SO - I am undergoing a spare bathroom reno in my basement and need to move the toilet drain approx 12". The drain is in concrete and seems to go straight down so either I have to tear up the concrete slab to reposition the drain or I'm considering building a platform and install plumbing to route to the main toilet drain. I know that repositioning the drain would be best but a platform would work fine with my design and therefore I am wondering if this would create any complications as far as proper drainage goes.

Looking forward to some assistance on this :)

V

90 degree bends are prime places for blockages to occur in drains and a platform would have you adding two of them.

Personally, my opinion... cut the slab and do it the right way. Fewer problems down the road.

Hi Vshane...

Building a platform and using two 90s to relocate the toilet would actually negate the toilet VENT under the ground... not a good thing!

You could get around this by adding a 2" vent (off a wye fitting) in between the 2 90s above ground. The new 2" vent would need to connect into the old toilet vent (cap the old vent going underground).

Otherwise, chop up the floor and relocate the drain using a 45 degree fitting and a 90 if possible... ;)

Although chopping up the floor sounds awful, getting the material for the platform, building the platform, etc. is just as much work, more expensive and in the end you always need to step up. As just one example, remember that you need to finish the corners of the platform you built... I swear this takes more time in itself than chopping up the floor! Obviously, I'd go this way myself... :)

If you decide to chop the floor you let us know when you get to the pipeing part and we'll give you a few shortcuts that will speed installation AND the finish phase, OK?

Mark

Thanks so much for the quick replies!

I prefer to do things right the first time so it looks like I have some chopping to do :)

How far down do you figure I need to demolish to accomplish this? Currently, the drain itself extends about 8-12" above the concrete base - again, I am assuming this goes straight down but could be wrong.

I'm off to purchase the 45 and 90 degree fittings - would I install the 45 degree at the drain and the 90 degree under the toilet or vice versa?

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Cheers!

Good for you! You will not regret!

What is "the drain itself extends about 8-12" above the concrete base"? What did it connect to before this? Finally, if you take a tape measure and stick it into the pipe, how far is the pipe below the floor (don't count exposed pipe)?

Guessing that the pipe won't be too deep, you need to go deep enough to get to the horizontal part of the drain pipe to keep the vent working properly. Connect onto the horizontal pipe and install the 45 degree fitting on the horizontal change in direction and the 90 degree elbow under the toilet IF chipping out the concrete is easy as using the 45 will require you to remove more concrete. Otherwise, use a LONG SWEEP 90 to change direction to a regular 90 under the toilet.

If installing TILE at finish you'll want to DRY FIT (don't prime/cement) the pipe coming out of the ground for now and wrap some cardboard to a 3/4" thickness all around the pipe where new concrete would contact pipe. Later, you'll install your tile and then remove the pipe and measure from the elbow to the new closet flange and cut the pipe to the proper length so that you can prime/cement the fittings and secure the closet flange through the tile and into the concrete floor... ;)

If installing a VINYL FLOORING at finish you can just install the flange so it sits just on top of the floor.

Be sure to keep all pipes stuffed with rags to keep sewer gasses from entering into the home during the job, OK?

Back to you...

Mark