[john curry]

My home is two years old. When built I had choices between tub with a builtin shower or a large shower. I opted for the tub but have changed my mind. I now want to install a shower.

I did notice when they were building the houses it seems to me they roughed in the bath rooms the same and then installed the tub/shower units later. If memory serves me right the tubs were installed then the wall pieces (3 sides) were added. The tub is 60in end to end, 41in side to side, and 75in floor to top. The same memory also says the shower units were one big piece.

My initial plan was to have the old removed and a new unit installed. Seemed like a simple swap to me.....LOL

Then I started to measure. My bathroom door is only 28in wide so no way a single piece unit can fit through the door.

I guess my question is does anyone know of a unit that will come in 4 pieces (base and 3 walls) and how easy is ittodo as I want.

I am not looking at it as a DIY but I do not want to be naive or stupid when it comes to doing such so advice please.

Thanks

 

[TheEplumber]

Yes, multipiece units are available. Showers also require a 2" drain- tubs 1.5". So you may have additional plumbing to do

 

[Alan]

Price range? You may find that you would prefer the look of an acrylic base with either cultured marble walls, or tile walls.

All that stuff will fit through the door.

Seconded on possibly needing to upsize the drain.


Nowadays we almost always run 2" trap arms for tubs, and make provisions to get a shower drain in there instead, because people change their mind halfway through the process.

 

[john curry]

Price range? You may find that you would prefer the look of an acrylic base with either cultured marble walls, or tile walls.

All that stuff will fit through the door.

Seconded on possibly needing to upsize the drain.


Nowadays we almost always run 2" trap arms for tubs, and make provisions to get a shower drain in there instead, because people change their mind halfway through the process.

Thnak you for responding.

Our homes are on slab construction. The piping was installed before the slab was poured and quite often before one decided what they were having installed so the piping is what it is. I can only assume they used 2in as they did not know tub, shoiwer, etc. Hope I am right..LOL

I have run into another issue. I have seen a few shower units that were designed to replace an existing tub. Sterling has one in their Ensemble line. The shower base is designed to fit right over where the tub was. The problem is they are 30in deep (front to back) and I wanted at least 36in deep and I could go to 42in which I would prefer.

Any suggestions/ideas?

Thanks

 

[Blondesense]

You have three options.
First, you install a full manufactured shower or shower kit.
Second, use a manufactured shower receptor to your measurements and use tile or cultured marble or something similar on the walls.
Third, build a shower pan and tile the walls.
http://www.ontariotile.com/preslope.html

Unless you go with a shower receptor made to replace a tub, plan on moving the drain to center.

I am not looking at it as a DIY but I do not want to be naive or stupid when it comes to doing such so advice please.

Good idea. Knowing the proper steps, what questions to ask, and taking pics of the work in progress are all a good idea. If you hire this out and plan tile, keep in mind tile and grout alone are not waterproof. Just because someone knows how to tile doesn't necessarily mean they know how to build a waterproof shower. While there is more than one way to build a shower correctly, there are a heck of a lot more ways to mess it up.