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Adding a tub/shower to basement bathroom?

24K views 34 replies 2 participants last post by  Latsay 
#1 ·
As far as adding plumbing for a basement shower goes, this is probably one of the easier jobs. The drain will be located roughly 2.5' from a 2'x2' framed hole in the concrete where plumbing enters/exits the home (pics will follow) and the plumbing wall backs the boiler room.

Current bathroom is half bath and is 4" shy of 5' wide. I added a crude drawing of the floor plan. I plan to take down existing bathroom walls due to the shortcuts taken (2x2s with a 1x4 sill plate, centers anywhere from 14"-26... wow). I can't move the plumbing wall and don't want to take space away from the bedroom, hence the small jog in the wall to fit a 5' tub.

I understand I will be cutting and/or chipping out concrete.

The question is, what do I do for a trap? I am correct in understanding you frame out a 1'x1' box for it then fill it with gravel?

Anything tips for connecting this to the main plumbing?

Thanks!
 

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#2 ·
A couple of questions---is the existing drain set going into the pit in the drawing?

If so is the pit properly vented.

Are the drains PVc or iron?

Are you using a standard shower pan?---Mike---
 
#3 ·
Is the existing drain set going into the pit in the drawing?

- Going off memory I believe so, will looked into and post pictures.

If so is the pit properly vented.

- I don't believe the pit is, but I think there is a vent going straight up from the sink.

Are the drains PVc or iron?

- PVC

Are you using a standard shower pan?

- Standard tub with surround
 
#8 ·
I put the electrical box roughly where I figure the drain will go. It's a bad angle but you can see the sink plumbing and vent to the far right in the picture of my water softener. The vent doesn't go straight up, it goes across the roof and ties into the plumbing going to the top floor (split level house). It's hard/impossible to tell exactly how that toilet/sink tie into the drain without chipping out all the concrete. It's no doubt it ties in around there... just not sure if it's directly under where i want my P-trap to go.
 
#9 ·
You are going to have to cut into the drain pipes for that---I thought the 'pit' in the picture was a sewage pit with a pump. You will need to measure the distance from your new shower drain to the nearest plumbing vent on that line of drains.

If the vent is more than 5 feet,an additional vent will be needed for the shower.---Mike---
 
#10 ·
oh'mike said:
You are going to have to cut into the drain pipes for that---I thought the 'pit' in the picture was a sewage pit with a pump. You will need to measure the distance from your new shower drain to the nearest plumbing vent on that line of drains.

If the vent is more than 5 feet,an additional vent will be needed for the shower.---Mike---
How about good news... You have any of that? Haha...

I'm sure it's way past 5', probably closer to 20ft of lateral travel.
 
#12 ·
Different terminology---There should be a vent pipe rising out of the floor (2") behind the toilet.

That is the vent I'm talking about.

As to cutting into the main drain in the floor that's a good thing --as long as the existing piping is not in the way of locating the shower drain.---Mike---
 
#14 ·
That's the vent----sorry,I was looking for a white pipe.

You will need one like that for the shower also. 2" for the drain and 1 1/2" for the vent.

Vent can be tied into the other vent.---Mike----
 
#17 ·
Well, after a mere 5 months I figure I'd get started on this thing!

Personally I wanted to take down everything but the wall shared with the bedroom, but time constraints are having a devastating effect on the WAF. I will still try to convince her to let me raise the ceiling though. I have no idea why anyone would put in a 6'6" ceiling when there is nothing in the way of the 7'6" joists??

Heres the question. The toilet drain is directly under it like I thought, but shouldn't be an issue. It's 9" from the top of the pipe to the top of the concrete. The question is can I just trap it and dump it in that pipe, or should I chip out more crete and go to the main line?
 

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#21 ·
Sorry, i may have confused ya at some point. It will be a tub with shower surround, the drain goes directly to the hole.

Also with the vent stack 5 or so feet away is it necessary to individually vent the tub? The occasionally knowledgeable people at the local building center told me it was not necessary. While the vent is close, I have no way of seeing exactly how it connects to the toilet. Is it common for a toilet to be connected to the vent in the concrete?

Thanks for the insight Mike, if you were closer I'd take you out for a beer, haha.

Regards,
Darrick
 

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#22 ·
If there is a vent within 5 feet you are code---some areas even allow 6 feet----

I'm a little slow in the upstairs some times---tub uses 1 1/2" pipe----Mike----

Thanks for the offer of a beer--that sound refreshing.
 
#23 ·
Haha, no problem. I am under 5ft, so that drops some work. Speaking of dropping, I just did that to the ceiling, now I can 'raise the roof'. Yes... I'm a little lacking in the sleep department, haha.

I am cutting a section out to drop in a 3"x3"x1 1/2" sanitary T. Just about to make the first cut. After tonight it will likely be about a week before I work on this thing again as am driving my truck 13hrs to drop it off for some winter time modifications... Then back at this sprint of a Reno.

You between Regina Sk, and Minneapolis, Mike?
 
#25 ·
Update after a long dry spell. Cut into plumbing and added 1 1/2" sanitary T for tub drain. From the tub, through a trap, through a check valve (just for fun) then into the main line for this half of the house. Recovered with concrete, and installed tub. Also framed some walls, pretty much ready for drywall, just a few small touches and a fan/light.
 

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#26 ·
Looking like the end is in sight!

Just a tip---add some blocking to the tub surround area--for safety grab rails---handy to have if a time ever comes that the tub will be used by someone who needs them--The grab rails don't need to go in until you have a need--but the blocking will be there waiting---
 
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