How to Installing Ditra around Toilet Flange

Installing Ditra around the flange correctly is more important than installing it. If not done correctly, it can lead to shifting tiles, leaks, and even damage your bathroom. And it can be tricky sometimes if you don’t know the proper process or are an amateur.

Then How to Installing Ditra around Toilet Flange correctly to reduce errors? We’re here to help! This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Ditra around your toilet flange.

We’ll start with the basics so you can follow the process whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just starting out. Let’s get started with the basics of Ditra and why it’s essential for your bathroom renovation.

7 Steps: How to Installing Ditra around Toilet Flange

So shall we start?

Tools Requirement

Tools and Materials:

• Ditra membrane
• Utility knife
• Thinset mortar
• Notched trowel
• Grout float
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Straight edge
• Level
• Safety goggles
• Dust mask

Step 1: Take the measurement

Taking measurements for installing Ditra in the toilet flange is important, or blockage problems can occur. To do it,

• Open the manual book of the DITRA.
• Look for the size of the DITRA you are trying to attach to your floor.
• Now check the joist size of your floor.
• Make sure to check your subfloor thickness also.
• Take a utility knife and a tape measure.

Step 2: Now try to cut it

You have to cut the DITRA in proper shape, or it may block your toilet water system. To do it,

• Unroll the DITRA. 
• Put it against the wall to get the required shape of the DITRA, and cut it with the utility knife.
• Make sure to get over the cut line once or twice after you have made your initial cut.
• Now cut holes in the DITRA by using the utility knife.
• The holes should be made where the toilet’s plumbing and water line will come through the floor.

Make sure not to cut a big gap; just a small hole is fine.

Step 3: Preparation for the toilet flange

Complete some preparation for attaching DITRA around the toilet flange. 

• Put the Ditra in an accurate place and cut it properly against the toilet flange.
• Make sure to cut it tightly and neatly.
• After that, spread the second sheet on the floor.

Step 4: Ripping some tiles

This process is required when the toilet floor is previously covered with tiles. Usually, the back buttering process is used to remove large 12 × 12 inches format tiles.  To do it,

• Insert a crowbar underneath the tile.
• Now push the other side of the crowbar to provide force.
• The tiles will start coming up from the floors.
• If the tiles are attached to the floor with construction adhesive, use a hammer to hammer the bottom so that the tiles will break into small pieces.
• As a result, removing them will be much easier.

Clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner to remove all dirt before washing it with foam and detergent.

Step 5: Make a flooring compound or mortar

You have to make the mortar to attach the DITRA around the toilet flange. The flooring compound amounts depend on the size of your toilet. For a 150-200 square feet floor, at least 50 lb of the substrate is required. 

While attaching DITRA with tiles, you will need 50 lb for every 40-50 square feet of floor, whereas for DITRA-XL, the same amount of mortar covers 35 × 40 Square feet of floor to attach with tiles. 

To do it,

• Pour the flooring compound into a bucket and provide the necessary amount of water. 
• Wear gas masks, or they can enter your nose or eye.
• Now close the bucket with a lid and cut a hole in the lid.
• Enter a mixture driver through the hole and mix the compounds properly to make mortar.

Mixing the compounds for at least 8 to 10 minutes is better. After that, leave it for 2 minutes before mixing it for another 3 minutes.

Step 6: Important accessories 

To attach DITRA around the toilet flange, you must have some important accessories. 

• Get a DITRA trowel with 4.5-millimeter teeth that includes floats, too.
• You may also get a Schluter Kerdi trowel if necessary and a Kerdi Corner product for the corner.
• Try to use a trowel with a 1/4 inch ×  3/16 inch or 5/16 × 5/16 inches V-notched design for the DITRA attachment process. 
• If you are using a square notched design, use an 11/64 × 11/64 inches trowel. 
• When you are attaching DITRA XL, try to use a ¼ × ¼ inches square notched trowel. 

Step 6: Attach a layer of mortar to the floor

The DITRA is attached to the floor with mortar. Usually, unmodified mortar is used for this purpose. If unmodified mortar can’t be used on your bed, use atmospheric moisture to attach DITRA for waterproofing.

• Now, put the trowel into the mortar bucket and spread the mortar on the floor by using it.
• Check if it is properly sticking to the floor or not. If it is not sticking, it means you didn’t make the mixture properly.
• Spread the mortar properly on every area of the floor.

Step 7: Put the Ditra on the 1st layer of mortar

You must attach two layers of DITRA to get perfect waterproofing for your toilet flange. To do it, 

• Now put the Ditra on the mortar slowly.
• Hold the Ditra the right way to place it as you cut it earlier so it doesn’t block your water system. 
• Then use a DITRA roller which provides the 75-pound force, and back and roll it on every floor area to provide pressure. 
• Examine the areas where you’ve already cut to see if they are not covered or if your water system may get blocked. 
• Now use drywall to provide a force on the DITRA so that it attaches to the mortar and the floor perfectly.

How to Waterproof Ditra Around Toilet Flange

Once you are done, it is time to waterproof Ditra around toilet flange.

Keep the DITRA attached to the floor for at least one night. When it is properly attached, you must attach the second layer of mortar to the corners.

• Begin spreading mortar from the corners with a kerdi trowel.
• Spread mortar on every corner and help with the floors to waterproof the toilet properly.
• Insert cut-back cavities of unmotivated mortar at least 8 inches over the center area of the joint. 
• Now use a ¼ × 3/16 inch wide v-notched trowel to comb an indisputable thin mortar set on the joint by pressing firmly. 

Make sure to lap the DITRA and DITRA-XL with a thickness of 2 inches on the floor for proper waterproof integrity. 

FAQ

Check out some FAQs related to the installation.

Conclusion

Make sure to make the mixture properly, or the DITRA will not attach around the toilet flange. When cutting the DITRA, too much measurement is not required. You can simply cut it against the toilet pipelines. After attaching the DITRA, leave it for at least one night to ensure proper attachment. You may use some heavy items to provide extra pressure.

How to Install Schluter Ditra

Schluter-DITRA is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each with a base depth of 3/32″. The DITRA grid serves as an anchor for tile, eliminating the need for bonding mortar. Schluter-DITRA also provides uncoupling to protect against cracked tile and grout.

Installing Schluter-DITRA is simple and only requires basic tools and materials. First, make sure the surface you are working on is clean, level, and dry. Next, roll out the membrane over the surface area you wish to cover, ensuring the corners overlap by at least 2″.

Once in place, use a sharp utility knife to cut through both layers of membrane where they overlap. After cutting the overlapping layers of membrane, press them firmly together to ensure a tight seal. Use tape along all four edges of the DITRA sheet to secure it while working.

Now you’re ready to begin tiling! Start by applying thin-set mortar to the surface using a notched trowel. Then set your tiles into place according to your chosen design.

Be sure to evenly space them as you go along.