DensShield to shower pan detail dilemna
Hi FHB folks,
We seem to have a disagreement between our drywall and tile subs on the DensShield detail where it meets the shower pan. The drywall folks installed the DensShield with about an 8″ gap to the shower pan liner. They say this is standard practice, they’ve been doing it this way for ’50 years’, and that there is a different kind of mesh backer that is glued to the bottom for supporting the tiles.
Our tile person says they run the DensShield all the way down to the mud bed.
GP’s detail on it suggests the DensShield is run to just an 1/8″ above the mud.
Questions
-Does anyone know of another type of backer that any tile folks glue onto the walls on shower pan liner?
-If the DenShield is supposed to be just an 1/8″ off the mud, how low do you go with fasteners as to not unnecessarily penetrate the shower pan liner but also have enough structural integrity to securely hold tile without moving.
Thank you!
Replies
In over 40 years as a general contractor I've never heard of drywallers installing tile backing. Dense shield has not been in use for 50 years. What ever backer (backer board or lath for a full float) is used it should be nailed only down to the top of the liner. The bottom is locked in by the mud on the shower floor. For backer board tolerances are more critical than for drywall. I can't imagine a tiler wanting someone else to do their backing. I've heard of stucco contractors doing brown coat for a full float, but the tile guy always finishes it to his requirements.