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Blog - Shower Systems - A question we get fairly often is ‘Which system is better, Shlueter, or Wedi?’ The answer is, there isn’t one. Wedi and Shlueter (Kerdi board by Shlueter systems shown here) are both brands that manufacture water proof backings for tile. Both brands have products for subfloors, but they both really shine when used in making a custom shower. They can be thought of as the modern high-tech versions of fiberboard or cement board.
However they are much more than just boards. Both brands also have a ton of accessories , waterproof caulking , thinset, waterproof wraps, shower pans, and even drains. When used in conjunction with the Kerdi or Wedi boards these are typically refered to as ‘systems’. If you were to ask any two tile installers which product is superior you will likely get two different answers. Both products are extremely good at their jobs and while there is not a clear winner, there are some subtle differences. Most experts agree Wedi is stronger and even more water resistant than the schlueter equivalent. Though when properly installed water will not be an issue with either option. It is also much more easily repaired after tile installation. The Wedi system (shown below) is also significantly more expensive. 20-40% more. My opinion is it is more difficult to install than Shlueter systems, but tile can be installed on top of it on the same day where as the Shlueter system requires more drying time.
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Blog - Shower Systems - Wedi will leave you with a nearly perfectly flat surface to start with but the Shlueter system will have very slight raises from the membrane covering the screws.
The Shlueter system has pre built curbs, niche’s, benches and more. While wedi is stepping up their game in that front I still think Shlueter has more options. Shlueter systems has also been around significantly longer. Though it is worth noting that both options have an excellent track record and warranty. If this blog has only served to make it harder for you to decide between the two systems your biggest takeaway should be that both products are truly excellent. For the total cost of a custom shower they are both well worth the upgrade from old school fiberboard/ cement board. If you are not installing the tile yourself ask your installer which product they prefer. Let me know what they say in the comments.
https://www.littleleafinteriors.ca/blog/class-in-glass-and-light
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2025-03-29
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Blog - A Class in Glass, and Light! - New tub.
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Blog - A Class in Glass, and Light! - <— Original Space, before reno
I think most Calgarians can agree, our winters are too long, and the days are too short. But, there is an upside. We get more sunlight than any other city in Canada, even when we get less than a work days’ worth of daylight in a day. That is not something that should be taken for granted, especially in other wise cramped, under-lit areas of the house. This washroom, located in NE Calgary, is a perfect example. With a south facing window on the second floor of a corner lot it should have been washed in sunlight. But with the room divided by a wall between the bathtub and the shower it left half the room dark, isolated and depressing. Exactly the feeling we don’t want to nurture during those long winter months. This washroom was on the small side for having a bathtub and a separate shower. The harsh divide created by that wall made it feel downright cramped.
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Blog - A Class in Glass, and Light! - New space, after reno —>
For starters we removed the ugly old acrylic bathtub and the painfully outdated tile. Next came the wall. Some plumbing had to be relocated, but it was no problem for our talented trades. After that was the real sin. A gross, yellowed, tiny pcv shower. Pvc and acrylic showers are quite cost effective, but do not age well and frankly don’t hold a candle to the look of a custom tile shower with frameless glass. We ran the 12x24 tiles in a grid pattern on the floor, up behind the bathtub, and all around the shower. The continuous sight lines formed by the uninterrupted grout lines visually opened the space up even further. A seamless curb, tying in the countertop and a mosaic shower pan added a touch of detail without being distracting. Details are great in any space, but restraint and proportions are key. A shelf sticking out of the wall would serve to undo a lot of this beautiful feel we’ve created. A niche on the other hand serves the same function while blending in beautifully or even used as a design detail. We can talk more about the benefits of niches here.
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Blog - A Class in Glass, and Light! - Original tub.
https://www.littleleafinteriors.ca/blog/a-niche-for-niches
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2025-03-30
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Blog - A Niche for Niches - A niche (pronounced nee-sh) is a recessed alcove allowing for storage of small items while keeping them out of the way. They can be finished with the same tile and mitered edges for a nearly seamless look, or something a bit funkier for a touch of detail.
They are typically around 3 ½” deep. There are many, many options for size and placement, but 12” wide x 24” tall is typical in an average sized shower. Extra wide niche’s are an option, we’ve done some nearly the length of the shower wall.
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Blog - A Niche for Niches - There are some limitations to niche size and placement. The framing in the shower wall is altered to allow space for the alcove.
Depending on the wall you may need to stick to a narrower taller niche. If you want your niche running through the plumbing wall great care will have to be taken when roughing in the plumbing. Other rules of thumb are not to have a niche on an exterior wall, and not to have a niche in a place where they will be consistently hit by water.
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Blog - A Niche for Niches - Most recently we installed this double stacked niche for a client.
They did not need a full second niche and I thought the smaller upper niche added balance to the aesthetic.
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Blog - A Niche for Niches - A common mistake we see in far too many otherwise beautiful showers around Calgary, is the builder/contractor/diy’r not planning for storage of all of those bathroom products.
As the old adage goes, form must follow function. If you design and build a shower without storage not only are you failing to include a crucial part of the function, but the form suffers as a result. Clutter on the curb and floor or tacky stick on shelving effectively ruin the open, inviting feeling you’ve worked so hard to create. Not to mention the risk of damage to either the shelf or one’s own hand during the crescendo of your shower-song rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Blog - A Niche for Niches - If you’re short on wall space for some reason, and thinking you can’t put a niche in an exterior wall, don’t fret! You still have options.
The issue with putting a niche on an exterior wall is that you are forced to remove insulation to make space for the alcove, reducing the R-value, and compromising the integrity of the buildings envelope - At least this is the assumption. By doing so incorrectly you can create a cold spot on an exterior wall where ambient moisture will naturally condense into water. This could potentially allow mold growth - among other problems.
https://www.littleleafinteriors.ca/blog/blog-post-title-four-89ana
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2025-03-17
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Blog - Free Standing Bathtub
Replacing ugly, bulky, uncomfortable built in bathtubs with beautiful free standing tubs is a great way to add elegance and a feeling of openness to your bathroom. Not only do they look great, but they are far more comfortable and often hold more water for the size of the footprint.
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Blog - Free Standing Bathtub - This is the before-reno.
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