Has anyone tried to waterproof a shower using kerdi drain and laticrete hydro ban,as opposed to kerdi membrane?
If not, how confident would you be with this application?
I like the idea of the wedi brd for shower walls with kerdi drain and kerdi for shower floor [saw Harrys example],
Im trying to come up with a simple and cost effective method for a curbless shower installation coming up.
As a new member[HELLO ALL!!] This is my first post.
Thanks,Louie,ISLAND TILECRAFT.

Hello my 2 cents worth from an amature. After doing my shower with kerdi, I would do it again with a kerdi drain, and the wedi shower walls. The cost should work out about the same in the end if you use a cement backer board for the project. Installation time will be quicker with wedi, and you will avoid the one problem I encounted that gave me fits. The seams that overlap build up and make the tile install difficult. I was aware of the issue, but untill I actually set the tiles I did not see the extent of the difficulty overlaping seams can cause. I am sure that on any future kerdi installs I would have fewer issues as the installation growing pains become less. Hope this helps David

I have used Redgard from Custom Building Products, and Bluegard from Mapei for a range of water proofing applications, including commercial hot tubs. A minimum of two coats is needed, 3 is better. Cost wise it's not really different from using kerdi, but if there are complicated profiles its less frustrating. The one drawback of the liquid membranes is that they are relatively easy to puncture with a trowel or tile corner.

I have done a lot of showers with Denshield, water proofed with redgard at the seams and nails. its fast and bombproof once you get it down. I'll try Wedi as soon as they start carrying it around here.

I use regular cement board on the walls, mud bed floor with a Kerdi drain and HydroBan on everything. HydroBan is more durable then anything else Ive used.

I was always looking for an alternative system to Kerdi because of the multi overlaps of fabric and the extra work to get tile to sit right over those areas.

The big disadvantage to HydroBan is the extended time frame to install it, especially if you plan on using it to cover the mud bed. If time is not an issue, its a great system.

To speed things up, I now use Kerdi over the mud bed and HydroBan on the walls,curb,seats and niches.

Thank you for your input!
Randall, i like your idea of kerdi on pan /hydo ban on walls,any thing that rids itself from the crazy build ups kerdi layers can create,especialy when you encounter angles or any type radius application.
I understand you dont need fabric on feild or crns with hydro ban??? other than pretreating crns with mesh and thin set ,do you have any other tips or points to share ie mill thickness,application tools,##of coats,thanks.

I pre treat the corners with mesh and thinset. Still can't get my head around the no fabric required corners from Laticrete.

I brush the corners and roll the field with a large nap roller or a split foam roller. Stuff goes on just like paint.

Hard to actually gauge the wet mil thickness but two coats on walls,ceilings and three on mud bed base,seats and niches is what I do.

This is what it looks like over cement board and a mud bed floor with Kerdi drain.

have a look at the river rock shower I have in the contest section. It would work equally well with greenboard instead of the hardi.

I apply the redgard with an epoxy roller. In the corners I put on the mesh and trowel on redgard (no thinset necessary if the gaps are less than 1/8th.) I assume Hydroban would be similar but have not worked with it.

Redgard is about $400 for a 5 gallon bucket, but that does at least 10 showers, more if you're just water proofing seams and corners on Wedi.

Last one I bought (about a month ago) I could only get a three gallon bucket. They said they weren't making the fives anymore.

Could well be, mine has lasted me over a year because I was doing carpentry for several months.

How much is the hydroban in comparison?