Hello,

I'm replacing my bath tub with a tile shower that will have a mud pan. As a result I need to install a tile-in drain. My understanding is that the surface of the drain with all the top pieces removed needs to be flush with the concrete foundation. For the current tub drain installation a large section of the concrete around the drain has been chipped away all the way down to the dirt. So, it appears that to install the tile-in drain I will need to get it into position then pour new concrete around it, thereby permanently mounting it in the foundation of the house. I have several questions:

1. Is my assumption as described above correct?

2. The tile-in drain is 2" but my existing drain pipe is 1-1/2". I understand I can use a reducer and I also understand that the reducer should be placed vertically on the tile-in drain with the p-trap directly below it. If this is correct, it seems that the entire assembly from the bottom of the tile-in drain to the bottom of the p-trap could be almost 1 foot. Does this matter?

3. The tile-in drain is brass. Should I also use a brass reducer and p-trap (if such animals exist) or is PVC more appropriate. Ultimately I'm connecting this whole mess to an existing 1950's horizontal cast iron 1-1/2" drain line via a rubber coupler.

Thanks,
Ray

Milo Dolezal

1. Yes, that's the process. But you have 2 kinds of drains. One has fixed height. The other kind can be unscrewed to compensate for height requirements.

2. Shower should be 2". But many showers are 1 1/2" and work well. Yes, there reducer should be on vertical pipe and above trap. You can actually get same shower drain you want to use in 1 1/2". In this case, you won't need a reducer.

3. I would suggest that you go with ABS or PVC trap. They are smoother and clear better. Use Fernco shielded coupling ( 1 1/2" CI x 1 1/2" PVC ) to connect new with existing.

Good luck with your project !

cyberheater

Okay - Showers and tile.

Questions...
Are you screeding the cement pan first?
if so, you need to screed the pan at a slope towards the drain at 1/4" per foot.
Post if that's the case.

You will also need a shower pan liner. VERY important. Post more about the mud pan and if you are going to build that.

The drain part above is the same as Milo says.

Sorry - I have re-read your post. You apparently know about the slope.