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Evolution of waterproofing

In the past shower walls or “wet areas” were constructed by installing a wire lathe directly to the building’s studs, then troweling mortar over the lathe to produce a plumb flat surface on which to set the ceramic tile. This was an art form. It required years of practice to become a skilled installer. This lasted from about 1900-1960’s. Many buildings we worked on in Norfolk, VA were done this way. When remodeling these bathrooms, it took a day or more just to remove the old shower surround. There are still craftsmen today who can and do perform these types of installations in upper end projects.

in the 1960 or so, builders looked for easier, faster systems to make the building process move along more quickly. Unfortunately one route they took was to install tiles directly over drywall panels. In Roanoke VA where I now operate performing tub-to-shower conversions, I find many houses that were built in this manor. Surprisingly, many of these surrounds are still in fairly good condition. This makes me wonder why waterproofing substrates has come into such stark focus in recent years. A well installed tile over drywall has years of serviceable life when properly maintained.

Many if not most of these systems are now 50-60 years old and they are showing that age. I have repaired many of these by removing the damaged area and replacing it with better substrates and blending new tiles with old to complete the patch. It is a temporary solution because it too will eventually fail.

The modern tile substrates are easier to work with for many reasons. First the panels are lightweight, easy to cut and simple to seal. I have extensive training and experience using Kerdi Board by Schluter. I am factory trained on exact methods to produce a shower substrate that can carry a lifetime replacement guarantee.
Check this out…….”Lifetime Limited Warranty: Available when you pair eligible substrate systems (such as DITRA, DITRA-XL, KERDI, or DITRA-HEAT) exclusively with Schluter Thin-Set Mortars (Schluter SET®, ALL-SET®, or FAST-SET®) and register the installation online within 90 days. “

This means you can upgrade a standard warrantee from 10 years to lifetime when you use Schluter products as I do, to a lifetime guarantee by registering the installation with Schluter within 90 days of installation.
‘There are a few products similar to Schluter system. One of Schluter upcoming competitors in the area is Wedi System. It uses a caulk like compound to seal the wall panels to make them waterproof.

So when you are looking to hire a contractor in Roanoke VA, make sure they use proper materials and follow manufacturer’s instructions to be certain your tub-to-shower conversion will be as reliable and strong as it is beautiful.
Call me at 540 855-1012 for more information and a free in home consultation.

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