The Schluter Kerdi Shower Kit is one of the most popular and DIY-Friendly shower waterproofing systems. Although installing the Schluter Kerdi Shower Kit is generally straightforward, the Schluter Kerdi Drain Grate Installation can be the most challenging step.
To install the Kerdi Drain Grate Kit, apply thinset to the Kerdi Shower Pan using a trowel. Slide the height adjustment collar into the the lateral adjustment ring and back-butter the underside of the drain grate with thinset mortar. Next, place the drain grate assembly on the shower pan and embed into the thinset mortar. Finally, install the surrounding shower pan tiles and adjust the drain grate height so that it is even with (or slightly below) the surrounding tile height.
Each step in the Schluter Kerdi Drain Grate Kit Installation process is explained in detail within this article. However, if you are more of a visual learner, you can skip to 5:35 of my Shower Pan Tile Installation Video below:
1. Ensure that all prerequisite steps have been completed
The Schluter Kerdi Drain Grate Kit is installed as part of the shower pan tile installation. However, you cannot begin the shower pan tile and Kerdi Drain Grate installation until all of the Schluter Kerdi Shower Kit prerequisite steps have been completed. For a complete list of the Kerdi Shower Kit Installation prerequisite steps, check out my “How to install the Schluter Kerdi Shower Kit” article linked here:
At a minimum, you want to have installed your Kerdi Shower Pan and waterproofed all intersections. A water test is also highly recommended.
Once all prerequisites have been completed, you can begin tiling your shower pan and installing your Kerdi Shower Drain Grate.
2. Install Shower Pan Tile up to the Drain
Begin installing your shower pan tile, starting at the back corner. For more information on how to tile a shower pan, check out my shower pan tile installation article linked here or watch my Youtube Video above.
Once you have installed tile up to the shower drain, prepare to set your Kerdi Shower Drain Grate Kit.
3. Install the Schluter Kerdi Drain Grate Kit
The Schluter Kerdi Drain Grate Kit is comprised of the following pieces:
- Height adjustment collar (cylindrical piece)
- Lateral Adjustment Ring (Perforated Ring)
- Drain Grate
To begin installing the Kerdi Shower Drain Kit, insert the height adjustment collar into the lateral adjustment ring.
Next, back butter the drain grate assembly with thinset mortar to ensure a good bond to the shower pan.
Next, apply a copious amount of thinset to the Kerdi Shower Pan using a trowel.
In order to maintain the Schluter Warranty, it is recommended that you use one of the following Schluter Thinset Mortar types:
You also have the option to use any unmodified thinset mortar, but this will void the Schluter Warranty. Once you have applied thinset mortar to the shower pan in the shower drain area, set the entire Kerdi Shower Drain Kit Assembly in place.
After placing the Kerdi shower drain in place, use a trowel to comb additional thinset over the lateral adjustment ring as shown below.
After applying additional thinset over the lateral adjustment ring, the shower drain tiles can be installed around the shower drain kit.
4. Install Shower Pan Tiles around the Drain Grate
At this stage, install the shower pan tiles around the drain grate. For more information on how to cut the shower pan tiles around the drain grate, check out my article linked here. Firmly embed the shower pan tiles around the shower drain grate by applying firm even pressure.
5. Adjust the Height of the Drain Grate
Once the tiles around the shower drain are in their final position, adjust the height of the shower drain grate so that it is even with (or slightly below) the face of the adjacent tile.
Once the final height of the Kerdi Shower Drain Grate has been established, the Kerdi Drain Grate Kit Installation is nearly complete.
6. Clean up any excess thinset Mortar
The final step of the Kerdi Shower Drain Grate Kit Installation is to remove any excess thinset mortar. Use a wet sponge to remove any excess thinset mortar, thoroughly cleaning the area before any thinset dries.
Your Kerdi Shower Drain Grate Kit Installation is now incomplete!
Thanks so much for checking out ATImprovements! If you learned something from this project, you might also like these other DIY Projects:
How to Install Kerdi Shower Pan: How to Install Kerdi Shower Pan (Kerdi Shower Tray Installation) – AT Improvements
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How to Install a Kerdi Shower Curb: Kerdi Shower Curb Installation – AT Improvements
How to Install a Kerdi Shower Drain: Kerdi Shower Drain Installation – AT Improvements
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