Schluter-Systems to Unveil the Next Generation Bathroom

Schluter-Systems is changing the way tiled bathrooms are built. In attendance at various conferences, Schluter-Systems will be presenting the Next Generation Bathroom, focusing on new materials and construction methods that combine moisture management, accessibility, and design.

“Market demand is changing the way we approach the renovation and construction of bathrooms,” said Schluter-Systems President, Reinhard Plank. “With a growing aging population, we’re now looking at breaking barriers in the bathroom to provide increased accessibility, security, and independence. At the same time, we understand that moisture management is the cornerstone of durability in the bathroom, so we are providing waterproof building components that make this a possibility.”

The components of the Next Generation Bathroom include a focus on moisture management materials, such as the Schluter®-KERDI-LINE linear drain, and Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD building panels. The Schluter®-KERDI bonded waterproofing membrane and vapor retarder protects shower walls and floors, preventing moisture from penetrating into any building materials, and allowing the assembly to dry between uses.

The newest preformed shower component to join the Schluter-Systems line of products for building tiled showers is the shower niche. The niche is designed to provide a convenient alternative to building with drywall, with the added benefits of being waterproof and quick and easy to install. The niche complements an already wide array of preformed shower components available, including shower trays, curbs, ramps, and benches. All of these components help installers build waterproof and vapor tight tiled showers more quickly and effectively than with traditional construction materials.

“The focus of the Next Generation Bathroom is to create an integrated moisture management solution, where all the components complement each other and work together to create tiled showers that are designed to last, and look beautiful,” said Mr. Plank.

The KERDI-LINE linear drain, for example, offers certain advantages over typical point drains. Shower bases must be sloped from all directions to point drains, therefore limiting tile selection to mosaics or other relatively small-format tiles. However, the shower base can be sloped on a single plane to linear drains, which enables the use of large-format tiles. In barrier-free applications using linear drains, the large-format tiles on the floor can be continued into the shower enclosure, creating a seamless transition and furthering the open-concept design.

“Today we can create bathrooms that intertwine strong foundations with unlimited design freedom, while ultimately challenging barriers to provide more freedom inside the bathroom,” said Mr. Plank.