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View Full Version : Installing new shower in a half bath built on a slab


bburky104
Nov 16, 2010, 11:24 AM
Hello Everyone,
We live in a split-level ranch (for lack of a better term). On the level which only has the front and back entryways, we have a half bath. This part of the house is on a slab. The plumbing for the toilet goes into the slab then into the basement (which is adjacent to the bathroom on the slab). The sink plumbing goes in to the wall and then down into the basement.

I would like to knock out a wall and put in a shower stall in this half bath, but due to the expense I obviously do not want to break up the concrete slab. Is there anyway to put a shower on a platform so that it can drain into the wall and then down with the other plumbing? It is 8 ft from floor to ceiling where I want to put the shower in.

If it helps. I believe the upstairs bathroom has all of its plumbing going down through the same wall in about the same area.

Thanks in advance for any help!

massplumber2008
Nov 17, 2010, 06:41 AM
Hi Bburky...

You can definitely build a platform and run a trap and a new vent for the shower drain.

However, if expense is the reason for not chipping out the floor and building the platform you are mistaken if you think building the platform is cheaper in terms of material and labor!

The fact is, that if you do the chipping out yourself, removing the floor is super cheap and actually takes less time than building and FINISHING that built up platform... ;)


Questions? Let me know...

Mark

speedball1
Nov 17, 2010, 07:02 AM
Mark's "bang on"! It's always better to do it right the first time.
Use a cement saw to cut a trench for the shower drain. If wet vents are allowed in your area you can get past running a separate vent by connecting back to the lavatory drain, (see image). Good luck, Tom