Installation Guide

Bathrooms are a primary focus of today’s building and remodeling projects and are becoming more and more luxurious, complete with
steam showers, oversized bathtubs, and the latest in fixtures and lighting. As such, tiled showers, bathtub surrounds, floors, walls,
and vanities are in high demand. Tile and stone are beautiful, durable, and available in a wide range of formats, colors, and textures,
allowing limitless design options. Tile and stone offer unmatched utility and high-end appeal, making them the ideal surface coverings for
bathrooms. Given the substantial investments made in these projects and nature of use, long-term durability is a high priority.
Waterproofing is the foundation of successful tiled bathrooms. Moisture-
sensitive construction materials (e.g., wood framing, plywood and OSB
sheathing, gypsum wallboard, etc.) are common in the North American
building environment and must be protected in wet areas. Wet areas also
bring the potential for mold growth if effective moisture management is
not provided. The key to mold control is moisture control.
In addition to showers and tub surrounds, bathroom floors surrounding
these fixtures are routinely subjected to water exposure during use.
Bathroom floors may also, through unexpected circumstances, become
exposed to significant amounts of water; for example, an overflowed
toilet or ruptured sink supply, which can result in flooding. Waterproofing
these floors can save an owner from replacing the tile assembly and
substructure in the event of a leak.
Schluter
®
-Systems offers simple and effective solutions to protect
moisture-sensitive substrates, prevent mold growth, and preserve
the integrity of the tiled surface throughout the bathroom.
The Schluter
®
-Shower System is an integrated family of products
that together form a fully bonded, watertight assembly for tiled
showers and bathtub surrounds. DITRA is an uncoupling membrane
that protects the tiled floors from damage by neutralizing differential
movement stresses between the substrate and tile and provides
reliable waterproofing. Since both of these systems are based on
topically-applied, bonded waterproof membranes, they can be combined
simply and easily to provide waterproofing throughout the bathroom.
Floors can be made fully waterproof with DITRA. Since the membrane
is made of waterproof polyethylene, the only extra step necessary is
to seal the seams and floor/wall connections with KERDI-BAND. The
same practice is used to integrate the DITRA with the KERDI used to
waterproof the shower or tub surround. The result is a comprehensive
waterproofing system that protects against moisture penetration.
For added luxury, the DITRA-HEAT electric floor warming system
with integrated uncoupling technology ensures that floors are both
comfortable, and resistant to cracked tiles and grout. Cables can be
placed wherever heat is desired for customized heating zones, and
no leveling compounds are required, making for a quick and easy
installation.
Please consult the Schluter
®
-DITRA and Schluter
®
-DITRA-HEAT
Installation Handbooks for comprehensive installation guidelines and
warranty criteria.
KERDI
DITRA
Security and utility
THE WATERPROOF BATHROOM
Schluter
®
-DITRA and Schluter
®
-DITRA-HEAT Installation Handbooks
Complete details and illustrations for tile installations over various substrates, and
supplementary information on topics such as waterproofing, movement joints, and
thin-set mortars.
To obtain or download a free copy of the DITRA or DITRA-HEAT Installation Handbook,
visit www.schluter.com or call 800-472-4588 (US) or 800-667-8746 (CAN).
THE WATERPROOF BATHROOM — Security and utility 39