We have a 110 year old house that is on a pier and beam foundation. I am installing a new corner shower. The drain for the shower is 12” on center off each wall floor plate. Unfortunately there is a floor joist 11 ½” off the floor plate. Therefore I am considering taking a 4” section out of the joist and bracing the joist with a 2 x 10 x 2’ board glued, screwed or bolted on the backside of the Joist. This would give me a 4” notch that would give me clearance for the drain.

Is this a good idea? Does anyone have a better idea?

I’ve included a drawing of my idea.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello Old house...

They make an OFFSET shower drain for situations like this... see image. Your local plumbing supply company should have one. This should work here even if you have to install an offset fitting (45) into it and straighten out using another 45... ;)

Otherwise, if that won't make it work out then you will need to HEAD OFF the joists using joist hangers, etc. as drawn below... see image. You can't just cut out the joist as you drew it. Before proceeding, however, let us know the span on these joists.

Now, are you setting the shower pan in mortar or structolite perlited gypsum... hmmm..? You should be in most cases. Read the shower instructions, of course, and then decide, but most shower bases have best result set in mortar or structolite.

Let me know what you think here... O.K.?

MARK

PS: Did you get my PM from our last discussion? Thanks again!

Is heading off the joists an option when it is for a tub drain as well?

you could furr out the side walls the width of the shower walls with 2x6 studs this would move the center of the drain away from floor joice. Goodluck ---zeke---

Is heading off the joists an option when it is for a tub drain as well?

Yes, works the same. Good luck, Tom