Thanks, jimbo. Please ignore me being an engineer. I know that some people in trades have some tension with engineers. My cousin, an electrician, is like that. He tells me about how the electrical engineers that design the layouts don't know real world, etc.
I personally respect people in all fields of work. That is one of the reasons that I do DIY:
- learn something
- save some bucks
- spend some time in someone else's shoes
I think the last item is probably the most important for me. I know that you guys work hard for your pay and a lot of it is in not so nice of spaces (under cabinets, crawlspaces, etc.). I can imagine some of the conditions that you have probably faced. I worked my way through college (and grad school) with jobs at or just above minimum wage. Nothing has been handed to me. I know what work is and respect anyone who works hard for a living (and I know that your guys do).
Where I am, 21" clearance in front is code. Base on 2006 Viginia residential code:
FIXTURE CLEARANCES:
Toilets, sinks and showers shall have the minimum clearances listed below.
- 21 inches in front of sinks and toilets.
- 24 inches in front of shower stall opening.
- 4 inches between two adjacent sinks.
- 4 inches between a sink and a toilet.
- 4 inches between a sink and a wall.
- 2 inches between a sink and a bathtub.
- 15 inches clearance from a toilet's centerline to an adjacent fixture or wall on each side.
Width (interior at shower) is 49" without drywall. Interior length is just under 110" (with 32" used up with the shower). Width (along where wet wall runs) would be about 45".
The bathroom is in a basement with plumbing under slab. Section of concete has already been cut and dug out (muddy virginia clay) to access the 4" CI main line. The shower and laundry standpipe were not vented, so I am fixing those at the same time. I can certainly cut/dig more as needed to re-locate plumbing. All this work is done under permit. I already have a permit, but I have to revise the plan as the venting issues were discovered after tearing into things. I figure I should take this time to make the bathroom more functional and bring it up to code. The toilet, lav, and shower are all being replaced. Nothing is set in stone for the layout or dimensions.
I've been reading up on all the codes and the forum, but practical knowledge is where it's at. The codes say what you are allowed to do. It takes experience to know how to lay things out in the real world to meet those codes.
Just think of me as someone who works on really big water heaters. :)
It is okay if you don't want to help me. It doesn't need to be that way, but it's okay. I'll figure it out. I figured since most of you have seen many bathroom layouts, maybe you would know of some options (like the corner toilet hj mentioned) that I had not considered.
I am certainly open to help any of you on anything that I have knowledge of. For instance, I have driven several hours (on multiple occasions) to help people that I barely knew fix their cars and didn't charge them a dime to do it. That is just how I am.