Reader question: Hi there. I recently finished grouting my tile surround in my shower. I posted photos on Facebook and somebody questioned whether I had waterproofed the Hardiebacker 500 board. Much to my dismay, I had never even heard of this… Anyway, I went to the James Hardie website and see … [Read more...] about Is Hardibacker and Durock cement board waterproof?
Showers/Bathtubs
No Waterproofing: Will this cause a shower to leak?
A leaking shower. The last thing anyone wants when they build a new shower. Yet I hear the following questions quite often: What inspired this post? A member of the John Bridge forum asking a simple enough question: Is a moisture barrier required? He had hired a contractor to … [Read more...] about No Waterproofing: Will this cause a shower to leak?
Mesh Tape: Don’t Skip This Step!
I know, thin mesh tape banding doesn't seem like it's going to do anything at all. However, this is a step that may seem trivial but has a significant impact. Let's get into the details. Alkali-Resistant Mesh Tape For tile backer boards such as Durock, Hardiebacker, and Permabase, … [Read more...] about Mesh Tape: Don’t Skip This Step!
Tile Backer Board Breakdown
It's time to redo your old, musty shower. So, you head down to the local box store only to find several different tile backer board options for covering the walls. The following thoughts are going through your head: I'm going to break down each choice by category and cover the finer points … [Read more...] about Tile Backer Board Breakdown
Kerdi no longer acceptable for commercial steam showers
In 2013, the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), the organization that sets the guidelines for tile installations, is rumored to have made a modification to their specifications for constructing tile steam showers. It's all about perm ratings- and Schluter Kerdi fabric no longer cuts … [Read more...] about Kerdi no longer acceptable for commercial steam showers
