Hi,

I am just getting ready to frame the basement for a bathroom and have a few questions. We just recently had our house built and had 2 rough in's put into the basement that empty into a pit that has a grinder pump attached to it. Nothing is currently using the grinder pump, the first bathroom I am working on now down there will be the first to use it.

There are 3 pipes for each rough in. A 4 inch for the toilet and two 1 1/2 inch pipes for the sink and tub. My question is on the tub. Currently there is an opening about 6x6 that has a 1 1/2 inch pipe sticking up out of the floor about 2 feet with a cap on it. There is gravel packed all around the pipe in the hole, do I need to cut the pipe down and install the trap or would our builder have already put the trap in there and ran the 1 1/2 inch pipe up out of it?

Then I have an issue with the framing, the issue is that we would like to install a tub in the basement, however, the rough-in is 18 inches from the rear wall, before framing, and 57 inches from the left wall before framing. The problem is that a standard tub won't fit unless I raise the floor. I'm thinking about raising the floor about 3.5 inches, cutting the pipe off where it comes up out of the DAP out and then putting a 90 degree elbow on the pipe to bring it to the right as far as I need it to be. Is there anything I need to be concerned about in doing this?

Thanks,

John

Hi John,

"There are 3 pipes for each rough in. A 4 inch for the toliet and two 1 1/2 inch pipes for the sink and tub."

Your holding tank has to have a dedicated roof vent to operate. I see no mention of it here.

" Currently there is an opening about 6x6 that has a 1 1/2 inch pipe sticking up out of the floor about 2 feet with a cap on it. There is gravel packed all around the pipe in the hole, do I need to cut the pipe down and install the trap or would our builder have already put the trap in there and ran the 1 1/2 inch pipe up out of it?"

If there's a raiser sticking up out of the gravel then the trap's already installed. This is a tub dap out.

" I have an issue with the framing, the issue is that we would like to install a tub in the basement, however, the rough-in is 18 inches from the rear wall, before framing, and 57 inches from the left wall before framing. The problem is that a standard tub won't fit unless I raise the floor. I'm thinking about raising the floor about 3.5 inches, cutting the pipe off where it comes up out of the DAP out and then putting a 90 degree elbow on the pipe to bring it to the right as far as I need it to be. Is there anything I need to be concerned about in doing this?"

Yes! A whole bunch of drainage problems from that "S" trap you just installed.
Your plumber left you with a problem. For a regular sized tub,( 31" X 60") he left you with a 14 1/2 " rough for a 15 1/2" one and 53 1/2" when he should have left you 60".
Your solution is to platform the tub, build a "S" trap and hope for the best.
Let me give you a more workable solution. Dig out the dap out and cut the trap off the drain line and reposition the trap to pick the tub up.
I hate to use the phase "Mickey Mouse" but that's what platformed tubs with a exposed drain line leading over to the trap looks like.
My advice? Move the trap and make your job look like a professional did it even if your plumber couldn't. Good luck, Tom

Hi Tom,

Thanks for you reply. If I remove the trap from the Dap out, I assume that the pipe on the other end is 2 inchs, but it might be 1 1/2 as well. Either way, would bringing the 2 pipe about 4 inches out of the concrete after the trap is removed, adding a 90 degree elbow to the right, then adding the p-trap back right below the drain from the tub be OK? I was wrong on the back wall, they did leave enough room for the required 15 1/2 inches. But I will need to come over at least 7 inches to the right under the raised floor to fit the tub in. As for the venting, I believe that is taken care of, there is a vent coming off the sink drain running up through the attic to the roof. All three pipes are connected together.

Thanks,

John

John, Read my last post in which I said, ""Your holding tank has to have a dedicated roof vent to operate. I see no mention of it here."
And then you tell me, "As for the venting, I belive that is taken care of, there is a vent coming off the sink drain running up thru the attic to the roof. All three pipes are connected together."

John, a dedicated vent means just that. A vent from the holding tank through the roof with no tie ins or connections. If there is a holding tank vent that's connected to another vent then the job will be red tagged at inspection. The reason for this is while the drainage vents only breathes in a holding tank vent breathes both in and out. If you tie the holding tank vent back to the drainage vents you will be injecting sewer gas back into a vent system that's designed to remove it. Hence, a dedicated vent.

"would bringing the 2 pipe about 4 inches out of the concrete after the trap is removed, adding a 90 degree elbow to the right, then adding the p-trap back right below the drain from the tub be ok?"

You're just bound and determined to platform that tub and build yourself a "S" trap aren't you? Both ways that you suggest are oultawed.
What's wrong with breaking up cement and moving the trap? Sounds like a win-win situation to me. Your tub will set of the floor with the drainage concealed and not look like a afterthought. Is there a problem I don'r know about? Regards, Tom

Hi Tom,

There is a pit where the grinder pump sits in, I assume this is what you mean by the holding tank, there is a direct vent from there up through the attic as well, and another vent on the drain line from the sink. As for the tub, I was hoping to find a solution to install a tub without having to break up the concrete, but that looks like it will take allot more work than I had originally tought. I might just look at putting a stand up shower in now instead. Thanks for all your help.

John

Hi John,

"There is a pit where the grinder pump sits in, I assume this is what you mean by the holding tank, there is a direct vent from there up thru the attic as well, and another vent on the the drain line from the sink."

I hope you mean closed tank instead of open pit. A pit would mean that you have a open cesspool in your basement. You'll have to parden mr for picking your statements apart but I take things literally. To me "pit" means open while tank means closed. If you plan on a plastic or fiberglass shower base make sure it's bedded in properly. Good luck, Tom