WHY SCHLUTER SYSTEMS?

 

KERDI

Profiles

    Floor Profiles

    Wall and Countertop Profiles

    Stair Nosing

    Movement Joints and Cove-shaped Profiles

DITRA

KERDI

SCHLUTER SHOWER SYSTEM

THE TRADITIONAL SHOWER METHOD


Schluter Systems makes products that enhance the aesthetics, durability and reliability of tile installations.

Werner Schluter started Schluter Systems in 1975, with the invention of SCHENE edge protection profile. From this humble beginning Werner saw his company expand to 40 product lines, which includes, various profiles with specific purpose (aesthetics, edge protections. movement joints), uncoupling underlayment’s (DITRA), water proofing membrane (KERDI), shower systems and variety of other commercial applications.


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Profiles: There are a variety of profiles for different applications and wide variety of finishes; these applications include:

  1. •Floor Profiles: Because ceramic and stone tiles inherently brittle, their exposed edges can chip and crack if left unprotected. Transitions between floor surfaces and at thresholds are particularly vulnerable to damage. Schluter-Systems offers a variety of profiles to provide edge protections and transitioning at thresholds and between adjacent surfaces, resulting in durable, maintenance-free tiled coverings. The profiles can grouped into two categories:  transition between same-height surfaces and transitions between different height surfaces.

  2. •Wall and Countertop Profiles: Ceramic and stone tiles are durable, hygienic, heat resistant, and easy maintain, representing the ideal surface coverings for wall and countertops. However, lack of trim pieces such as bullnose or quarter round in many tile lines can limit designers options. Schluter-Systems offer s various finishing and edge-protection profiles for walls and countertops that offer increased design flexibility because they can be integrated with any field tile to create a beautiful, durable installation.

  3. •Stair Nosing: Tiled stair edges that do not utilize the appropriate trim pieces are left vulnerable to chipping and breaking and can create a slip hazard, especially in exterior applications. Schluter stair-nosing profiles protect exposed edges and improve  safety on tiled stairways by providing slip-resistant wear surfaces and increased visibility in both residential and commercial applications.

  4. •Movement Joints and Cove-shaped Profiles: Movement joints are and integral part of any tile assembly. The various components of a tile assembly (tile, mortar, substrate, etc.) expand and contract according to each components intrinsic physical properties with changes in moisture, temperature, and loading, resulting in internal stresses. Furthermore, structures that restrain overall expansion of the tile field (walls, columns, etc.) cause stress buildup within the system. If the aforementioned movements are not accommodated through the use of movement joints in the tile field and at restraining structures, the resulting stresses can cause cracking of the grout and tile and delaminate of the tile from the substrate. Thus movement joints are an essential component of a durable tile assembly. Schluter-Systems prefabricated movement joints profiles accommodate movement and protect tile edges, resulting in a permanent, maintenance free installation. The family of Schluter-DILEX prefabricated movement profiles includes a variety of shapes, sizes and materials to suit different applications.


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What is DITRA? 


DITRA is specifically designed to allow the installation of ceramic and stone tile over any even load bearing substrate. The integration of DITRA’s uncoupling, waterproofing, load-distribution, and vapour management functions makes consistent results viable.

DITRA can be installed with heated flooring systems.

Ceramic and stone tiles are durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic, representing the ideal surface coverings. However, todays lightweight construction methods can make the installation of hard surface coverings particularly challenging. In order to protect the integrity of of the tile assembly, an underlayment that performs multiple functions is required.


UNCOUPLING - Tile has been successfully installed for thousands of years by incorporating an uncoupling layer, or forgiving shear interface, within the tile assembly. DITRA provides uncoupling through its open rib structure, which allows for in plane movement stresses between the substrate and the tile, thus eliminating the major cause of cracking and delaminating of the tiled surface.


WATERPROOFING - DITRA provides reliable waterproofing in interior and exterior applications. Its polyethylene composition protects the substrate from moisture penetration, which is particularly important in today’s building environments where most substrates are moisture sensitive (i.e. wood).


VAPOUR MANAGEMENT - The distinguishing feature of Schluter-DITRA is the existence of free space created by the configured channels on the underside of the matting. The free space provides a route for excess moisture and vapour to escape form the substrate that could otherwise cause damage to the tile layer above. Thus, DITRA effectively manages moisture beneath the tile coverings.


SUPPORT/LOAD DISTRIBUTION - When placed on a solid foundation, columns or pillars can support tremendous loads. The same physical principle applies to Schluter - DITRA installations. Column like mortar structure are formed in the cutback cavities of the matting. Loads are transferred form the tile coverings through these column like mortar structures to the substrate. Since DITRA is virtually incompressible within the tile assembly, the advantages of uncoupling are achieved with sacrificing point load distribution capabilities. The ability of DITRA installations to support and distribute heavy  loads while preserving of the tiled surface has been verified through extensive laboratory and field testing, including applications exposed to vehicular traffic.


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What is KERDI?

Ceramic and stone tile are durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic, representing ideal surface coverings in wet areas. However, since tiles and grout are not inherently waterproof, it is essential to protect the substrate form moisture penetration.

KERDI is a pliable, sheet-applied, bonded waterproof membrane and vapour retarder with limited crack-bridging capabilities. It is made of soft polyethylene.

   

Where is KERDI primarily used?

Showers and any other location where moisture is a concern.


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What is a Schluter Shower System?

The Schluter®-Shower System is an integrated family of products that creates a “sealed” system. First, the Schluter®-KERDI-DRAIN is installed in conjunction with either a sloped mortar bed or the Schluter®-KERDI-SHOWER-ST prefabricated foam tray. The KERDI-DRAIN provides a simple and secure connection to the Schluter®-KERDI waterproofing membrane at the top of the assembly via the unique integrated bonding flange. Unlike shower pan liners in traditional assemblies, KERDI is a bonded waterproofing membrane that allows for the direct application of tile with thin-set mortar. KERDI is bonded to the mortar bed or tray and the surface of the KERDI-DRAIN’s integrated bonding flange. In addition, KERDI is installed over the solid backing (e.g., gypsum board, cement backerboard, etc.) on walls, creating a fully waterproof and vapor- tight enclosure.

The resulting assembly provides superior moisture management as it does not permit moisture to penetrate into the mortar bed or solid backing, allowing the assembly to dry completely between uses. The integrated Schluter®-Shower System eliminates leaks, reduces the potential for efflorescence and mold growth in the system, and dramatically reduces total installation time to ensure success and make shower installation easier than ever.


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The Traditional Shower Method

The traditional method for installing tiled showers is time and labor intensive and creates a “water in/water out” system. First, a mortar bed is sloped to the weep holes in the drain. The waterproofing membrane, called a pan liner, is placed over this “pre-slope” and clamped into the drain. Pan liners do not allow for the direct application of ceramic or stone tile. Thus, another mortar bed must be installed to provide load distribution and a bonding surface for the floor tile. Finally, a moisture barrier typically must be included behind the solid backing on the walls (e.g., mortar, cement backerboard, etc.) and lapped over the pan liner to protect the wall cavities from moisture penetration and divert that moisture into the pan.

Contrary to popular belief, the tile covering itself is not waterproof. Moisture will infiltrate the mortar bed and solid backing on the walls. This moisture must percolate through the mortar bed to the sloped pan liner and exit through the weep holes in the drain. With regular use of the shower the mortar bed can remain saturated, particularly if pre-slope installation is ignored or the weep holes become clogged, thus increasing the potential for efflorescence and mould growth within the system.