How To Install A Shower Without A Floor Drain

Installing a shower drain isn t usually difficult but it always pays to be prepared for complications every project is different.

How to install a shower without a floor drain.

Plug the drain with a rag. Gradient towards the drain needs to be at least 2 per linear meter. Supply plumbing copper pex depending on what your house has sharkbite fittings if you are like me and want a shortcut. This will result in the need to step up about 6 inches to enter the shower stall.

This guide explains how to install a shower pan over existing plumbing. These 5 tips will help the project go smoothly. If the underside of your shower pan is flat apply caulk or adhesive to the floor base in a zigzag pattern. Before you whip out your iphone and call your neighborhood plumber for a job that s sure to cost you a pretty penny check out this video to learn how to do some impressive plumbing yourself.

To begin with some insight into the skills you ll need. If the floor is not level the shower pan will not be able to drain properly. If the subfloor is wood waterproof it before using self leveler and before spreading mortar or adhesive. You can purchase an elevated shower base or frame one from treated lumber.

Waste drain plumbing likely both pvc and abs depending on what your house has for a main stack. Abs or pvc drainpipe adapters are available for 1 1 2 in. Provide adequate slope to the screed floor so the water runs to the shower drain. Creating room for the drain slope as well as for a p trap installed in the drain line beneath the shower necessitates using an elevated shower base.

Use the acrylic caulk or construction adhesive depending on the shower pan manufacturer s recommendations and caulk gun to secure the pan to the concrete or subfloor. If you have a leaky shower drain and don t want to cut open a finished ceiling to get at it from below consider using a special drain such as the wingtite drain which can be installed from above if the drain is in a plastic or fiberglass shower base this drain has an o ring that seals to a typical 2 in. In order to avoid hollow spaces under the shower drain make sure that enough material used and it connects to the upper edge of the shower drain s flange.