When constructing or renovating a shower, kitchen, or any room that will be exposed to a lot of moisture, expect to deal with a lot of waterproofing products.
Waterproofing is necessary as it ensures the water or moisture doesn’t seep through the walls and floor, damaging structures and leading to mold growth.
Some of the most popular products you may come across are Hydro Ban and Kerdi. Both do the same job, which is to waterproof a surface.
But, can you put Hydro Ban over Kerdi? Will it stick? This will be the center of discussion for today’s article.
What is Hydro Ban?
Before we can answer whether you can use Hydro Ban over Kerdi, we will start by explaining what these two products are.
Hydro Ban is a waterproofing liquid membrane that’s thin, can accommodate a considerable amount of weight, and can be used on a wide range of substrates. Hydro Ban creates a waterproof membrane on a surface that turns olive green when cured.
With Hydro Ban installed in your showers or any room exposed to a lot of moisture, you are assured of maximum protection against water and leaks.
Hydro Ban is a popular waterproofing product amongst DIYourselfers and professional builders. You can tile or stone over this membrane. It is also integrated with antimicrobial protection, preventing mold development.
What about Kerdi?
Kerdi is another popular waterproofing product. However, unlike Hydro Ban, a liquid membrane, Kerdi is more of a pliable sheet that creates a vapor barrier in areas vulnerable to moisture exposure.
Kerdi sheets can be used on a wide range of surfaces such as bathtubs, showers, and wet areas. Kerdi is designed to hinder mold growth. This is a similarity it shares with Hydro Ban.
These sheets are available at 6’7″. It’s big enough to fit a standard-sized wall. That makes installation pretty straightforward. Kerdi, as a waterproofing product, is equally as popular as Hydro Ban.
Will Hydro Ban Stick to Kerdi?
Hydro Ban is a liquid waterproofing product. It’s just like paint and is often applied using a roller brush. On the other hand, Kerdi is a piece of sheet. You can paint Hydro Ban over Kerdi, and it will stick.
This is something you can be assured of. But even though Hydro Ban will stick to Kerdi, there is no reason you should use two waterproofing products at once.
If you are waterproofing a shower or a kitchen, stick to either Hydro Ban or Kerdi. Don’t do both. Yes, they may stick to one another. But Hydro Ban only recommends using its products, and the same goes for Kerdi.
The first thing you should forget about when you use both is the warranty. And should any issues arise, Hydro Ban and Kerdi won’t hear any complaints you may raise.
Assuming you have some excess Hydro Ban in your storage and have already layered sheets of Kerdi on the walls and floor of your shower, proceed with other things such as tiling and forget about the excess Hydro Ban.
You can store it for later use. Alternatively, you can give it to a friend that may be interested in using it in the future. We can assure you that there are minimal benefits that you can get from painting Hydro Ban over Kerdi.
In the process of using both, you may lead to incompatibilities that can lead to issues later on. If you ask any construction expert, they will tell you to either use Kerdi or Hydro Ban. Not all of them.
Can I Use Kerdi on the Base and Hydro Ban on the Walls?
Instead of brushing Hydro Ban over Kerdi, you may consider combining these two products. For instance, you may plan to layer Kerdi sheets on the base and Hydro Ban on the walls.
This is a brilliant idea. It makes more sense than brushing Hydro Ban over Kerdi sheets. But we will still advise you against using two different waterproofing products in one job or area.
We understand that Hydro Ban is easier to install on the walls since all you have to do is paint. But if the base is layered with Kerdi sheets, these two waterproofing products will meet at some point.
In that section, there is a likelihood that there may be some incompatibility problems. That means at the junction where Kerdi sheets meet Hydro Ban. Water will leak through. That will be problematic.
But that doesn’t have to be the case. Hydro Ban makes its version of waterproofing sheets. Some homeowners find Hydro Ban sheets superior to Kerdi.
To have peace of mind knowing that your project is 100% waterproof, it’s better to use a Hydro Ban sheet on the base and the liquid membrane on the wall.
This way, you will have used waterproofing products from the same brand. And should something go wrong, you can always file a complaint to Hydro Ban for any defects.
Suppose you prefer Kerdi instead of blending it with another brand. Isn’t it better to lay Kerdi sheets on the walls and base? If you are worried about joints, you can overlap them, or even better.
You can install a waterproofing band on top. Also made by Kerdi. When you learn to stick to the same brand when handling a particular project, you will never have to worry about incompatibility for the rest of your life.
Is Hydro Ban Similar to Kerdi?
You may be interested in using Hydro Ban and Kerdi if you consider them to be similar. We understand how you may arrive at such a conclusion.
After all, aren’t they both waterproofing products? Nonetheless, there are some notable differences between Hydro Ban and Kerdi which distinguish the two.
The first difference is that Hydro Ban is a liquid waterproofing membrane applied using a brush roller. It turns into a waterproof layer when it cures.
Kerdi, on the other hand, comprises sheets attached to create a vapor barrier. A few years ago, Kerdi’s patent expired.
That’s when brands such as Hydro Ban created sheets that resemble Kerdi. They may look similar but are not identical because they have different ingredients.
The other notable difference is how they are installed. Kerdi sheets are supposed to be layered on a wall. On the other hand, Hydro Ban should be brushed onto a surface using a roller.
Due to these differences, you shouldn’t put Hydro Ban over Kerdi. But you can substitute one for another. That is, use either Hydro Ban or Kerdi.
Most people usually intend to put Hydro Ban over Kerdi just because they have some remnants of the former product and don’t want it to go to waste. But it’s not recommended to put two products that aren’t made by the same brand.
Will Hydro Ban Hinder Kerdi’s Effectiveness?
The risk that Hydro Ban will affect Kerdi is pretty low. However, considering that these are products made by different manufacturers, you shouldn’t use them together.
Even if you have one product in excess, it’s best to store it for future use. Or, if you are worried that it will expire, give it to a friend.
If you had already brushed Hydro Ban over Kerdi, there is no need to panic. Rarely will a compatibility issue arise. But in the future, this isn’t something you should try.
Will the Manufacturers of Hydro Ban Honor the Warranty When Applied Over Kerdi?
Absolutely not. No single manufacturer will honor a warranty if you use their products with their competitors. You can confirm this by reaching out t your respective manufacturers and inquiring about the above.
In most cases, they will inform you that the two brands don’t make compatible products. If the combination of the two doesn’t work, you will have no option but to pay for the repairs from your pocket.
Will Hydro Ban Make Kerdi More Waterproof?
The only benefit you may get from applying Hydro Ban over Kerdi is an additional waterproof layer. If you can install both correctly and make this project work, you will have two waterproof barriers.
If you have been a victim of leaks, you may be interested in creating a hybrid waterproof barrier with these two products.
Therefore, you can start laying some Kerdi sheets and apply Hydro Ban to the surface. When the Hydro Ban cures, you will benefit from enhanced protection.
This may sound like a great thing. But it’s not necessary. You see, both Hydro Ban and Kerdi were formulated to offer robust waterproofing features independently.
Some people may prefer Kerdi over Hydro Ban and vice versa. However, the bottom line is that you can enjoy advanced waterproof features from either Hydro Ban or Kerdi.
Using both is a waste of money and time. When you consult an expert construction agency near your home, they will also advise you to stick to one. A single waterproofing product is enough to prevent water from seeping through.
If you can’t decide whether to use Kerdi or Hydro Ban, do more research until you can find which is better. Both products are equally popular, and you should find adequate information online.