Schluter Kerdi-Board vs. Laticrete Hydro Ban Board --- Pros and Cons of Using Foam Tile Backer Board 

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I’ve probably watched every tile video you’ve made, and I feel like I’ve gotten to the season finale of a amazing show. Thank you so much for all you’ve done. I’m a first time DIY(er) and I now have the knowledge of what material and products to buy to renovate my shower. My biggest fear was having water damage down the road, but through all your teachings I’m confident I will have an amazing finished product because what you have shown me.

Love this guy and his honest reviews. We get taken by dishonest marketing for inferior products while solid products get put to the back shelf because of their lack of scheming advertisements. Honest videos like this help tremendously in making the right choice and preventing costly disasters that stay hidden behind walls until it is too late.

Seems like I'll be buying Hydroband!! Thanks for the demonstration.

love the vids man, im a tile contractor outta the wichita kansas area and the amount of knowledge you bring to the table for the rest of us pros is amazing. i watch you and a few others and you guys really pave the way for the tile industry in my opinion, keep up the great work man!

Great video! Huge fan of hydroban. Im a developer and Gc and have been using it for 2 years now and have not had any problems. Such an upgrade from cement board. Lighter weight, easier to install, easier to waterproof, you dont have the unlevel edgeguard seams to deal with, and its also better for work conditions since you're not breathing in the cement board dust while cutting. Will never go back!

Hydroban board has been my favorite and still my go to, my wife loves to help me waterproof we are big fans of Laticrete products

WOWOWOW! Laticrete board for the WIN!!! SO glad I saw this. I always had my doubts about foam board flexing and destroying a beautiful tile job. Lesson Learned. Thank you!!

So thankful for your videos. I have been watching a lot of Kerdi videos, in studying how to replace my shower with a tile shower. I was drawn in by the simplicity and now I see the defaults. So thankful I caught your videos before I bought all the materials and ended up with a costly leak. The weight of the tiles just didn’t seem like it could be sustained by a foam board, again thank you for your honesty!

Moving forward I'll be using Laticrete Hydro Ban Board for all my shower builds and for my new furniture dolly skateboard.

Good job wearing safety glasses Issac 😂

You’ve been a huge help with our bathroom remodels and making sure our tile contractor isn’t cutting corners. Keep up the fantastic work man

The KBRS system has a good board. The screws are great as well. They are large heads and coated. The board is 1/2 inch and works just like you show. The pre made pans are sealed tight. NO MORTER BEDS NO SLOPE TO FIX . NO DRAINS TO MOVE.

You’re a great teacher and love the testing in this video. We appreciate the content.. great job 👏

i've been using schluter for years and now i think im transitioning to laticrete after seeing your tests

GoBoard has a durable fiberglass facer - a quick score with a forward and back snap is all it takes to cut (no back-scoring needed). It's also stiffer compared to Schluter's foamboard. Nice thing about GoBoard is the ability to use an approved sealant (rather than thinset) so no mixing or lugging around sacks of thinset to seal joints with tape (10oz tube will seal ~1.5-2 sheets). They allow standard concrete backerboard fasteners (6" oc) and have their own larger-head fasteners that allow 8" oc. No washers needed, so perfect for drywall guns. GoBoard is available at some Lowes about $22 for 1/2" 3x5 sheet (roughly half the cost of Schluter's foamboard) and I like it better. Only minor downside is the fiberglass facer can be itchy/scratchy (wear a long sleeve shirt when installing). Has fewer layout spacer lines than Schluter, but that's really minor compared to it's advantages. Saves a ton of labor and you get faster waterproof walls. Like any board (cement/drywall/foam), the key is to shim the studs level/plumb (Fortifiber makes rolls of 1 5/8" 30# felt you can staple to raise low spots on your walls. Fast and easy - can find at lumber yards and construction supply houses like White Cap).

I see Kerdi board being stocked and advertised and used on various home improvement or renovation channels everywhere with only a few Wedi board. Have not seen this product but for tile in a bathroom with its greater durability and lower vapor permeable rating, thanks to your video I would almost advise against using the popular Kerdi board over the other systems. However, for flooring, the roll is still great as a decoupling membrane.

Thanks for the video. I know those boards are expensive to cut up for a video. Appreciate it

Just want another shout out for Go Board! Love this stuff!

Laticrete's 6mm thick membranes and modified thinset makes the difference for me. Plus their adhesive/sealant really speeds installation and reduces leak failure points from Schluter.

I did my custom shower with Kerdi board. Love it and there have been 0 issues.

Doing my first DIY project and will use Hydroban thanks to your videos! Great content. God Bless!

Yes, thank you for the comment on the safety glasses. 👍 You're good at your trade and many newbies will mimic what you do. Thank your

Love watching your videos when I get home from work. Cheers mate👍

The first time I saw people installing tile over this foam board, my jaw dropped in disbelief.

I'm not complaining about you not wearing glasses chipping tile. You know better. I'm going to chuckle if you get crap in your eye at this point. You explain your job very well and edit good videos

Ok I’m sold on the laticrete board. My back thanks you for this video, I was planning on the old school durarock. But not now.

I haven’t done tile in a very long time, although I like doing ceramic tile. Never knew this existed! I thought the “go to” was the “Durarock” first, for a solid floor. Great video! Thanks.

Wedi, highest density foam core on the market!! Laticrete looks like something I'll try out though because of the fact that you don't need the washers with the screws

You would be a good person to work for and width. I like how you talk about people

I’m still using Perma-base then hydroban waterproofing 🤷🏽‍♂️ have showers that are 20+ yrs old and no deflection or movement. Hard to change to something when I’ve had no issues for so long .

Another consideration is if you are installing a wall hung toilet, I find Kerdiboard to be way too soft. The tilers I recently ran into uses Laticrete everything and they were sealing the joints and screws with just the Laticrete caulking. I asked if that was kosher and they said yes except in steam showers.

Nice video. As a DIY person I like GoBoard because I can get it at my local Menards stores.

I have used all of these. And still prefer using Cement board

Thank you for all the great content. I know your opinion on wedi, but I think they make the best foam board. I would live to see you test there products

I use the go board everyday, little itchy but never had an issue with it

Like to see GoBoard in the mix. The only downside to GoBoard is the smell when it gets wet and you get fibers in your skin when you lean up against it. I think the installation is more installer friendly.

Dulrock with hydroban liquid membrane over twice and laticrete membrane over shower pan. This is a solid shower. And cheaper then buying foam board for the whole shower

Recent visitor and subscriber One note on safety glasses I am a big proponent for them They the safety glasses Saved my eye And most important saved my life and I am completely serious of my life.

Australia - Villaboard and liquid water proofing membrane applied 90 degrees to each other in 2 coats with membrane tape for joints

just did my first hydroban board shower and i love it its so much stronger than schluter. Also permanbase makes a foamboard that feels just as strong as the hydroban

Great video. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on hydro blok & see how it compares.

You can look at these products in isolation the way you are doing these test. The product fully installed is bullet proof.

Can you combine the Laticrete boards with the Schluter pans though? The great thing about the Kerdi system is the amount of design options.

I use the kerdi board a lot but my greatest complaint is how flexible it is. It makes bedding your tile difficult. Unfortunately it's the only product available locally for me. My favorite board so far is wedii. The negative with wedii is if you dont use a foam pan you have no manufacturer approved bonding method. I have used wedii with a kerdi membrane pan of my own accord and flanged the kerdi up the wall. Then glued the wedii to the kerdi back and bottom edge. Never had an issue but it feels better knowing the manufacturer oks it.

This would be awesome to see with GoBoard vs Wediboard Or cement board pros and cons Vs Hydroban board pros and cons Great comparison video and experiment 🙏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

I use Prova. Most cost effective. Wedi and Kerdi used to be my go too. But they priced themselves 25% higher. I wish Laticrete was in my area. NO washers is a cost advantage too. 5x3 pricing was my comparison. Great vid once again. Too bad the shipping to Canada is so high to get merchandise.

Schluter allows their all set which is modified on kerdi. My biggest problem with kerdi is the overlap of the kerdiband like around a curb. It's so many layers. They should make a 1 part band or something different.

One time I got metal in my eye and had to go back 3 different times to get all the metal removed. You would think that in todays day in age that they have some new technology to remove foreign debris from your eye, they don't. They lock your head in some device and scrape your eyeball with a needle to dig all the metal out, then they come along with a dremel and grind the rust away. During this process you can feel your eyeball bouncing around. It's a wild experience that I never want to relive. So always do what you can to protect your eyes even though you got a spare.

Take me under your wing o: I'm very limited in my access to tile knowledge, I've had many jobs but tile is my favorite. I have been a helper for about 4 years but I don't really have the confidence to go the next step. I want to be a certified professional like you one day

Do you ever use Wedi product from Germany i’ve been using this product for years and love it’ a lot easier to install and you can tile in two hours

I'm surprised you haven't done a GoBoard video yet. This system is amazingly easy to use, strong, waterproof, and cheap. I use it exclusively now.

I use go board but it makes my skin itch because of the fiberglass but always wanted to expand to other products

Glad to see that pressure test on the boards. I still have yet to use any of these foam boards (using Triton backerbaord). I always had the worry that they were not stiff enough, and that concerns me a lot in terms of durability. If you installed a 12 x 24 vertically right inside of a stud, there would be very little support with the kedi board. Obviously you'd be installing a full sheet and spreading it across multiple studs so that should help a bit, but that was WAY too much give when you stepped on it. Definitely won't be using that board ever. The hydroban board is superior imo.

Thank you for your time on showing us this wall boards reviews I live in Central coast CA I like to find out where can I get Hydro board

Bro. It's good to show people the comparison between product brands. The general public don't have any idea what the difference is. They'll a Literally say "what's the difference" after already buying either the cheapest stuff or more expensive materials. Do some research people!!

The Wedi system out performs all other foam board systems hands down.

Love this video. So incredibly helpful.

Go board and I use KBRS preformed shower pans 90% of the time

I would like to see you do the other boards. Go board, we’d and the west knock off sold at Floor and decor (sentinel). This is what I did not like about the board with the soft coatings. I do prefer Wedi and Sentinel. They are Mitch stiffer. Tile sticks better.

Great video. I think my biggest complaint about kerdi board is how soft it is. Especially their pans. I’m impressed by the laticrete board being that stiff. Do you know if laticrete does any virtual training like Schluter does? The other thing is Schluter is more widely available at least in downstate Illinois where I am. I definitely would like to try the Hydroboard for sure.

The step test is Irrelevant. Kerdi is the best system out there.

Just to let you know steam showers are between 105 and 115 degrees it's not legal for steam showers to be 212 degrees it will melt your skin and cause severe skin burns , I'm a licensed plumber that has installed steam units. Drop the degrees by 100 and your right. But keep up your videos there really great but you did want feedback, and thanks again for the videos

Always great content braddah 🤙🏽💯

How do tubs affect the integrity of foam boards over time. The tubs that do not require a mortar bed. I refrained from using go board under the tub and instead used cement board with a couple layers of red guard as backup.

I wonder how good the kerdi board would do with a curved tile wall. Looks like it would bend well.

Very good review. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Kerdi-Board 48"x96" out of stock pretty much everywhere.

I use Laticrete.. on walls and shower foam pan...nice material and price👍

I would rather use the door Rock it's always done a good job for me as long as you seal it real good

Hello; my favorite is Hydro Ban and Go Board but I water proof the Go Board and Durarock. When I use Durarock I black paper the studded walls and floor. Thanks

I have a question for Go board users who use Schluter pans. Has anyone had issues bonding kerdi band to the Go board where the Go board meets the Schluter shower pan? I was just at a Schluter demonstration where I was told by there representative that kerdi band could not bond to Go board and will result in leaks. Has anyone ever had any issues?

WEDI all the way. Setting a WEDI pan is basically foolproof.

So by the time you cover your punctures and screw holes and etc is this really much faster than concrete board and membrane other than being lighter and easier to cut?

Great information. I have a question.those shower pan are good? Because is soft.tile will move. What about PROVA?

Friend of mine is a tile man, he was cleaning out grouch lines and his blade broke off and shot him in the eye. Hes now 40 percent blind in his right eye so u never know whats gonna get you.

I’m using wedi board in my house. Very itchy when cutting.

I was thinking at a corner why not cut the backer but not the front and have the outer membrane bend for the 90. Then, cut a backer strip to fill the corner behind so you don't have a gap

I float every bathroom I do only time i use board is on a fire place but it’s always Hardie Backer or Select Crete

We want to meet Mrs Tilecoach

You're AWESOME TileCoach! Hey, I can't find a laticrete distributer here in the Sacramento area, was hoping you'd have one in your links...Can you direct me to your distributer?

The heat gun is a bit overkill. Steam comes out beyond the tile. Fire place heat .. only a concern if it were going into the fireplace. Very interesting though. To many various things i dont like about kerdi now. May use the floor system though.

Love the cookoos nest!

Isaac, Schluters all set is modified. It’s all I use with there products.

Please do an instruction on Goboard from start to finish

Great vid. Nice iq tile saw. More stabila. And did u test megalite yet?????

Really want to try go board. I've used kerdi, wedi and another brand that I don't remember the name of. I dont like wedi, especially for the price. Where I am in the southeast, kerdi is about half the price. Also, you can definitely used modified thinset on kerdiboard. They have schluter allset that can be used for banding and tile setting. Its modified and approved for both waterproofing and the actual setting of the tile. Its not bad thinset. About $21 a bag here.

The firer thing was pretty funny . I think if firer gets to that point taking shower out it's already going to be to late . There's wood behind it any ways that will catch firer thanks for the laugh. I'm glad everyone can have a opinion and opportunity to use what they want.

Wedi is king. Love them all tho

Where do you get Hydro Ban Board in the SF Bay Area (Peninsula)? All the places from Laticrete's website do not carry the product.

Please compare laticrete with Wedi, including price. Ive never used wedi but it looks impressive surface, rigidity, and routed edge. WEdi uses membrane up the wall from floor and isnt entirely dependent upon a caulked joint at thsi critical area. And the kerdi flange drain ( a weak point in any shower) sets a high bar.

Will you do some comparing of wedi board?

Thanks for the info That's good to know. What do you think about the Sentinel Cement Foam Board

One quick question. Can I use hydroban or Kerdi over a traditional preslope/liner/mudbed as I do with concrete board or is it too weak to deal with folded liner corners?

This should be fun.

What do you think of sentenel backer board

I have a residential shower / steam shower with porcelain slab walls. Can I mount hydraban board onto the ceiling rafters and then put 4X4 tile on it with thinset?

HBB is the best foam board on the market IMO

Does hydro ban hold heavy tiles? My tile is 4 pounds per square foot and I will be putting 12x24 tiles on the shower ceiling. So that makes me nervous. Should I use cement backer instead?

Whats the price comparison?