Durrock or other for shower?

Richard · Nov 19, 2015

Working on a full bath.

Wife & I been doing the drywall & floor. Shower stall is untouched (bare studs, plywood floor but the light and water are done)

From putting the floor down, I have three pieces of Durrock left over which I fully intended to be used in the shower (needing to buy more to do the whole thing)

Wife says take it back... "the other systems are better, my friend told me they don't use Durrock anymore"

I asked "Better for WHO?" Better for the installer who can get in/out quicker? Better product for the home owner?

I can easily take it back to get my funds back so she asked me to ask the experts.

You have a barren shower. You can install anything you want into YOUR shower. Do you use Durrock or another product as your base and why?

(Is Durrock the best thing to use or is there another....and why)

Edited to add: I should have said... because of leakage, we plan to hire out the shower finishing. Though we could probably do it ourselves, I'd rather let someone with more experience do it.

tbrooks26 · Nov 19, 2015

For an easy diy, look into a schluter products. I like it because it cuts time off of the overall project. Usually I go to my local tile/flooring store and by what I need individually. The shower kits come with a fabric waterproofing that is kind of a pain to put on, if your not used to it. They make their own backer as well. Its like foam board with the waterproofing on it. They are expensive, but I like the time it saves me. But yes, lots of people/pros still use durrock as well.

747driver · Nov 19, 2015

Durrock is fine as long as it is installed right.

I would use this system as mentioned in above post.

Schluter-DITRA - Schluter-Systems
Schluter-DITRA - Schluter-Systems
Schluter-DITRA is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration, and an anchoring fleece laminated ...
‎Schluter-DITRA - ‎Download - ‎Material - ‎Evaluations and Listings

jimmysisson · Nov 20, 2015

If you have room, I favor installing 5/8" cdx plywood or Advantech behind the tile backer. That way you can put accessories anywhere.
If you're hiring out the tile, ask the tile guy what he prefers as a backer
Jim

RippySkippy · Nov 20, 2015

Schluter is THE way to go with a mud pack base, easy wonderful system. Not cheap, but once and done.

Richard · Nov 20, 2015

Thanks for the replys.

Never heard of the Schluter system. Will be interesting to read up on them.

I put the Durrock in the basement shower, turned out ok (so far HA!)

Wife wanted to put (what I think is called) Hardiboard behind it. I kind of felt if it wasn't outright the wrong material, it would still not offer the strength of Durrock.

Will get to reading.

I don't mind so much if the project takes a day or a month. This bathroom took a 4 year pause while we did some other things so, now that the electric is done, plumbing is done, tile (floor) is almost done, I don't care if it takes 3 days or 3 months.

Most of the climb is now behind us. (but for the shower)

tbrooks26 · Nov 20, 2015

I despise hardi-backer for tile work. Not that its a bad product, but I just find it harder to work with. I'm not an everyday tile-guy, but I seem to have done 1 or 2 showers a year for about the past 10 years. I've been using schluter for the past 4 or 5 and have been happy with it all around. As said above, it should really be up to whoever is laying the tile. Tile is really not that hard if you rent yourself a wet saw, and make sure you keep things level. That does depend on the size of the shower though, bigger is easier. I had to do a 30"x40" one time, with 4 walls and a doorway, and it took me longer than any shower I have ever done.

Tomtint · Nov 21, 2015

We have done numerous large showers with Durarock.... Never a problem. It's a bit tougher to work with at first, but I'm certain it will be there for 50 years with out issues. I have not used the other material that was mentioned.

JimRB · Nov 21, 2015

For me, the big thing is getting the pan installed properly. If the pan is horizontal/flat, it is not installed properly. The pan is supposed to be installed with a slope so the water drains, not pools. Water always gets passed through grout lines. If you do not slope the liner/pan, that water pools Also you should not put the Durock to the pan. I hold it up an inch or so. When I mud the pan, the mud covers an inch or so of the Durock. The goal is to not have the Durock sitting where it is wicking water up. Again, having a proper slope to the pan helps with that issue. I have sloped wtih mud and with plywood shimmed at the perimeter to amke a slope to the drain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRwu1SE_***