Currently our first level (cement floor) has a flush. We would like to include a shower stall. The drain pipe is next to where the shower would be but the opening is about 7" from the floor. Must the drain for the shower be level with the floor? Which would mean the floor would have to be broken to access the drain. Obviously, the water can not run uphill. Thank You.

Keriblue...

If you want the shower to have a MINIMUM threshold then you need to plan on chopping up the concrete and running a 2" pipe over from the toilet pipe to the shower area. Here, you will have to cut into the pipe underground and run 2" pipe with 2" ptrap and an 1.5" vent over to shower and install according to the rough in required for the particular shower you choose to install... i.e. you will need to choose the shower you want to know how to rough it in exactly!

If you don't mind a step up into the shower then you may have the option of installing a SANISHOWER SYSTEM. Here, you install a macerator pump exclusively for the shower stall, but you need to run pipe under a platform you build JUST FOR THE SHOWER... you also need to install vent pipes here.

Check out the SANISHOWER an www.saniflo.com

Personally, I would chop open the floor and install pipes as required... extra work now pays off in better all around bathroom in end, better value increase to home, and no reliance on electricity to drain the shower.

Let me know if you need more information here. Glad to help!

MARK