Using a grout float to apply the thinset works well also. It gives you a consistent coverage without building it up too much. Also, a damp sponge to smooth the edges between the cement board and thinset once it absorbs and firms up a bit. Crisp corners makes tight tile cuts!
It's recommended to do a prime coat first with Red Guard on hardie backer. Mix 1 part red guard with 4 parts water. The cement board will suck this in. When dry then apply 2 coats (or 3 if you like) of non diluted Red Guard. If you don't do this you will be able to just peel your Red Guard off...
Question. I mudded all the seams and screw holes BEFORE I applied the tape and Redgaurd sealer for peace of mind and double protection. I also sanded it down ( pre-taping/ and sealing) for a smooth finish. Please tell me I didn't screw it up by doing it that way.
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Thank you for the response. Well I already did it, but I mudded it first then put a coat of Redgaurd on, and then taped it (while the RG was wet) and then applied a 2nd more coats after it dried. Guess we'll see. Thanks again for you're quick response. Wish I'd watched you're informative vid first lol.
Great video! Do you need to seal with caulk first in the corner wall/wall and wall/floor joints, and then apply as you have shown or not worry about caulking?
All joints, corners and transitions of concrete to pan need the fiber mesh and mortar and then put a coat of Red guard over that , then a second coat over everything
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Great, thats what I have done. Was just concerned about the caulking. How about bond breakers? Is this needed in the corners to allow for movement?
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Ok thanks! What is the minimum height of the lowest screw from the floor for securing cement board in the shower? Should you screw into the wall bottom plate as well to stop all flex and potential tile cracking?
Question: I know you are supposed to hold the backer board up off of the shower pan to stop the water from wicking. However, if you then fill the gap between the pan and the cement board with quick set concrete, won’t water still wick up through the quickset to the backer board? I know you cover right down to the pan with the red guard but it seems that filling that gap with concrete is no different than putting the backer board right down on the pan. Can you tell me the difference? Are you just relying on the red guard to stop water from getting to the concrete?
You have some good questions. In the past people weren’t using red guard so wicking was an issue. The whole idea of sealing between the backer board and the pan with red guard is to make it impossible for wicking. You’re actually making a liner like a swimming pool so it can’t leak. Of course that’s if you seal all the screw holes and then top coat the entire backer board. Hope that helps. Thanks for your questions. Have a great day!
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Thanks for your reply.I will be using red guard right down to the shower pan but I have another question. Some people are using quick set concrete to go over the mesh in the seams and the corners, others are using the thinset for this purpose. Is one better than the other? l never thought of using quickset concrete for the seams but many do. What is your opinion?
@@bdeana2961 I use the fast set thin set for the seams so I don’t have to wait as long before I apply the red guard. But I’ve never heard of using quick set concrete.
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu I have seen red guard applied directly on the backerboard using the redguard tape and none of the concrete or thinset products applied first. what will happen to their install?
Water does wick up on hardi board , if you use hardi you should waterproof bottom of board before installing ,bottom and around Back of it around 6 inches. Wonderboard is much better , little harder to work with but much better
It’s a faster setting thin set. It’s the same thing used to set tile, just faster setting so you don’t have to wait as long fir it to set before you apply the Red Guard or Aqua Defense water proofing. You can use the standard setting, you’ll just have to wait longer for it to dry. Hope this helps.
With all do respect. But you applied the water seal on wrong. I used to do the same mistake. Please go to the Redguard application video and you will see what you did wrong. They require a 22mil thickness for their product to work correctly. If this is a how to video to show people how to you should make sure you doing it correctly. Again no disrespect.
In my video I say fiber mesh tape and thin set, also thin set over every screw penetration, then Red guard, two coats over mesh tape and screws and one coat over everywhere else
Using a grout float to apply the thinset works well also. It gives you a consistent coverage without building it up too much. Also, a damp sponge to smooth the edges between the cement board and thinset once it absorbs and firms up a bit. Crisp corners makes tight tile cuts!
Thanks for the comments. I've never tried that, I might give that a shot the next time. Have a great day!
It's recommended to do a prime coat first with Red Guard on hardie backer. Mix 1 part red guard with 4 parts water. The cement board will suck this in. When dry then apply 2 coats (or 3 if you like) of non diluted Red Guard. If you don't do this you will be able to just peel your Red Guard off...
Thank you for you comments, you're right about the primer coat to be applied first and dry before applying top coats.
I should have read your comment before I wrote mine. Redguard has an application video which you probably saw.
Very good video, love how you explained everything in detail!👍👍
Thank you, I'm glad it helped!
Hi do you use modified or unmodified quick set ? Does it matter ? will the water proof stick to both ?
Would you waterproof backer board if there were going to be a plastic shower panel glued to the backer boards?
I absolutely would just because if water ever got to the backer board it would protect it from getting to your wood.
Question. I mudded all the seams and screw holes BEFORE I applied the tape and Redgaurd sealer for peace of mind and double protection. I also sanded it down ( pre-taping/ and sealing) for a smooth finish. Please tell me I didn't screw it up by doing it that way.
The mud should go over the fiber mesh on all the seams and then at least two coats of red guard
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Thank you for the response. Well I already did it, but I mudded it first then put a coat of Redgaurd on, and then taped it (while the RG was wet) and then applied a 2nd more coats after it dried. Guess we'll see. Thanks again for you're quick response. Wish I'd watched you're informative vid first lol.
@@randybachman1075 I think you’ll be fine since you added 2 more coats of red guard.
Also I didn't see the fiberglass cloth used over your seams applied with redguard. It make it a failproof water tight substrate.
Great video! Do you need to seal with caulk first in the corner wall/wall and wall/floor joints, and then apply as you have shown or not worry about caulking?
All joints, corners and transitions of concrete to pan need the fiber mesh and mortar and then put a coat of Red guard over that , then a second coat over everything
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Great, thats what I have done. Was just concerned about the caulking. How about bond breakers? Is this needed in the corners to allow for movement?
After you tile, then you caulk corners and along the bottom against the pan
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Ok thanks! What is the minimum height of the lowest screw from the floor for securing cement board in the shower? Should you screw into the wall bottom plate as well to stop all flex and potential tile cracking?
@@unrealr33 just above the shower pan or if you’re laying tile on the floor just above the floor , approximately 1”
Question: I know you are supposed to hold the backer board up off of the shower pan to stop the water from wicking. However, if you then fill the gap between the pan and the cement board with quick set concrete, won’t water still wick up through the quickset to the backer board? I know you cover right down to the pan with the red guard but it seems that filling that gap with concrete is no different than putting the backer board right down on the pan. Can you tell me the difference? Are you just relying on the red guard to stop water from getting to the concrete?
You have some good questions. In the past people weren’t using red guard so wicking was an issue. The whole idea of sealing between the backer board and the pan with red guard is to make it impossible for wicking. You’re actually making a liner like a swimming pool so it can’t leak. Of course that’s if you seal all the screw holes and then top coat the entire backer board. Hope that helps. Thanks for your questions. Have a great day!
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu Thanks for your reply.I will be using red guard right down to the shower pan but I have another question. Some people are using quick set concrete to go over the mesh in the seams and the corners, others are using the thinset for this purpose. Is one better than the other? l never thought of using quickset concrete for the seams but many do. What is your opinion?
@@bdeana2961 I use the fast set thin set for the seams so I don’t have to wait as long before I apply the red guard. But I’ve never heard of using quick set concrete.
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu I have seen red guard applied directly on the backerboard using the redguard tape and none of the concrete or thinset products applied first. what will happen to their install?
Water does wick up on hardi board , if you use hardi you should waterproof bottom of board before installing ,bottom and around Back of it around 6 inches. Wonderboard is much better , little harder to work with but much better
Hi, what is speed set, or quick set, or thin set? Some kind of cement? Looking for a similar product in UK. Thanks
It’s a faster setting thin set. It’s the same thing used to set tile, just faster setting so you don’t have to wait as long fir it to set before you apply the Red Guard or Aqua Defense water proofing. You can use the standard setting, you’ll just have to wait longer for it to dry. Hope this helps.
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu could a fast setting cement be used instead?
@@Shayler78 I do not recommend that. Just use the same thing that is used for setting tile.
@@davidmartindaletheycallmemacgu okay. Thanks
@@Shayler78 you’re welcome
Nice
Thanks
You can use a roller a brush takes forever
You can , but it’s so thick and I wanted to put a first coat on all the seams and screw heads.
I forgot to mesh tape all joints and just applied thinset... Is it okay to leave like that???
As the walls move it will crack without the mesh.
No it will crack and if you applied the liquid membrane it will fail.
With all do respect. But you applied the water seal on wrong. I used to do the same mistake. Please go to the Redguard application video and you will see what you did wrong. They require a 22mil thickness for their product to work correctly. If this is a how to video to show people how to you should make sure you doing it correctly. Again no disrespect.
NO THIN SET JUST RED GUARD
In my video I say fiber mesh tape and thin set, also thin set over every screw penetration, then Red guard, two coats over mesh tape and screws and one coat over everywhere else
Spatula? Plopped? Very technical he is 🤣