cement to hydrate.

There are many different types of thinset out there in grey and white color, multi purpose, polymer modified, un-modified, sanded, un-sanded, fast setting or high quality latex modified thinset mortars like flex and super flex.

With advancements in thinset there are also types of thinset coming out
now to deal with various situations like cracks and soundproofing.
Laticrete's 125 is a lightweight, superior crack prevention and sound
abatement mortar for ceramic tile and stone.

There is even Ditra-set by Bostik/Durabond/Hydroment.
which is a excellent non modified thinset for setting ceramic, porcelain,
and stone tile over Schluter-DITRA and Schluter-KERDI.

Each one has a special place when doing a certain type of tile work.
so be sure to either use a Qualified, Educated Tile Contractor,
or do a good amount of research prior to tackling a tile project.
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