The drain which comes up through the slab is steel 3" in diameter. About 4" below the pipe coming up out of the top of the slab is a 1.5" drain pipe, either ABS or galvanized. I want to re-tile this shower floor. I purchased a pre-slope (quick-pitch) kit for under the liner, and another kit for over the liner, for the correct slope to the drain. However, there are no weep holes in this drain.

Can I get away with sloping a mud base over the flat slab and drilling weep holes into the existing metal flange leading into the drain pipe close to the drain? (This is a raised foundation 2.5', so a little water into the crawl space won't hurt anything).

Thanks, Jimbeem

Hi there Jimbeem,

Go to Home Depot and buy new shower drain with weep holes. It is as easy as that. You will save yourself lots of troubles...

3" drain is for toilet. It has no trap. You need trap for shower. You should attach shower drain to 2" pipe (with trap) or maybe even 1 1/2" pipe (with trap).

Galvanized = metal......ABS = plastic. Knock on it. you will know right away what it is made of... However, correct shower drain head will attach to either one of them....


You HAVE to water-proof new shower base including the curb and 12" up the walls. Use either PVC lining of Hot Mop. No way around it...