Remodel of Shower (Shower Pan Drain)

G'day All,

I am needing some help understand my next step with regard to a tiled shower rebuild. The previous tiled shower was sunken 5 inches. I have successfully demolished the previous shower but am at a point that I am not certain what to do. I have done plumbing tasks before but always in PVC...and this appears to be a cast iron flange of some type.

Here are links to the pictures:





The advice I am looking for is help with identifying exactly what I currently have and the best procedure in replacing.

My intention is to raise the base of the shower back to the level of the normal slab and I assume I will need to convert to PVC...but before I move on I want someone with more experience to help me identify what I have and what I should do...to get a new shower pan drain roughed in so I can pour the concrete and remove this sunken shower base.

Please let me know and many thanks in advance...

Danny

I think I'd break some concrete, replace the trap with a pvc trap and riser. Connect the new and old with a coupling.

I highly suggest you check out www.johnbridge.com for help on building your shower.

Having that area sunken allows you to have the shower floor at the same height as the room, so you aren't stepping up into the shower. This is often highly desireable.

I really like the Kerdi shower system. Check it out at www.schluter.com.

You don't really pour a pan, the normal method of doing it is with deck mud (a 4-6:1 sand to portland cement ratio). This is mixed just wet enough to hold together if you pick up a clump and squeeze it. Think wet beach sand, not something you can pour. You place it, shape it, and tamp in place. Schluter makes some premade pans, but works equally well if you do a custom mudbed. The advantage is, you only need the one layer. Check it out.