Resources – JP Carducci Inc
Let’s talk about your shower for a minute, and why it may be time to throw out the old and bring in a new Schluter Shower System.
How often do you shower? For most of us it’s once a day. But depending on your daily activities or schedule, it could be more.
How many people shower in your home on a regular basis?
With a family of 4 showering once a day, that’s over 100 showers a month.
With so much shower activity, mold and other problems now have over 100 opportunities to begin forming.
Making sure that you have a waterproof shower is not only a good idea, but it’s a necessity.
Why is it a good idea?
Well, you don’t want your shower to leak water every time you use it. Continuous water leakage creates a mess, and also allows mold to start growing.
Below is an example of a shower not properly waterproofed that we recently ran across.
Mold is BAD!
We don’t want any standing water and with proper waterproofing we stop leakage, reduce the chance for mold, and prevent water intrusion from getting in the wall. (Look at the example above.)
In all of our new construction homes we use the Schluter Shower System.
Schluter Systems was founded by Master Tile Setter Werner Schluter. Needing better solutions for certain problems throughout his career, Schluter began developing innovative products to help with tile setting.
In 2003 , the Schluter Shower System was introduced to provide a lightweight, easy-to-install alternative to mortar bases. And when installed correctly, the Schluter Shower System is 100% waterproof!
Unlike shower pan liners, bonded waterproof membranes bond directly to the mortar bed and protect it from becoming saturated with regular use.
See, the old school way to waterproof a shower is to use Durock & Red Guard.
Waterproofing this way requires multiple application and multiple trips for your contractor. Here is what the steps look like:
- Cut & Install Durock
- Apply Red Guard
- Wait next day for Red Guard to dry
- Check thickness of Red Guard (it’s important to check the thickness because you have to have a certain millage to be waterproof.)
- Re-apply Red Guard to fully seal (aka Completely Waterproof)
- Wait next day to dry
- Then tile your shower.
That is a lot of steps to safely waterproof your shower.
With a Schluter Shower System, the process is much faster and more efficient.
Here is our process:
- Waterproof & Set tile on same day
And the good thing about the Schluter Shower Systems is that there is no dust, no mess, and can be installed over drywall.
That means that for new construction, you can drywall the entire house and do not have to worry about cement board or pan liners.
Installing the old school way we described above has a lot of mess, and multiple cleanups.
Certified Installation
Now that you are itching for a Schluter Shower System to be installed it’s very important to understand that not every contractor can install this system.
Schluter requires that contractors become certified through their training programs in order to properly install their systems.
See, installers cannot skip steps. You will end up with a failed system if not done properly.
This brings me to the next point.
Schluter Shower Systems have a great warranty, but that warranty becomes void if purchased through an unauthorized dealer, and the installer is not certified.
You do not want that to happen given the fact that Schluter Shower Systems are more expensive that other systems.
In all of our new construction homes and remodels, we are using the Schluter Shower System.
If you are thinking about renovating your bathroom anytime soon, I would recommend you look into Schluter.
Don’t get caught up with the fact that they can be more expensive than other systems. When compared to the time it takes to install, it saves you money in the long run and is 100% waterproof.
Videos
Introduction to the Schluter®-Shower System
Watch An Install of The Schluter Shower System
ICF Homes in Fort Walton Beach have been on the rise lately, and as a construction company it is easy for us to see why.
We know what an ICF Home is, and the pros and cons that go along with it. But do you?
What Is An ICF Home?
Before we go into what it is, you need to know that ICF stands for Insulated Concrete Forms.
It’s a foamwork for concrete that stays in place as permanent building insulation for walls, floors, and roofs.
So now that you know what it stands for, let’s go ahead and say it: An ICF Home is a solid, concrete home.
It’s very common for people to confuse ICF Homes with prefabricated or modular homes. No matter what you have heard here is the truth:
ICF is built on site and to the specs with individual blocks. Prefab or modular homes are brought in on trucks and then put together.
ICF Homes are the best, because of the build, efficiency, and strength. And by strength we mean shear wall strength over 200 mph winds.
The Build:
The ICF block wall is a total of 12” thick which includes 7” of solid concrete, and 2.5” of foam on each side.
The foam is for insulation and sound. It also creates the building process for stacking the blocks. Think of it in terms of legos.
With a 12” block, 7” of solid concrete, and 2.5” of foam on each side, that makes for some really good insulation.
Just how good? Well, insulation levels are measured by an R-value. According to Energy Star, R-Value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-Value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
ICF blocks have an R25 value without the concrete. If you were to add the concrete it would push the rating up to around R50.
Your typical well-insulated stick frame homes at their best would rate R10. And the average 2×4 home has a R6 – R7 rating.
The Efficiency:
ICF Homes are the most energy efficient homes that you can have. It’s a true money saver in the form of cheaper insurance, and lower power bills.
Try not to think of this as “just a home”, because it’s truly and investment. While the typical building cost is more, it can make you money in the long run.
The savings you will receive on your insurance and power bills combined can pay for it in 8-10 years, depending on home size.
ICF Homes have longevity and hold value better than a stick frame homes
Pros of ICF Homes:
Although everything you’ve read up to this point has been a “pro”, there are a few others.
With ICF homes you are not limited to finishes. You can do
- Brick
- Stucco
- EIFS
- Vinyl siding
- Hardi board siding
Most builders are having issues with keeping the hardi board flat and straight on ICF homes. This is not an issue for us. We do not add extra furring strips or wall sheeting to make it flat. We have found a way that most others over look and it has worked perfectly.
Cons of ICF Homes:
There are some cons with ICF Homes, but they are definitely not deal breakers.
Running plumbing on exterior walls is possible, but difficult.
To cut down on costs, we recommend that you run them on interior walls. As long as they are placed right, there are no issues running plumbing on interior walls.
Another thing to keep in mind with ICF is that it does take longer to build. While every situation is different, the build is typically 2-3 weeks longer.
The primary reason for this is the concrete cure times.
If you are thinking building a home, or shopping for a new one, ICF is a great choice. Let us show you how we can save you money, so you can be comfortable with your investment.