Started with the Kerdi Band, figured it would be better to start with the smaller pieces as I've never done this before. A little messy (a lot, really). Seems the top center corner of the bench has 2 band overlaps, and I still need to put the inside corner on. I have some excess thinset on the outside of, was it ok to remove some of that before I install the corner piece? I used a sanding sponge to remove some of the excess.



Another concern is the two angles of the bench where it meets the floor, wierd angle for the outside corners, any advice on how to use an outside corner for that?



What about the corner to the left, I should put an inside corner there also, yes?

And the last question is about the edge of the left wall in this next picture, I plan on tiling to the edge of the wall, how close does the kerdi need to be to the edge? Don't think it would be good to bring it right up to the edge.



Thanks for answering my questions, it is really appreciated!

Pritch-

Pritch, I'm not sure what a sanding sponge is, but if it's kind of rough, you don't need to use it. Kerdi has an anchoring fleece that can be rubbed off if agitated enough. You really need a regular grout sponge for your work. They're only about $2 apiece. Get yourself a couple or three of them, and clean them with water at the end of the day.

The better you clean Kerdi immediately after it's applied, the less likely you are to have build-ups with the overlaps. I have also found that a couple of 6" wide drywall knives (with the sharp corners ground off) makes it easy to work the Kerdi in without pulling it out of place. You can use one knife to hold the corner in place while working out the thinset with the other. Keep your thinset on the loose side and lightly dampen the wall with a sponge before applying the thinset to help with this.

That 45 degree corner is one of the toughest parts of working with Kerdi, and one of the reasons I start Kerdi on the floor and work up from there, overlapping the lower pieces with the upper pieces. The best way I have found to deal with them is to cut a piece of Kerdi band in the shape of a wide 'V' in a 45 degree angle (looks kinda like a Stealth bomber), put it on the floor with the bottom of the V pointing away from the corner and push it up on the vertical surface about a 1/4" or so. Then have the vertical sheet come down over the piece to the floor. Water would have to run uphill to get past that.

On your step, bring the floor section up and over it, then down to the floor outside the shower. This may entail cutting a separate piece just for the step, which is usually what I do. Just make sure you have the required 2" overlap, and that it runs to the wall on both ends. You'll need to take that piece of trim off to do that. Then use the two outside corners that came with your drain to do the curb/wall junction on the inside of the step. I usually have to cut the ends off to make them fit. You don't want them sticking out past the corner of the curb, obviously. Those outside corners will overlap your inside corners on the floor. Use an inside corner at each corner of the floor, as well as the on the back corner of the bench.

Hope that all makes sense.

One last thing: Is that Custom Blend thinset you're using? If it is, a word of warning: Custom Blend is a very cheap unmodified thinset that doesn't work very well, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it's the only unmodified that HD has to offer. If you can get to Lowe's, get their Laticrete Megabond, or Mapei Kerabond. You'll find them easier to work with and the bond is much better.

The Custom Blend was the first thing I saw in your picture. Darn stuff, I thought someone mentioned to use a high quality unmod in this thread. You don't want to go to the orange place for tile supplies, waste of time.

Jaz

Thanks Kman for your very detailed response, and Jaz, you only saw part of the bag of thinset, here's a better picture of what it really is.

That will probably work fine, although you know it will void your warranty since it's modified, right?

Yes, I do. I've read a lot of postings from folks who seem to have had problems with unmodified. I know the professional installers probably have the installation down just right and everything adheres just fine, but I've read that the biggest reason for the unmodified is the drying time. At the rate I'm going, it will have plenty of time to dry before I get the grouting in. Of course, John is very clear about what he uses!

Yes, they all lean toward Versabond, since it's only lightly modified. I don't care for it myself, and the guys on JB forums are pretty strict about standards and manufacturer's guidelines, but for some reason in this area they deviate.

I know the chances of ever needing the warranty are slim to none, but I would hate to think that in the event I needed it, I had done something that would automatically void it.

I've had pretty good luck with Megabond, so I recommend it to anyone who asks.

Good luck on your project progress. Take your time, and keep things cleaned up. It'll make things easier on you in the long run.

Drying time is one reason, the other is that modified thin set will tend to re-emulsify if it gets wet and stays wet in the future.

I found out the hard way. I installed some porcelain outdoors using a very good quality thin set. I won't say which one but it cost about $24 a bag in 1998, and that was wholesale. The job was going bad by the next spring. Had latex leeching and one area came loose. I removed to repair only to find the high quality modified was mush. Just like Schluter describes. (There were no Schluter products used on this job).

If you knew John and asked him about which thin set he would use he would say Ditraset, if only he could get it where he lives.

The only reason Versabond has become a popular recommendation is that it is easy to find. Even John mistakenly thought it was a medium grade modified instead of an entry-level product. No one has done any testing, all the info is off-the-cuff comments. It will probably work fine. But Schluter has tested for years and we should go with what they say.

Jaz

If I may add..off the cuff I mean .....Home Depot does have a good quality unmodified...it's called Premium Blend..comes in white and grey..though, not all stores carry it. Nice stuff. It's 20 bucks a bag though.


Personally, the good folks at Schluter should be saying to all retailers...if you sell our product, you must sell(insert name here) to install it. It would save a lot of trouble.

Brian, do you have a link to Premium Blend? I couldn't find it on either Custom's or Home Depot's websites.