Do you think "elevating the floor height" in a basement bathroom is a feasible idea?

oodssoo

Hi all,

A buddy of mine is finishing his basement. Particularly, what we are deciding here is whether or not raising his bathroom off the slab by about 6 to 7 inches is a feasible idea or not.

How we derived at this question is to accomodate the plumbing work for the toilet, sink, and the tub. He believes having the floor elevated allows the plumbing work to be implemented easier than having to jackhammer the slab.

Overall, I just like to get your opinion with this one...

Thank you.

oodssoo

joecaption

Easyer does not make it better.
Is there drain lines under the slab near there?
Why would you want to have to step up to get in the bathroom? Not a great look and complicates the ceiling height and door openings.
He could also use a Saniflo system.

GBrackins

it can be done, however if the basement is being finished I would recommend finding out what the minimum ceiling height in the bathroom must be.

The 2009 International Residential Code requires:

SECTION R305 CEILING HEIGHT

R305.1 Minimum height. Habitable space, hallways, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

Exceptions:

1. For rooms with sloped ceilings, at least 50 percent of the required floor area of the room must have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet (2134 mm) and no portion of the required floor area may have a ceiling height of less than 5 feet (1524 mm).
2. Bathrooms shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) at the center of the front clearance area for fixtures as shown in Figure R307.1. The ceiling height above fixtures shall be such that the fixture is capable of being used for its intended purpose. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) above a minimum area 30 inches (762 mm) by 30 inches (762 mm) at the showerhead.

R305.1.1 Basements. Portions of basements that do not contain habitable space, hallways, bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).

Exception: Beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions may project to within 6 feet 4 inches (1931 mm) of the finished floor.

As Joe stated there are other ways to accomplish a bathroom without elevating the floor.

Good luck!

__________________
Gary

"You get what you pay for, and sometimes free costs more!"

oodssoo

Facts to help you to yelp us:

1). Ceiling height - unfinished is 9ft.
2). The waste lines are out of the concrete slab (stub out).
3). No sump pump just straight to seweage.
4). Saniflo is like a sump pump, and he is afraid that in the future the pump will fail and then overflow back into the basement.

COLDIRON

I have seen many houses with built up floors for the basement bathroom.

As long as he has the pitch, ceiling height and clean out capability and don't mind a step up why not?

It's always nice to have an additional bathroom, just in CASE.

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oh'mike

that 'idea' will take longer and cost more than breaking the concrete and doing it the right way.

What is the fear of opening the floor?

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md2lgyk

If the waste lines are stubbed out, why would you need to elevate anything??

COLDIRON

No fear of opening the floor here just a statement meaning there's more than one way to do something if someone wants to that's all.

__________________
No Warranty Means- If it breaks in half you get to keep both halves.

oodssoo

I agree with what you both have said. I tend to think against this idea, while my buddy feels it's "easier" to plumb with a raised floor...

Correct me if I am wrong, here is what should happen:

1) Tile the floor up to the stub
2) Cut down the stub to the tile for the closet flange
3) Install the toilet to the flange

oh'mike

If the toilet pipe is sticking up through the concrete floor----chip out enough concrete around the pipe to install an OUTSIDE glued flange----avoid inside glued ones---cut the pipe for installing the flange---prime and solvent weld it---then use Tapcons to attach it to the concrete----

Now tile up to the flange----

I hear arguments all the time about putting the flange on top of the tile----That's the way I do it---

A hammer and cold chisle is all that is needed for this---along with a hammer drill for the Tapcon holes---

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mae-ling

If you are going with a raised floor in the bathroom and you can raise it outside the bathroom as well, say at least a 3' "landing".
Looks way better IMHO then having it right at the door. Especially if it can be designed as an alcove.