Hi – our home is built on a concrete slab and we’re going to have the floors prepped (grinding) and polished. The bathroom shower has a short basin with tile (pics are posted at https://bathroomshowerdemo.wordpress.com). We would like to remove the shower basin and have the shower floor remain continuous with the rest of the slab. Our floor subcontractor has informed us that he can grind a shallow trough in the slab (shower floor) to direct water to the drain and finish the floor with a non-slip texture. My concern lies with the drain. If we remove the shower basin, what are we likely to find in regards to the drain pipe? Will the pipe protrude above the slab? If so, will we need to jackhammer the concrete around the drain, cut it flush and refill with new concrete?
If anyone has any advice or suggestions we would really appreciate your input!
Replies
There are about a dozen ways the shower could be done. From the pictures, though, it appears to be a simple plastic drain fastened to plastic drain pipe. A competent plumber can remove this, cut it down, and install a new fitting, though it would probably be necessary to saw/chisel out around the pipe to gain clearance for the new fitting. (Or you may discover that the area around the drain is open and does not have concrete around it, once the shower pan is removed.)
(It could also be a cast iron pipe -- can't be sure in the pictures -- but that can be cut off if you hold your mouth right.)
In any event it's a situation an experienced plumber would know how to deal with.
The important thing is for your floor guy to not break the pipe while doing his stuff.
Also be aware that the concrete under that pan may be quite thin -- only 2" or so. (Or it could be 6" -- no telling.)
The shower pan looks to be fairly normal, so I would expect to need to come down below your main slab to accomodate for the new shower pan level.
LIke Dan said a good plumber will know the necessary steps in your specific situation. You will need to break up the slab to be able to lower your proposed drain level. I dont think you will need to worry about slab thinkness, your slab more than likely has the same thinkness across the board, except for specific places.
You should expect to see from what it looks like to me, 2'' pvc or abs drain line in your slab.
Your flooring guys suggestion may have appealed to you but it seams like a very intrusive and labor intensive way to accomplish a concrete shower floor. I would much rather pour a small concrete curb (as to disguise the floor level change) and just polish and texture the existing concrete pan. You will still need to accomodate for the thickness of the thinset and tile but much less conrete removal and patching. my $.02
The pan
Thanks Mark122 - I think the current pan is some kind of hard foam. I can sink a utility knife blade into it from the edge. If we remove it, we would probably do what you suggested and leave the slab as the shower floor (with a professional finish from our flooring guy). I don't think we would bother putting a new pan in. I like your idea of putting a concrete curb, that would be doable.
The shower pan looks to be fairly normal, so I would expect to need to come down below your main slab to accomodate for the new shower pan level.
LIke Dan said a good plumber will know the necessary steps in your specific situation. You will need to break up the slab to be able to lower your proposed drain level. I dont think you will need to worry about slab thinkness, your slab more than likely has the same thinkness across the board, except for specific places.
You should expect to see from what it looks like to me, 2'' pvc or abs drain line in your slab.
Your flooring guys suggestion may have appealed to you but it seams like a very intrusive and labor intensive way to accomplish a concrete shower floor. I would much rather pour a small concrete curb (as to disguise the floor level change) and just polish and texture the existing concrete pan. You will still need to accomodate for the thickness of the thinset and tile but much less conrete removal and patching. my $.02
the unknown
DanH - Thanks! I tend to forget that the slab may be quite thin in the middle of the house. This could be an important consideration.