Hi RC and Kman,

I hope you guys are doing great.

I wanted to let you guys know that I just finish completing all the plumbing in the washroom. All the copper (supple lines) are done.

The builder had used plastic lines but i wanted to use copper just be on the safe side.

I've also installed the drain and put in three 2 x 4s for the curb as well the 2 x 10s on the bottom part of the walls for the liner to cover the 2 x 10s.

The next step is to put up the cement board but I'm unsure of the space needed between the floor and the cement board. Keep in mind I have not yet started the mud bed.


Steven

I would do the pre-slope first. Then install the liner, then the cement board. Keep it about 1/2" to 1" off the liner.

Remember that you don't nail/screw the cement board where it covers the liner. The final mud bed will hold the cement board in place. You should also do the mud curb at the same time as the final mud bed.

On a side note, our plumbing code here has been revised to allow plastic water lines. Apparently they're much easier to work with, much lighter, and cost about 1/3 to 1/4 as much as copper. Every house I've worked on this year has made use of the plastic lines.

Thanx Kman.

I'll leave the cement board to be finished after the mude bed but I think I screwed up :=(

Instead of putting a thinset prior to the mud bed on the slab (for a better "grip") of the mud bed. I actually did not think about this until later after finishing pre-slope. "GREAT" !

Don't worry about it Steve, if it was mixed right and packed well, that bed won't go anywhere.

Kman's right about stapling through the liner, but it's ok to staple through the liner as long as you stay up 4 or 5 inches from the bottom.

What do you recommend to use to pack in the deck mud.

I usually tamp it down with an old grout float, but anything would work. A scrap of 2x4, a brick, pretty much anything that has a bit of weight and a flat surface.

Hey Every one,

I wanted to update you guys on what I've been doing and how far I've gotten and thank you for every one for their help. (RC, Kman, Mike)

I finished the pre-sloap, liner and cement board ( 1/2").

My next step should be the curb and then the final mud bed.

Any tips, tricks and/or advice ????

The mud bed is done and as for the waterproofing I got 1/2 cement board up on the walls. Very shortly I'll be ready for tiles, As for the tiles I've selected " 18 x 18 Travertine" and 12 x 12 Travertine. My question is in reagards to the "seams" (space between 1 backerboard and another) and they type of thinset needed for laying the Travertine tiles.

I've purchased the kerdi stripes to use instead of the regular tape for seams and/or joints (space between 1 backerboard and another).


1 Is it ok to use the kerdi stripes for the seams, Using thinset to bonded to the cement board on the walles so that everything is waterproofed?

2 Which type of thinset would you recommend for travertine given the size is any where from 12 x 12 and 18 x 18.

Steven, Kerdi band on the seams is not going to make your shower waterproof. Thinset does not make your wall waterproof either.
Did you put a minimum 4 mil poly barrier on the walls prior to installing the cement board?

Before we get to the right type of thinset, we need to establish whether you are actually using a waterproof membrane over the cement board or not.

RC,

The builder did put up thick clear plastic (not sure what poly barrier is)which is covering the 2 x4 studs and the cement boards are installed on top of that plastic.

I am not sure which waterproof memberane I can use. (Red Gaurd ?)
that may be available in the GTA area.