Hi,
I live in a house with a first floor bathroom, a basement and two bedrooms upstairs which seems like a remodeled attic. The reason I say this is because if I kneel through the door in the bedroom closet I see my roof,part of the chimney and the form of my other closet. We have a very steep roof.

My main question is would it be possible to add a half bath in this area? Space wise it would be just like adding another closet so thats not a problem. Physically I can handle the work and I do have some experienced friends who can help me with pipe fittings and cutting. Mainly not sure what needs done : Toilet drain straight down and tie into first level toilet drain ? Water ? never mind theres now way in heck............. If possible I would like to have a second floor toilet.

Basement toilet without tearing up floor ? Ive seen one built up so it was above the main drain ??????????????

ballengerb1

The real plumbers are fast asleep this time of night, they live on the east coast and will read this with their coffee tomorrow. Its all good because it gives you time to get your flashlight and start searching for the vent stack that exists your roof line. Does the vent stack pass near that area where you were knelling, if so you are one lucky duck. Tom and Mark will help you tomorrow as its late in Chicago now too.

ballengerb1

Hey Tom and/or Mark, we need an actual plumber to help JOJO.

massplumber2008

Hi Guys...sorry took so long to get in...BUSY DAY!!

Hey JoJo:

Lets see...basement toilets...a few options for you. If sewer pipes under concrete slab can always chop up floor and connect into the drain lines under floor (you would add a sink, too and use sink drain to WETVENT the toilet). If sewer pipe is above the floor then if want basement toilet/sink then need to install a sump pump system...they have a pit type that sets deep into floor (3ft down) and a type that install above floor...check out this site for these products: Zoeller Pump Company ...manufacturer of submersible sump pumps for dewatering, effluent, sewage and grinder applications, home improvement products, and pump sizing software. (click on zoeller SUMP, then on product tab at upper right).

A reasonable alternative to building floors up or chopping concrete floor up/out is the macerator type pump that saniflo sells. Go to this site and check it out. It may be best alternative for you...unit hides behind toilet (which you can build a wall in front of so hides unit). Saniflo macerating toilets: install a bathroom in the basement or any small space

OK now...upstairs toilets. You could use the saniflo toilet upstairs...piping it up would be very easy compared to other systems, but is not common for upstairs bathroom.

Now, if piping regular toilet and sink ...You would need to run a 3" PVC waste stack (pipe) from the basement up to the 2nd floor (install a 3" cleanout at the base of the stack...see pic.). In the basement you would connect into the main drain line with a 3" wye or a 4"x3"wye (and a 3"cleanout again just off the main drain line).

Once upstairs with 3" waste stack you will run over to where toilet is being installed and just before picking up the toilet run a 3"x2" wye fitting off the drain to pick up the sink drain...this 2" pipe will act to vent the toilet as well as act as waste for sink. It must then run 2" up and out the roof by itself OR can connect into the other vent in your attic before it penetrates the roof.
Then install the toilet 90 degree elbow and stub up for future closet flange (dry fit this stub up and cap temporarily...later will remove the dry stub, place flange on finished floor and measure the pipe length needed to install the flange).

There are a few more rules to all this...but pretty straight forward actually!! There are also safety issues you need to be clear about...such as if cast iron pipe is involved in this project you will need to be careful of the weight and hanging issues.

Water line should be run in pex pipe (flexible water pipe)...check this site out...look around and see what you think.

That should get you started..let us know if/when you need more details...Mark

If this answer helped please RATE THIS ANSWER. Thank you

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jojo11367

Thank you very much. Great helpful information.