Help - Tub / shower install 58.5" rough opening!!!

**cleaver** · 12-27-2011, 01:56 PM

My house is a nightmare, the previous owner and contractor who renovated the house did not know what standard rough-in sizes are. This isn't the first problem I have run into.

So, I have a 5x9 foot bathroom. (well I thought I did). The rough-in width is 58.5" wide. Any ideas on how to make it 60.25"??? What about turning the 2x4 sideways on the outside wall? Think a building inspector would freak???

One wall is an exterior wall, the other wall faces onto a stairwell. My thought was to build a second wall on the staircase, but that seems like a pain and it will make the staircase look funny.

The other thought is to find a smaller tub/shower but I can't....any ideas from the experiences gurus?

**jimbo** · 12-27-2011, 02:12 PM

The next size down is 54". You could frame in for that.

**dlarrivee** · 12-27-2011, 02:37 PM

It's really not a big deal is it...?

I'm not sure what sort of crazy things you plan to do to your exterior wall, but that wall is likely load bearing.

Lots of tubs aren't a full 60", or 60.25" like you mention. Shop around, you can find one to fit.

hj · 12-27-2011, 03:10 PM

quote; Lots of tubs aren't a full 60", or 60.25" like you mention

I don't know where you buy your tubs, but ALL the 5' tubs I have EVER installed have ALL been 60" long, period. As for what can be done to make the space 60"+, we would have to see it to make a decision or recommendation.

**dlarrivee** · 12-27-2011, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by hj

quote; Lots of tubs aren't a full 60", or 60.25" like you mention

I don't know where you buy your tubs, but ALL the 5' tubs I have EVER installed have ALL been 60" long, period. As for what can be done to make the space 60"+, we would have to see it to make a decision or recommendation.

The last one I installed was 3/4" short of 5'...

hj, one day you might wake up and realize that there is life beyond Arizona.

I'm sure there is a way to get a 5' tub in there, can you post pictures of the space you propose?

**cleaver** · 12-27-2011, 05:02 PM

I will post some pics tomorrow, thanks for the input so far...

**cleaver** · 12-27-2011, 03:17 PM

All the tubs I have found are 59.5 at the minimum. Either I build out into my staircase another 2x4 wall (which I will have to support down to the basement) or I go with a shower stall, and forget the tub.
Stupid, stupid house builder...I really hate incompentance....there was no reason the builder couldn't shift the stairwell 2-3" when he was building...the first and second floor was completely rebuilt because of fire damage 18 years ago.