Hi there,
I have just moved into a place that has no shower, yet has an extra bathroom with a toilet and sink. I would like to convert this area into a shower, but I have no expertise in plumbing. What is the best way to go about this? Can I simply take out the toilet and use the drain as a shower drain? If so how do I go about taking out the toilet? Any help would be much appreciated.

No you can't just swap the shower for a toilet. The toilet has a trap built into it but a shower needs an external trap. If you did the swap sewer gas would come inside your home. If you tell us about the floor and what's under it we might be able to give you options.

Is there a way I could close off the toilet drain and instead convert the sink into a shower? I could see running the hose from the faucet wouldn't be a problem but I suppose I would have to drain the shower into the sink drain? How would I go about sealing off the toilet?

Make a shower from a sink? Not if you are trying to do this to code or don't want problems. Showers need a 2" drain and you bath sink is likely 1.25", also your sink drain enetrs the wall about 2' off the floor, right? What is your toilet drain made from, cast or PVC? You should be able to cap PVC.

Hey Marty... Hey like Ballenger said.. you cannot just use the toilet drain pipe for a shower. BUT you can use that pipe if you can cut it off downstairs (or underground) and reduce the pipe to two inch pipe. Then you would need to add a p-trap so sewer gasses cannot enter into your home.

Answer Ballenger's question about the floor.. what is underneath floor? Is there a basement underneath?

Answer his and mine... then we'll get into how to remove that toilet.

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Can I simply take out the toilet and use the drain as a shower drain? If so how do I go about taking out the toilet?

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Removing the toilet's the easy part. You shut the water off to the tank and disconnect the supply. Next you flush and then dip and sponge the water out of the tank and bowl,( careful! You still have a gallon hide in the trap). Now remove the caps from the toilet bolts and unscrew the nuts. Pull the toilet up and out and set it on a piece of cardboard.
So now the toilet's out. What's next? You have to follow the advice Massplumber gave you. Reduce to 2", convert to PVC and pipe for a shower. To tell you more we will have to have answers to Bals questions. Good luck, Tom