Schluter Kerdi and RedGard both meet ANSI A118.10 for bonded waterproof membranes. Kerdi is an 8-mil sheet set in thin-set, so its thickness is the same everywhere and tile can go on right away. RedGard is a roll-on liquid that costs less in material, but it needs two coats built to the right thickness, and time to dry. Both work when they're installed correctly.
If you've seen "Kerdi" or "RedGard" on a shower quote, or read a forum argument about them, here's a plain look at both. Every Rexuvo shower is built on the Schluter system, and we'll tell you why. But this isn't a knock on RedGard. Both are good products when the crew does it right.
Planning a whole bathroom? Start with our remodeling page.
Tile and grout aren't waterproof. Cement board isn't either. It holds up when it gets wet, but water passes through it. That's why a tile shower needs a waterproof membrane behind the tile. When that layer is missing or done wrong, water gets behind the tile and can rot the framing, usually long before you see a sign of it.
Kerdi is a thin sheet with a polyethylene (PEVA) core and a polypropylene fleece on both sides. It's 8 mil thick and gets bonded to the wall with Schluter thin-set or an unmodified thin-set. Seams overlap or get sealed with KERDI-BAND, and there are made-to-fit pieces for corners, pipes, and the valve, plus a bonded KERDI-DRAIN. Schluter's data sheet says tile can go on right after the membrane is installed.
RedGard, made by Custom Building Products, is a ready-to-use liquid you roll, trowel, or spray on. It goes on pink and dries to a dark red, which makes it easy to see when it's dry. It doesn't need fabric in the corners, and it's listed with IAPMO for use as a shower pan liner.
It's the American national standard for bonded waterproof membranes that go under thin-set tile. Kerdi meets it as a sheet membrane (A118.10-S). RedGard meets it when it's put on at the rate the manufacturer calls for, in two coats. That's why thickness matters so much with a liquid.
| Factor | Schluter Kerdi (sheet) | RedGard (liquid) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Bonded sheet membrane, 8 mil | Liquid membrane, 0.015–0.038" thick once cured, depending on application |
| Standard | ANSI A118.10-S | ANSI A118.10; ANSI A118.12 crack isolation; IAPMO-listed shower pan liner |
| Thickness | Set at the factory | Built on site, coat by coat |
| When tile can go on | Right away | After both coats are dry (typically 1–1.5 hours per coat) |
| Benches, niches, curves | Cut, folded, and banded, with preformed pieces | Paints around them easily |
| Crack isolation | Not its main job | Up to 1/8" |
| Steam | Intermittent-use steam showers; KERDI-DS for continuous steam | Data sheet says it meets low-perm steam shower requirements |
| Where to watch closely | Seams and banding | Thin spots and pinholes |
| Material cost | Higher | Lower |
| Best warranty | Lifetime with a full Schluter system (conditions apply); otherwise 10 years | Up to a lifetime system warranty with a qualifying full CUSTOM system |
Both work when they're installed completely and to the manufacturer's spec, with no mixed brands. Sources: Schluter KERDI data sheet; Custom Building Products RedGard data sheet (TDS-104). Material cost comparison: Boise Bath; Star Tile & Surfaces.
Kerdi: tile can go on right away. Schluter recommends a flood test before tile and tiling within 72 hours.
RedGard: each coat typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours to dry, and it's dry when there's no pink left. Cold or humid weather slows it down. After the second coat dries, it can be flood tested.
You'll see some websites say RedGard needs a day or two between coats. The manufacturer's data sheet doesn't say that, so we go by the manufacturer.
With Kerdi, the spots to watch are the seams: corners, the curb, the valve, and the drain. Good overlaps and banding are the whole game.
With RedGard, the risk is a coat that's too thin or has pinholes, often in inside corners and around the drain. A careful crew checks the thickness as they go.
Using the wrong thin-set, mixing parts from different brands, or stopping the membrane short of the curb can cause a failed shower with either product.
A liquid is easier to paint around niches, benches, and curves. For steam, read the data sheet: Schluter rates Kerdi for intermittent-use steam showers and calls for KERDI-DS for continuous steam. Custom Building Products says RedGard meets low-perm requirements for steam showers.
Schluter offers a 10-year limited warranty, and Schluter says its System and Lifetime warranties cover both materials and labor. A lifetime warranty is available when the full Schluter system is installed with Schluter thin-set, with no mixed brands, using products from authorized sellers, for the original owner. See Schluter's warranty page for the details.
Custom Building Products says that when RedGard is used with other qualifying CUSTOM products as a full system, the installation can qualify for up to a lifetime system warranty. Their warranty page has the terms.
A manufacturer warranty covers its products and system. Your contractor's warranty covers the workmanship. At Rexuvo, we give a 5-year written labor warranty on bathroom remodels.
These are general market numbers, not Rexuvo prices. The only Dallas-Fort Worth figures we found come from Star Tile & Surfaces, a Plano remodeler (June 22, 2026). They cover waterproofing materials and labor only, not tile:
We didn't find a DFW source that splits the price between Kerdi and RedGard, so we won't guess. What moves the number most: the size of the shower, which system, curb or curbless, and what turns up once the old walls come out. Your price depends on your bathroom, so the best way to know is an on-site quote.
Source: Star Tile & Surfaces, Plano.
We build every shower on the Schluter system, with KERDI-Board on the walls and a bonded KERDI-DRAIN at the floor. Before any tile goes on, we flood test every shower for 24 hours. Our Schluter shower systems carry a lifetime waterproofing warranty, installed to Schluter's lifetime-warranty spec, and your bathroom remodel comes with our 5-year written labor warranty.
Conditions apply: Schluter's System and Lifetime warranties cover materials and labor, and lifetime coverage requires Schluter thin-set and all-Schluter components bought from authorized sellers, and it covers the original owner.
Here's why we picked it:
That's the Rexuvo standard.
For the bigger list, see our questions to ask a bathroom remodeler in Dallas.
Tell us a little about your shower. We'll come out, take a look, and walk you through how we'd build it, from the drain to the top of the wall.
Call (469) 568-7058 or email info@rexuvogroup.com.
Planning a new tile shower in Dallas, DeSoto, Lancaster, Red Oak, or Arlington? Every Rexuvo shower is built on the Schluter system, with a lifetime waterproofing warranty installed to Schluter's lifetime-warranty spec (conditions apply) and our 5-year written labor warranty. Call (469) 568-7058 or email info@rexuvogroup.com for a free estimate.
