tub drain off by 1/2", worth busting concrete? - DIY Chatroom

thezs · 10-22-2009, 02:45 AM

We're installing a new acrylic tub as a replacement for an old fiberglass tub that had developed a crack. The new tub is deeper, so we knew we were going to have to adjust the height of the overflow pipe. However, during our first test fit of the tub we discovered the bottom drain is misaligned by half an inch:

The drain/overflow assembly is set in our concrete slab (single-story home) as you can see here with the tub gone:

My research so far is pointing in the direction of busting up the concrete and replacing the drain/overflow assembly with one of those off-the-shelf kits. I wanted to check before proceeding down that road, though:

is there an easier way to manage some kind of offset drain fitting since it's so close?
how confident can i be that i can rotary-hammer my way into the concrete and arrive at a clean attachment point for the new drain kit?

Any & all tips appreciated!
The Z's

grillman39 · 10-22-2009, 04:09 AM

I had a new acrylic kitchen sink that would not go in to a counter top just right because of the back splash so I took my dremel tool and trimmed the acrylic off to make it work it looks good you may be able to trim some off the tub or the studs to make it go in but make sure that if to trim or plain the studs that you trim off what you will need for what ever you are going to put on the wall
hope this will help you some way some my think I am nuts
I am some
times
good luck
grillman39

thezs · 10-22-2009, 10:40 AM

If I were off by just 1/32-1/16th" maybe I could use a dremel on the tub to account for it. But 1/2" is way too much.

Adding breathing room at the studs is an interesting idea, but since we bought shower walls that match this tub that will go in next, I'm worried we'll be introducing an error factor there just to get the drain to line up right. As is, aside from the drain, the tub fits perfectly in the alcove space basically flush with all the studs.

I think I'm really looking for ideas in the space of what I can do with the drain plumbing specifically.

Thanks though!

thezs · 10-22-2009, 09:29 PM

Any other ideas?

bob22 · 10-22-2009, 09:38 PM

I'd bust it up; it likely (famous last words) isn't too thick. May take an hour or so but at least it will make everything else easier.

Plumber101 · 10-22-2009, 10:02 PM

Bust it out and leave it out.

Reconect with a new tub drain and install tub

You will thank yourself when you have the new tub installed and you need to make a repair to the drain. Think about busting concrete out with that new tub installed through and access hole or better yet tearing out a new tub

I always leave the cut out open unless it is for a toilet

grillman39 · 10-28-2009, 01:34 AM

plumber 101 is right bust it out and keep it open I have a older home built 1978 not that old to me but any way he is right I had to work on my drain and when the home was built they kept the drain open they filled it up with sand at some point the wall was cut behind the tub to look for termites and they put a vent over the hole so thank God all I had to do was open the vent and fix the drain I call a plumber friend and asked him was the open hole in the slab okay he told me that it was okay