Posts

Showing posts from August, 2021

DITRA-Heat Testing & Why an alert device is not sufficient.

Image
Schluter requires 3 tests for a 10 year warranty, and a 4th test for an additional 5 years.  We push 3 sets of tests at 3 different times during a wire installation.  We do this because a resistance alert device will only tell you one thing - has a wire been completely cut .  There is further damage that can happen to a wire that will affect its performance and life without an alert device ever ‘screaming’ at you.

Can I tie DITRA-Heat onto an existing outlet?

The question gets asked on occasion; your client needs to heat a floor, but cannot pull a direct line to the panel.  In the example scenario - about 70 SF of floor.    My recommendation as a Schluter representative will first and always be to pull a direct line.   Schluter can not guarantee performance or warranty any installation outside of instructions found in the DITRA-Heat installation handbook .   Will it work?  The answer is maybe.  I say not very likely - but then it all depends on the numbers.     To heat 70 SF of floor you would need to count on that wire pulling over 7 amps (with a 120 V cable).  Typically you would have a 20 amp breaker in the box.  It is recommend not to exceed 80% of a breakers capacity to prevent nuisance tripping.  This means that a 20 amp breaker should have a max load of around 16 amps.  If you hook a 7+ amp wire up to a 20 amp breaker, you are essentially taking up almost 50% of that breakers 16 amp capacity.  If it is a 15 amp breaker, you are even

Exterior Applications | Introduction to Pedestals/TROBA-Level

Image
A NEW APPROACH TO EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS. Due to our harsh climate in the intermountain region (either baked by the Sun, or vulnerable to freeze/thaw conditions - or even both) tile assemblies see limited success. In fact, it’s safe to say that it’s not if an assembly is going to show distress - but when . As such, Schluter has implemented a process to protect the installer, end user and ourselves by evaluating exterior requests on a case by case basis and thus eliminating high risk jobs. Exterior applications need time to study, plan, specify, estimate and install. They cannot be rushed, and ‘best’ assemblies cannot be assumed.  The LETTER OF EXPLANATION will lay out what Schluter will require before we can work towards creating a detail specific to a respective application. The CONSTRUCTION CHECKLIST has bullet points that must be addressed. This document must be signed and dated by the respective parties involved (i.e. contractor, GC or/and home owner). The EXTERIOR PRICELIST  is

DITRA-Heat in Shower | Detail & Tray Adjustments

Image
Installing DITRA-Heat in a shower increases the floor assembly height by the thickness of the membrane used; 1/4” for DITRA-Heat membrane and 5/16” for DITRA-Heat DUO membrane. DH-SH-23 is the detail taken from the DITRA-Heat installation handbook with critical information for installing DITRA-Heat in a shower application. Photos of the detail are included below. When Using Schluter Shower Trays Remove the center break-out section of the tray that supports the drain flange, highlighted in green below. Use the break-out as a template to cut a ring out of the DITRA-Heat membrane that you are using.  Install the DITRA-Heat membrane underneath the break-out support to lift the flange assembly up to meet the DITRA-Heat membrane that will be installed over the shower tray as shown below.   KERDI waterproofing membrane must be installed over the wire in the shower floor so that the sealed waterproof envelope is over the whole assembly. For KERDI-Line drains, use the grey foam channel