b'Shower SystemsCONTRACTOR PERSPECTIVETom CravillionCravillion Tile & StonePlymouth, Wis. Cravillion walks us through a tra-ditional master bath install and a renovation using state-of-the art systems and products. He shared Tom Cravillion that construction in his Eastern Wisconsin market is robust with more new construction start-ups in the mid-range homes and remodeling going strong as home values keep ris-ing along with demand. He reports that labor rates are strong as well. $75-125/hour is not uncommon.Ed.Wehavejustrecentlycompletedalargemasterbath32 porcelain with 1/16 grout joint; shower floor is a mesh renovation in which the 15-year old shower system failed.mosaic; main bath floors are 6 x 48 wood plank tile with Weinstalleditaccordingtothewrittenspecificationsat1/8 grout joint over an uncoupling membrane. Lippage-the time using a traditional water-in-water-out clamp ringcontrol devices were used as well to keep everything flat. assembly with a plastic weep hole protector as specified.For peace of mind, the mortar bed cured for one week, The weep holes plugged and water flowed up and over themembraneforoneweek,four-dayfloodtestwithonly liner/curb system and flooded the floor/ceiling of the lowerevaporation loss. level bath. Insurance covered the entire renovation as theWe think this is the way of the future for worry-free instal-existing stone tile could no longer be acquired. lations. Yes, it costs more, but how much value is a leaky This time we used a major manufacturers full warrantedshower system? We use this system almost always when it system: bonding flange-style drain, mud-pack floor, water/ comes to installing high-end tile and stone. Our estimates steamproofwallboard,ANSI118.15large-and-heavy-tileare not competitively bid; we get our work through our local mortar, and epoxy grout. All tile on the walls are a 32 xreputation along with a very high-end tile store. Bonding flange drain ready for flood test. 48 -hour flood test: no leaking 32x32x 10mm porcelain tile, 1/16 grout joint, lippage system542019|TECH'