Learn how to prep a shower for tile with a Schluter Kerdi waterproofing system.

If you're renovating your bathroom, adding new tilework is a beautiful and worthwhile enhancement.

Just if you lot don't have the steps to waterproof it, you could ruin your new bathroom with leaks and water damage.

Prepping a shower for tile is a very of import step in having a waterproof shower.

install Schluter Kerdi shower system in a shower

Disclosure: This postal service contains some affiliate links or referral links for your convenience. It is a style for this site to earn advertising commissions by advertising or linking to certain products and/or services, click here to read my total disclosure policy .

At that place are many different ways to prep a shower:

  • First, there is the backing, which is either cement board, Dunshield, or another textile.
  • So, you lot have the shower pan which tin can be a premade one, cement ane, or just a tray that has the gradient.
  • Side by side is the waterproofing layer, such as Red Gard and other types of membrane.

One of the most reliable ways to waterproof a shower is with the Schluter Kerdi shower system.

In this post, I volition share how I prepped our shower for tile using this arrangement.

WHY I CHOSE SCHLUTER KERDI

I get-go heard near Schluter Kerdi from a plumber who highly recommended using this system.

After researching for myself, I rapidly realized iii things:

  1. The system is completely waterproof (even the floor drain).
  2. The shower pan (tray) already has the slope congenital in.
  3. It's designed for the average DIYer to install.

Deport in mind, this is not the cheapest option but information technology's very effective. It's about $500 for the whole organisation. And my total cost was slightly more than because of my one-half wall and the niche.

But let's move to the process of installing the Schluter Kerdi shower system.

prep shower for tile with schluter kerdi membrane

SIDE NOTE: I did not purchase the kit because I needed the adaptor drain and I was building the half wall and so I did non need the whole curb. (And if yous are wondering what the curb is, it is the lip/border between the bathroom flooring and shower that helps to keep the water in the shower.)

TIP: Make sure to accept all the plumbing set up before starting this process (have the shower faucet valve installed and maybe your drain).

INSTALL THE BACKER BOARD

The first step to waterproofing a shower (after framing and installing the plumbing) is installing the backboard. Nosotros decided to use Denshield because it is easier to employ and has a moisture bulwark (mold-resistant).

SIDE NOTE: We used two 2×four'south for our shower curb (bottom was pressure level treated and top a regular 2×four); then, wrapped the boards with Denshield.

Also, if y'all are using a niche, avert roofing that expanse in capitalist board and install the niche after!

shower walls with Denshield and shower niche

LEVELING THE FLOOR

The floor of our shower was not level considering we replaced all of our drain lines. So, before installing anything, the floor had to be leveled. This was not equally hard as I thought information technology would be. See my mail service on how to level a floor to run across the full procedure.

unlevel concrete floor

INSTALLING THE SCHLUTER KERDI Drain ADAPTER

For this shower, we used the Schluter Kerdi drain adaptor considering we already had a drain cemented into the floor.

Merely earlier I actually installed the new drain, I cut the shower tray to the size I needed (our size was about 54″ and the tray was threescore″). To cut the tray, I used a razor blade and square. Then, I tested the fit and adjusted if needed.

Now, back to calculation the drain.

Schluter Kerdi shower pan out of the box
cutting Schluter Kerdi shower tray cutting to size
test fit of Schluter Kerdi shower tray

The bleed kit comes with instructions but I personally love videos so here is the Schluter'southward teaching video on installing the drain adapter.

Schluter Kerdi Drain in box
items to install Schluter Kerdi shower drain

But, but so you know, it was as easy every bit they made information technology look and I just installed the adapter band at this time.

Schluter Kerdi adapter drain for shower

INSTALLING THE SCHLUTER KERDI MEMBRANE

Because this is my first time EVER tiling a shower, I am going to recommend you lot spotter Schluter'south instruction video on installing the Schluter Kerdi shower system. This will explain the whole install procedure.

Also, it took me 6 hours to install the system.

I decided to cut out my pieces first and this was hands done using a tape measure and scissors.

cutting Schluter Kerdi shower membrane

Next, I mixed the mortar.

TIP: Brand certain you are using the correct type of mortar: unmodified thin-fix mortar ANSI A118.1. The ANSI A118.i is the most of import part and will exist written on the bag.

mix mortar for shower with drill and mixer attachment

Then, I installed the membrane as the video demonstrated. I started with the walls starting time, adding the tray, and waterproofing the corners. The most difficult part for me was the corners simply after some practice, it became easier.

installing Schluter Kerdi shower system member

TIP: Place the ii″ test plug into the drain so zilch falls into the drain.

waterproof shower with Schluter Kerdi system

Hither is my shower after 24 hours of dry out time:

Schluter Kerdi shower system after drying

Adjacent, I tested the shower. To do this, brand sure the shower floor is clean and tighten the 2″ test plug into the drain. So, fill the shower bottom with water (at least an inch deep) and marker the spot. Permit that set for 24 hours to make certain everything is waterproof. Hither is another Schulter Kerdi video on performing a water test.

SIDE NOTE: This membrane is fabricated so that you could shower with just the membrane (NO tile) and have no water issues.

waterproof shower member that is orange

And that is how someone with NO tiling feel installed the Schluter Kerdi shower organization.

Hope this helps you when tiling a shower because prepping the shower the correct way volition help the shower to concluding a very long time.

Also be on the lookout for my experience tiling for the first time!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Active Fourth dimension two days

Boosted Time two days

Total Time 4 days 30 minutes

Difficulty Moderate

Estimated Price $$$

Materials

  • Schluter Kerdi membrane (this was enough for a 36″x5′ shower)
  • Schluter Kerdi shower tray
  • Kerdi Drain
  • Schluter Kerdi band
  • adjourn (or utilise ii×4'southward wrapped with your capitalist board choice)
  • mortar (the ANSI A118.one kind)
  • two″ test plug
  • Schluter Kerdi niche (optional)

Tools

  • saucepan
  • mixer
  • drill
  • record pocketknife
  • trowels
  • trowels
  • razor

Instructions

  1. Install the backer board onto the walls.
  2. Make sure the floor is level in the shower.
  3. Install the drain adapter, if needed.
  4. Cutting the shower tray to size.
  5. Install the Schluter Kerdi membrane over the backer board using the right mortar.
  6. Permit the mortar dry for 24 hours then test the shower.
  7. The shower is ready for tile.
tile shower with Schluter Kerdi