Kerdi Sheet Over Drywall

Schluter kerdi is a pliable sheet applied waterproofing membrane and vapor retarder designed for the direct application of tile.

Kerdi sheet over drywall.

Schluter recommends their kerdi product over drywall. This video shows a schluter shower installation using drywall purple board and schluter s wide roll kerdi membrane which allows the walls to be waterproof. Without a waterproof membrane like kerdi water and moisture can seep through grout tile and other materials and end up damaging wood studs and subfloor. Schluter has ben using kerdi over drywall for decades and since the certification doesn t last forever has been getting it retested to reverify it still works to stay in compliance bi annually.

They have easy videos and instructions online if he s not familiar with the process. Kerdi band would be fine but cement board mesh tape would be ok. It would be faster and easier than the way the contractor wants to do it and probably the most logical step forward. If you must tape the joints per fire code requirements make sure to apply a latex primer over the taped joints before installing kerdi.

Joint compound can be water soluble and should be protected from the moisture in the thin set mortar used to install kerdi. It is not necessary to tape the joints between drywall panels before installing kerdi. Thinset the tile on and caulk the edge. For complete instructions refer to the schluter website.

Remove drywall and proceed as you ve outlined. In fact it s advised to use this product on drywall in your bathroom before laying tile and other materials. Scrape the sheetrock to get a key and use whatever you want to tape the transition at the wall. The icc international code council test report esr 2467 covers the certification for both ditra and kerdi and is only valid if you follow the manufacturer s installation instructions.

Here are a few tips on installing kerdi. Go over the drywall with kerdi. At the ceiling i d tape with mesh with thinset on the kerdi side and hot mud on the ceiling. Sheet applied polyethylene waterproofing membrane and vapor retarder.

Kerdi is ideal for use in tiled showers bathtub surrounds residential steam showers and other tile applications in wet areas. If kerdi over regular drywall is acceptable is it preferable to waterproof drywall alone for the rest of the bathroom. It s not a wet location.