[nayte]

I am finishing my basement, and will be installing a two or three piece tub / shower. My basement has been roughed in. There is a 2 inch pipe sticking out of the cement floor for the tub drain. Should there be a morter patch that I need to chip out in order to properly install the drain and overflow?

Also, do I need to install aqua board behind the tub and shower, or can the 3 piece shower simply be attached directly to the studs?

Thanks

[speedball1]

Should there be a morter patch that I need to chip out in order to properly install the drain and overflow?

Yes! Tap around and see if it isn't just"skim cement " over the tub dap-out. If not, then you were roughed in for a shower and you will have to make a 12" square hole for the tub waste to connect to the trap raiser. The trap raiser shouls center about 15 1/2" off the wall and 1 1/2" off the front plate to pick up the average tub.

do I need to install aqua board behind the tub and shower, or can the 3 piece shower simply be attached directly to the studs?

A plumbers job is done when he installs the shower valve, pan and drain. But I'm hoping one of our other experts will pick up on this and answer. Regards, Tom

[massplumber2008]

Speedball1 has got you started... sounds like a shower rough in to me as well. Dig out around pipe and see if it heads into a 2" p-trap... may need to move slightly and reduce pipe size to fit to a tub (see Speed's numbers... then measure on your tub or get a specification sheet from the supplier that sold it to you and check that for rough in measurements).

Then, install the tub and shower walls AGAINST the studs. If you want a superior job--->>> who doesn't --->>> Then I would set this tub in a modified thinset mortar or a structolite gypsum base to reduce creaking/crackling inherent in these type of tubs.

Usually takes 2-50lb bags minimum. Easy to do... (no plastic needed on floor as floor is cement)... just mix and pour in the footprint that your tub makes at the floor... will need to look under tub before starting and see how much height you need... usually slopes toward drain... add 1-2 inches higher than the bottom of tub and then lower unit and squish out the excess by shifting/shaking unit down and into place. I have mixed a couple batches a little thick and had to step in to finally lower unit to floor. I promise you it will be worth the hassle!!

BUT.. you do not have to do the mortar/structolite... not everyone does it... OR some just do it for shower bases... we do it for anything acrylic or fiberglass... even whirlpools!

Hey, any more questions//let us know. Good luck.

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