Ask Me Help Desk - How do you remove a shower receptor

I have started demolition for replacing a complete shower, and I have removed the shower door, tile, and greenboard. I just realized, I'm not sure how the receptor is installed, and what is the safest way to remove it is.

I will be replacing it with a new one, so I obviously need to remove it.

Thanks.

Andrigtmiller:

It all depends on the material your shower base is made of...

Is this a fiberglass/acrylic base or a custom tile/concrete base? Also, is this on the 1st floor or second floor? Is the waste pipe to shower accessible? Can you tell us the kind of pipe going to shower unit now?

If this is a fiberglass/acrylic unit on the 1st floor I would have you unscrew any screws in the base (or remove nails in nailing flange) and then remove the shower strainer and see how the pipe is secured to the base. If it is by a rubber donut you may be able to PRY the rubber donut up and off by using screwdrivers and rocking the base a bit (someone holds pipe firm in basement while doing this)... that should get it removed. If it is by leaded joint (metal around pvc or copper pipe) you are probably best to go downstairs and cut the pipe just below the shower base (can use a shielded clamp (see pic.) to transition to PVC pipe later if not PVC pipe.. or can cement a coupling onto pvc pipe later).

If this is a fiberglass/acrylic base on 2nd floor, unscrew or denail and remove shower strainer as above, and then you can try to pry the rubber donut up but only by using SCREWDRIVERS, or may need to cut a 6" circle around the shower strainer and base with a wood sawzall blade so you can remove the base unit and then work on the drain pipe removal and new installation. The reason you cannot ROCK the base off is because you could SNAP/BREAK the pipe off almost anywhere in ceiling... and that is a real bad thing.

If this is a concrete/tile base, then first step is to break out the concrete using a sledge hammer or a chipping hammer. Then you can access the drain pipe and transition to new pipe and shower strainer assembly or even reuse drain depending on new shower pan choice... let us know if this is the case as there are more instructions to share... ;)

Finally, need to know exactly what kind of shower base you plan to install...

That was a rough run down for you. Answer all my questions so we can give a more precise description for your exact situation.

Have good day... MARK

Quote:

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Andrigtmiller:

It all depends on the material your shower base is made of....

Is this a fiberglass/acrylic base or a custom tile/concrete base? Also, is this on the 1st floor or second floor?? Is the waste pipe to shower accessible? Can you tell us the kind of pipe going to shower unit now??

If this is a fiberglass/acrylic unit on the 1st floor I would have you unscrew any screws in the base (or remove nails in nailing flange) and then remove the shower strainer and see how the pipe is secured to the base. If it is by a rubber donut you may be able to PRY the rubber donut up and off by using screwdrivers and rocking the base a bit (someone holds pipe firm in basement while doing this)...that should get it removed. If it is by leaded joint (metal around pvc or copper pipe) you are probably best to go downstairs and cut the pipe just below the shower base (can use a shielded clamp (see pic.) to transition to PVC pipe later if not PVC pipe..or can cement a coupling onto pvc pipe later).

If this is a fiberglass/acrylic base on 2nd floor, unscrew or denail and remove shower strainer as above, and then you can try to pry the rubber donut up but only by using SCREWDRIVERS, or may need to cut a 6" circle around the shower strainer and base with a wood sawzall blade so you can remove the base unit and then work on the drain pipe removal and new installation. The reason you cannot ROCK the base off is because you could SNAP/BREAK the pipe off almost anywhere in cieling ...and that is a real bad thing.

If this is a concrete/tile base, then first step is to break out the concrete using a sledge hammer or a chipping hammer. Then you can access the drain pipe and transition to new pipe and shower strainer assembly or even reuse drain depending on new shower pan choice...let us know if this is the case as there are more instructions to share...;)

Finally, need to know exactly what kind of shower base you plan to install...

That was a rough run down for you. Answer all my questions so we can give a more precise description for your exact situation.

Have good day...MARK

Thanks. It is an acrylic base, and it had some nails at the top, and just a rubber donut. I actually used my RotoZip, and cut just part of it out, so I could see better, and after doing that it just lifted off. This was after I pryed the rubber seal out from the drain. I appreciate the help, and I didn't have to cut the drain pipe or anything.

Part of what confused me is that the front wouldn't budge, while the back would lift. As it turns out, it was just a really tight fit in the front against the flooring, so, when I cut part of it out, I cut part of the front off, and that loosened it enough in front, to just lift it off.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the help.

Glad to help...

Good day!