We purchased a home last year and in the main bath, some moron took a jacuzzi tub and sunk it below the floor level so that you actually have to sit on the floor to get in. Needless to say, it's coming out. We want to put a roll in shower in this space. We will need to put in new floor joists and make it structurally sound again and in the process leave about 2? For mortar and tile. Before tiling, we plan on applying the orange membrane on all the walls and floor and overlapping the threshold. I was wanting to put glass tiles on the walls and either pebble tec or non slip tiles on the floor. Does anybody see a problem with our plan? Thanks.

" process leave about 2?" do you mean 2 inches? That's too much to allow

By "role in shower" do mean a prebuilt shower enclosure and floor?(see image)

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in the process leave about 2? For mortar and tile.

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Now it sounds like you're building a custom tile shower. 2 what? Feet? Inches? Please explain in more detail. Back to you, Tom

Please, define "roll in shower". Also, do you mean to drop the floor by 2" or to build a curb 2" high. Please, explain in detail. Back to you. Milo

Sorry about the typing error. Yes, I meant 2" down from the existing floor and making it totally handicap accessible so there will be no curb. I guess the inches down from the existing floor would depend on the thickness of the new tiles. I suppose since we are having to rebuild the floor and retile the walls that this would be considered a custom shower. I'm also thinking that once we pull the old tiles off the wall that we can just retile over the existing drywall, once we apply the orange waterproofing membrane? Thank you for your suggestions.--Tina

Yes on the retiling over old drywall with a membrane but do you know if the old stuff was standard or green drywall? Even with the membrane green would be minimal, most of us use cement board in wet locations.

Are you on concrete slab or on raised foundation ? Back to you. Milo

TinaDD:

You will have to do some custom framing. New dropped floor has to be at least 2" x 6" and most likely hung on Simpson hangers and on existing floor joist. These floor joists will have to be doubled up on each side to properly support the weight of the new floor.

When you drop the floor than don't forget to take in consideration thickness of the pan including hot mop ( or PVC membrane ), concrete pad, thin set and tile. Hot mop ( or PVC membrane ) has to overlap over the step and into the bathroom floor. Kind of tricky to do with this shallow step. If you want to end up with 2" step than you will have to drop rough floor framing about 5 inches.

Back to you... Milo

Now I'm confused. The above picture is what you're planing to install isn't it? A shower base and enclosure, Never heard them called "roll in showers" are quite different from a custom tile shower. One is rebuilt and the other is installed from scratch. Are you planing on sinking a shower enclosure and then tiling around it. Let's have more details. Regards, Tom

Do you mean a shower that a special "shower wheelchair" can be rolled into? Will the shower need a little ramp? (My disabled friend with CP has this.)

I think Wondergirl has solved the mystery

Thanks Wonder girl,
Now it begains to make sense. This ism the first time "handicapped" has come into play. Now are they talking about building a custom tile shower or do they intend to install a prebuilt one. I have put up a image of a handicapped shower base and enclosure. Thanks again Wonder girl, Tom

In post #5, OP talks about building "totally handicapped accessible" shower...

I really appreciate all the replies. I think Wondergirl understands the roll-in shower idea. As we get older, I don't want to have to step over any curbs and who knows a wheelchair might be a necessity, so I just want the shower threshold and the bathroom floor to meet and become one. I think aesthetically it will look good too. I might have to angle the floor slightly for water drainage and as a posssible ramp, but probably not anything too noticeable. I don't want to use a prefab shower enclosure and want to remove the existing tile and re-tile over the existing walls. I'm not sure what the drywall is made of since we haven't started any demo yet. Yes, that part of the house is on a 4' raised foundation so I realized that we'll have to rebuild the subfloor to make it structurally sound. I just don't know how many inches to allow for the subfloor to make the threshold meet-up with the existing floor. Thanks.

Any help we can give, just ask. Old age can be a pain, Just ask me. I'll be 85 my next birthday. Good luck and stay well, Tom

Thanks for the support and advice. I'm kind of thinking for the future since I'm only 46 and having hip replacement surgery next month. This type of shower will be easier on everyone. Happy 85 on your birthday Tom! Thanks again... Tina