skip to main content

Converting a basement tub to shower

8 years ago

We have updated our kitchen and other bathrooms. We plan to sell our house in about 2 years when we retire. In the meantime we would like to update the basement bath so it is nicer for adult daughter and her fiance (we have a basement apartment) and will be a feature in the sale, not a detriment.
It is a very small bathroom (5x7) and feels dark and crowded. We are going to replace the vanity with either a smaller one or a pedestal sink to feel like there is more elbow room. We want to convert the tub to a shower. The first contractor said that we have to move the drain to the center (jackhammering through the basement floor) and it will cost about $1500 to convert the drain. I know my upstairs shower was converted to a center drain...but is it required? Water drains from a tub whether you take a shower or bath.....what is the reason (or is there a reason) in converting to a center drain?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

ineffablespace
8 years ago
They make shower pans that specifically replace standard bathtubs with the drain in the same location. Kohler, Americh, Swanstone, and Sterling, (as well as others) make them in various materials from Cast Iron to solid surface to acrylic.
live_wire_oak
8 years ago
Code has changed for the size of a drain serving a shower. You need 2" now. Talk with your local inspector to see if you can "retrofit" and be acceptable. I would think as long as you aren't putting in a half dozen body sprays and 2 rainshowers that most inspectors would be OK with it. But, better to find out on the front end. Nothing worse than to be in the middle of a sales negotiation where a buyer checks out the permits on a house and doesn't find one. That's leverage you don't want to give to a buyer, and would probably be worth a heck of a lot more than the $1500 quoted to do it to current code.
Related Discussions
Shower or shower/tub combo in basement
Q
Comments (3)
My suggestion would be to build what meets your needs, not what may meet the needs (or desires) of some unknown person at some unknown point in time in the future. If you're really concerned size/configure the shower stall to accept a tub with a minimum of hassle.
...See More
Master bath small shower + tub or no tub?
Q
Comments (27)
Well, phooey. I taped it out in the bathroom with blue tape last night and it looked like it would fit, but with too many nos, I'm back to the drawing board. Interesting thought, Vix. Right now we don't actually have a toilet room, so much as a separate toilet "area" (there's no door, and the closet takes up too much room to add a door), but it's on my agenda to create one. In our house, it's very necessary. I generally use that bathroom to try to FIND privacy, only to have 3 people (and sometimes the dog) follow me into the bathroom. I'm looking forward to having a door that locks and a fan so that I don't have two little people handing me the TP and asking whether I'm doing number 1 or 2 (oh, and the 1 year old likes to flush while I'm ON the pot; so I've got my own special cold water washlet), while DH decides that he absolutely has to shave and brush his teeth at that exact moment. Now if I take a hike to the guest bath on the other side of the house, all three just follow me AGAIN. Sometimes when I have insisted on locking the door in the guest bath (no way to do that with our LOUVERED -- why??? -- pocket door in the master), my one year old plopped down prostrate outside the door and cried until I open the door. For my W/C, I want to put in a LOUD fan; no whisper quiet for me. Maybe I'll even add a radio. :) The way I'm seeing it, I can either get rid of the long vanity altogether and live with a fairly small vanity, plus a tub and shower, I can skip the tub and live with the kids' bathroom on the third level as the only room with a tub, or we can bump out that weird corner jog, which would give us an additional 49'' X 27'' space -- enough to fit a 5X3 tub, 5X3 shower and keep the two vanities. But that sounds very expensive and will require carefully removing and replacing the siding to match the existing. DH's response to all this was "why do we need a tub?"
...See More
can this tub be converted to shower?
Q
Comments (4)
it is on the ground floor. does that matter? One of the things about the tub that I don't like is that it is a jacuzzi with many jets. I hear those things are a PIA to clean. I have enough trouble keeping smooth fiberglass clean! I think it would be kinda tough to step in to it as a shower. This could potentially be my retirement old-age place. I think walk-in shower is the way to go. I'm thinking gut job. It is a shame because it is a decent master bath. Just not what I want. formica vanity too. blech...
...See More
How to Convert a Garden Tub to a tub/shower combo?
Q
Comments (6)
That alcove is designed to house a tub only, not a tub shower unit. You can't "repurpose" what's there without water damage to your floor, window, and behind your walls. The tub itself not designed to be used that way, and neither is the window designed to be in a wet area. You'd need to rip it all out and start over by installing a smaller and waterproof window, then installing a tub that had an integral tile flange which is part of the waterproofing system needed. Then your waterproofing membrane and whatever wall cladding you might want.
...See More
StoneTech
8 years ago
That sounds like a lot for 20 minutes of jackhammering up a trench and replacing the plumbing from 1.5 to 2"..... You could rent one and do it yourself a lot cheaper, IMHO. This isn't brain surgery. Plumb it, put in a "P" trap and re-attach it to the old plumbing.

Being "centered" is preferable in a shower and, you can mix up some deck mud and slope it yourself.

If you're nervous, go over to John Bridge dot com and start your own thread. We'll "walk" you through it....
raehelen
8 years ago
Sue, my husband and I gutted and renovated our basement BR, oh about 5 years ago now. DH rented a jackhammer and redid the drain/plumbing himself. He was glad that he did, as the original owners had the plumbing so convoluted (you can see it partially buried in the pic). He also added a drain in our furnace room, (Figured he may as well while he had the jackhammer).

I would also suggest having storage space would be more appealing than elbow room to a prospective buyer, and certainly to a renter. Perhaps you can post a layout, and we can comment/make suggestions. We put a 4 ft vanity with drawers, and I LOVE all the storage space compared to the old 3 ft one with just two doors under the sink!

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space Into a Shower — Waterproofing and Drainage

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 4 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Pick your waterproofing materials and drain, and don't forget to test

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 1 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Get all the remodel details down on paper

SHOWERS Convert Your Tub Space Into a Shower — Choosing Accessories

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 5 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Pick the right niches, benches and bars for the best showering experience

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space Into a Shower — the Tiling and Grouting Phase

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 3 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Pick the right tile and test it out, then choose your grout color and type

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Fixtures-Shopping Phase

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 2 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Determine your mechanical needs and buy quality fixtures

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Modern Style Converts an Empty Concrete Box

By Becky Harris

From raw wasteland to fab living, sleeping and storage space, this snazzy basement now covers all the angles

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Ditching the Tub for a Spacious Shower

By Jeannie Matteucci

A Georgia designer transforms her master bathroom to create a more efficient and stylish space for 2

MORE ROOMS More Living Space: Converting a Garage

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

5 things to consider when creating new living space in the garage

BATHROOM DESIGN Bath of the Week: Converting a 19th-Century Bedroom in Texas

By Mary Jo Bowling

Bygone details merge with modern-day amenities and materials for beautiful contrast in a master bathroom

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: Modern Loft in a Converted 1920s Movie Theater

By Margot Hartford Photography

A San Francisco couple creates an oasis in a converted movie palace in the Lower Haight

Sponsored

Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

237 Reviews

Northern Virginia Design Build Firm | 15x Best of Houzz

More Discussions

Keep original cast iron tub?

1

shower curtain or glass for kids bathroom

3

What do you call using slabs to "frame" a shower entry?

6

Residue on shower floor

1

what size vanity bathroom mirrors above 72”vanity

0