Help with Tub Deck Makeup


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Old 08-17-10, 01:07 PM
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Help with Tub Deck Makeup

Better now than later to have my plan critiqued, so I need to know from you guys if my tub deck material plan is correct.

We have a drop in cast tub that we have framed up and are approaching the deck portion. My plan is to use 3/4" plywood, with Kerdi over that as a tile base. Is there any need for treated plywood?

Framing is 2 x 6, with a max plywood overhang into the cavity of about 3 ". In addition, the tub has legs so the weight on the lip will be minimal.

My initial plan was to use treated plywood and cap it with 1/4" cement board, but I felt that approach may be overkill, since waterproofing below that should be done anyway.

Is my plan with simply the 3/4" plywood and the Kerdi OK as a tile base?
 
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Old 08-17-10, 01:48 PM
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I built my tub deck essentially the same way except for Hardibacker instead of Kerdi. I did not use PT plywood and I don't see any reason for it.

Consider building the deck so that it sees no tub weight at all. I don't know if having legs makes a difference but my deck is 1/8" lower than the tub, supported on a mortar bed. The small gap between the tub lip and the deck is filled with caulk.
 
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Old 08-17-10, 02:25 PM
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Good idea Wayne leaving the void between the tub and the deck.
Makes complete sense to me. Thanks for the tip.

I'm tending to agree with you regarding the treated. The more I thought of it, the frequency of standing water on the tile would be minimal. I have some 1/4" hardi left over from another project and will have some Kerdi membrane cutoffs from this current one.
I'm just wondering now if one would be better than the other, or if its a push.
 
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Old 08-17-10, 03:14 PM
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Kerdi cannot be installed directly over plywood as it is not s suitable surface. Your options are:

Solid backing – gypsum wallboard, cementitious backer unit, fibercement
underlayment, fiber-reinforced water-resistant gypsum
backerboard/underlayment, coated glass mat water-resistant gypsum
backerboard, portland cement mortar bed, concrete, or masonry.

http://www.schluter.com/media/ShowerHandbook.pdf

No PT plywood anywhere in a tile installation. PT dries out and tends to warp and shrink.
 
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Old 08-17-10, 03:57 PM
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Thanks HotinOKC,

I'm now down to one option, so the decision just became very simple
 
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Old 08-17-10, 05:09 PM
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I didn't mean to piss in your cornflakes.

You can use your cement board over the wood or even drywall if you are using kerdi.
 
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Old 08-17-10, 06:02 PM
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I dont like Corn Flakes anyway. Now if you piss on my Raisin Bran............

I appreciated the answer to my question. Thanks!
 

Last edited by Oldblades; 08-17-10 at 07:10 PM.
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Old 08-17-10, 07:20 PM
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Oldblades - Did you mean that you were going to use Ditra (a Schluter product) and typed Kerdi by mistake? Ditra could be used instead of CBU.
 
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Old 08-17-10, 08:49 PM
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Wayne,

You are correct sir.

I was working on my flooring plan last night and thats when the idea popped into my head. I generalized Kerdi (to include Ditra) as one product in the OP. My mistake.

I didnt realize my typo until this afternoon, but blew it off as not a practical solution thinking I was missing something with the membrane application in general.

So what your saying is that I could use Ditra flooring cutoffs for the deck, applied directly to the plywood? Given the tub cutout is an oval, thats very appealing to me, if so, by being able to skip the use of the hardi.
Nice catch and sorry for the confusion.

Thank you.
 
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Old 08-18-10, 06:14 AM
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Use Kerdi on the deck or other liquid applied membrane.
 
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Old 08-18-10, 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by HotinOKC View Post
Use Kerdi on the deck or other liquid applied membrane.
Point taken HotinOKC.

BTW, Good thing sometimes come to DIYers who drag their feet getting a project completed. Out of the blue this afternoon, my wifes uncle showed up with a Snapper Shear SS424. He had just finished a siding job and thought we maybe could use it. Beer 4U2
 
 

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