Total Gut - Shower advice needed

[nelsongg]

I'm a little unsure if this should be in a plumbing forum or a tiling forum, but here goes...

I'm totally gutting my Master Bath. I have attached a proposed redesign. The area between the toilet and the tub is the shower. I wanted a step into the tub, so I incorporated the step into the shower. In the drawing, the whole "L" shaped area between the tub and toilet is approx. 6" high. The wall between the shower and toilet is approx. 5' high. The long arrows on the shower/step are my proposed slope for drainage to a linear drain.

Question: Should I "frame" the shower/step with the slope I need for this area to drain as designed? Or is there another way I should achieve this?

Or, ...is this the most ridiculous thing you have ever seen?
Thanks,
Greg

[johnfrwhipple]

Looks like a nice big space.

I'm not sure I would install the drain on the 45 like that but it could work out with the right tile layout.

What is your big wish list? Is there a natural grade to your bathroom?

What type of tile?

The step up look does open the doors to lots of options. If your framing with common lumber remember that you will still need to add waterproofing and grade into the calculations. Most lumber and plywood floors require you to add a good 1 3/8" of mortar.

Planning this step well could free up a lot of time if the floor was designed to accept Concrete Board or Green EBoard and then waterproofing.

I have quite a few examples of this look on my Houzz account - take some time and look at this ideabook and tell us which picture you like most.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24257...om-Renovations

JW

[Todd Stull]

I'm a little unsure if this should be in a plumbing forum or a tiling forum, but here goes...

I'm totally gutting my Master Bath. I have attached a proposed redesign. The area between the toilet and the tub is the shower. I wanted a step into the tub, so I incorporated the step into the shower. In the drawing, the whole "L" shaped area between the tub and toilet is approx. 6" high. The wall between the shower and toilet is approx. 5' high. The long arrows on the shower/step are my proposed slope for drainage to a linear drain.

Question: Should I "frame" the shower/step with the slope I need for this area to drain as designed? Or is there another way I should achieve this?

Or, ...is this the most ridiculous thing you have ever seen?
Thanks,
Greg

Greg,
That looks like a pretty good design there. I think that if you go with a linear drain on an angle like that, you'd probably need a custom sized drain to extend closer to the corners. John will have alot of good ideas in is houzz albums for you!

[Hackney plumbing]

Doesn't look practical to me. I would put the tub where the shower is and make it a left hand drain. Then the shower would be where the tub is with a door.

[Plumber111]

I'd swap the toilet and the door. Then get rid of the one cabinet for clearance into the toilet area.

[nelsongg]

Doesn't look practical to me. I would put the tub where the shower is and make it a left hand drain. Then the shower would be where the tub is with a door.

I can't really move the tub because there are windows on both of the walls above the tub.

[nelsongg]

I'd swap the toilet and the door. Then get rid of the one cabinet for clearance into the toilet area.

Moving the door is not an option to that area, but I like the idea.

[johnfrwhipple]

Nelson did you check out that Houzz Ideabook I linked to?

[nelsongg]

Looks like a nice big space.

I'm not sure I would install the drain on the 45 like that but it could work out with the right tile layout.

What is your big wish list? Is there a natural grade to your bathroom? No natural grade, just need to create one.What type of tile? Tile hasn't been chosen yet. Is there something specific I should look for, i.e. size, color, material?
The step up look does open the doors to lots of options. What specific options do you have in mind? I'm waaaaay open for suggestions.If your framing with common lumber remember that you will still need to add waterproofing and grade into the calculations. Most lumber and plywood floors require you to add a good 1 3/8" of mortar. I planned to frame the 6" step-up with the grade flowing towards the drain and in towards the tub, on the long side of the tub. My big question about the mortar bed is: How do I do a mortar bed in the open part of the step? Or are you saying that if I slope the framing of the floor, I won't need a mortar bed? Just concrete board and waterproofing.Planning this step well could free up a lot of time if the floor was designed to accept Concrete Board or Green EBoard and then waterproofing.

JW

The diagrahm I posted is kind of crappy. I'll see if I can find a better one.

Thanks,
Greg

[nelsongg]

Here is a much better picture with measurements. Lets see if opinions change. The wall next to the toilet is about 5 feet high. The shower head will be on the opposite wall. The shower is open to the tub(no glass).

Thanks,
Greg

[jimbo]

The drainage and vent piping will be quite challenging since you have 3 "wet" walls!~

[nelsongg]

The tub is in its existing location, so that plumbing is done. The vanity is a similiar situation with a few small mods. The toilet is being moved from where the end cabinet is next to the door. The shower is totally new plumbing.

[nelsongg]

JW,
I did look at the link you posted. A lot of great designs. My main problem with the whole thing is that monsterousity of a tub that the wife won't part with. Even if she did, I'm not sure what I would do with that corner with the windows being there.

[johnfrwhipple]

Nelson if your framing a raised platform for this shower and tub deck step the sky is the limit.

Make sure your plumber checks out your plan and the distance from the drain to the vent stacks all work out.

I think you could design anything here you like.

After looking at the old diagonal drain you got me thinking it's looking all right!

Once you break down and realize that your wife is going to call all the design calls better get her online and tells us the "Pop Up's" "The Surprises".

I'm sure she has a few little extras even you don't know about.



JW

[nelsongg]

Thanks for the response JW.

The plumber has already said it is doable.

I originally liked this plan because it was kind of different. If you have any changes that you would maybe do, I would love to hear them. Right now it is just on paper, so "anything" is still possible. The only requirements are the tub being in that corner, because of the windows (could be turned I suppose) and the center section of the vanity. The wife already bought it (don't ask why, I still don't know) but if I had a design that worked well, but couldn't use the vanity, I could convince her to lose it. The other varible is the door can be moved to the other corner of the same wall.

As for the "few little extras", those will inevitably come during construction.

Thanks,
Greg