Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8454 2016 | TECH The height and weight of two beds can be problematic. Other drains utilize waterproofing membranes bonded to a single slope. A watertight installation depends on the seal of membrane to the drain and drain to the waste pipe. One product on the market has a clamping collar to secure membrane to the drain. Choose the option that provides the features you need to create an elegant shower and durable, water- tight installation. Josef Erelebach, director of research & development, technical support Quick Drain USA www.quickdrainusa.com C u r b l e s s shower sys- tems are the new frontier and the future of bathroom design. The United States is the only place in the world that does not imple- ment them. Curbless systems are superior. When installed correctly, they offer a beautiful yet functional wall-to-wall end result that is easier to install and less expensive than with traditional round drains. With curbless systems, there is the abil- ity to use large-format tiles. True curbless systems incorporate linear drains with adjustable shower pans where plumbing does not need to be moved, and in some cases the drain itself is the thickness of the tile, which is perfect for situations where the floor cannot be altered. There are many companies that offer “linear drains” but in actuality only sell linear drain covers. A true curbless shower system is better than that. Curbless shower systems work for hospitality, healthcare, ADA and residential situations. Robert Sears Trending Accessibility www.trendingaccessibility.com A very popular trend in showers is the European wet room, a curbless shower for tile. It is a whole- room solution that waterproofs the entire bathroom and provides a curb- less result in the shower. European wet rooms do not build on top of the subfloor; rather the subfloor shower pan actually provides a zero-degree plane from the shower area to the jamb of the door. There are two components to a wet room; a structural, load-bearing shower pan and a waterproofing kit. This result is achieved by taking the subfloor out and replacing it with a premade size wet room shower pan that mirrors your shower area. The wet room shower pan is placed direct- ly on the joists. Because it is structural and load-bearing, the subfloor shower pan is presloped to assure proper drainage. The contractor then begins the waterproofing process. Crack iso- lation tape is adhered to the seams and joints with liquid latex. Then the shower walls, the shower floor, and the entire perimeter of the bathroom floor are painted with latex. Two coats are applied in the bathroom, leaving an impervious space like that of a fishbowl. The final stage is the thin-set and tile. European wet rooms remove all physical barriers and open up the bathroom space. Rich Willett, director Tile & Flooring, USG www.usg.com There are several trends we’re seeing from contractors and owners alike. Recently there has been an increase in the desire for fully-war- ranted waterproof shower systems to manage moisture independent of the tile covering; these systems provide installation benefits to the contrac- tor and peace of mind to the owner that the system will perform for years to come. Another need is for an easier-to-install tile base for showers, which pre-sloped foam trays pro- vide. Finally, contractors and owners expect manufacturers to provide a warranty for everything from the wall studs to the drain. Bastian Lohmann, managing director, North America wedi Corporation www.wedicorp.com We understand and appreciate the increasing demand on profes- sional tile installers and renovators for products which make the actual job of finishing surfaces in showers faster and easier, as well as smart- er and safer. For this we need to look at using and further developing modular substrates and shower sys- tems, which provide a systematic and consistent installation process that includes important features such as a prefabricated perfect slope. The flexibility and option to cus- tomize the assembly while staying in that modular process is also impor- tant. The components that make up such modular shower systems should provide an inherently waterproof and nonabsorbent nature through- out the entire system. They should offer lightweight handling and clean, effortless cutting while at the same time provide a reliable and strong, true, and flat substrate for tile. The era of water containment sys- tems such as liners is nearing its end for various reasons. The currently popular use of topical waterproofing in liquid or sheet form may never have the potential to take away the Shower Systems