Need to cut into a floor joist. How to do it?

MurphyMan

Hi All.

I am renovating a bathroom and have ordered a new corner shower stall. I have already stripped everything out and wanted to get everything ready for the new stall.

I was reading the installation destructions and it said to place the drain pipe in the corner of the room, 12" from each side. This would have been no problem, except that it is smack in the middle of a floor joist.

BTW, the structure is 3/4" plywood over 2x10s on 24" center, with a 12 ft. span, all over a 32" crawlspace.

In the attached photo, you can see the old drain, the joist, and the plywood seam. The new enclosure demands that the drain be placed right in the middle of the seam.

So, DIY experts, I am looking for suggestions how to accomplish this drain move. Yes, I could shift the entire enclosure over a couple of inches, but that would mess up the layout of the rest of this already too small bathroom.

Thanks!


Sam

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sixeightten

If you have access to the crawl space, you could install a doubler and header off the joist. Moving it 2" would be a lot less work though.

MurphyMan

Could you provide a sketch or a photo how that might look?

I know the 2" would be less work, but I have the time available.

Thanks.

MurphyMan

I think I found what you mean. Something like this?



Is this just as strong as the original?

Sam

sixeightten

That will work. Be sure to use the proper joist hangers as well. Like I said, a lot more work.

mae-ling

Is it smakc in the middle or slightly offset? You can get shower drains that are offset and you may not even need to move the joist.

MurphyMan

The drain would be right in the middle of the joist.

You guys have talked me out of trying to modify the joist with doublers, etc. Today I'll decide if I should move the whole shower out of the corner, or to cancel the order and come up with a different way to go.

It's too bad, because we were really liking this shower.

ratherbefishing

You could cut out the plywood, and install the header from the top. Might be easier than doing it laying on your back.

Or, do a mud/tile shower floor, and put the drain off center.

mrgins

joist header (from above or below the floor) or offset drain would work. Even if the joist is in the middle of the drain area, you could glue and screw 3/4 plywood to the sides of the offending joist and then notch out just enough to get an offset drain in.
I don't understand why the joists are 24" o/c to start with.

MurphyMan

I took the easy way out.

I nailed 2x6s to the studs on the left(in the photo) moving the enclosure.

It gave me enough room and I don't have to worry about the floor caving in, and more than that, it was easy.

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mrgins

That was easy! Now put some staples in the stud to anchor the wiring