Shower drains are an integral part of the plumbing in a bathroom and need to be positioned properly.
This includes understanding the bathroom’s layout and how the shower drain is going to be installed depending on the floor’s material.
A good example of this is learning how to install a shower drain in concrete flooring.
To install a shower drain in concrete flooring, break through the concrete slab, access the pipe, place a can on top of it, and pour new concrete around the can. Add the drain cover and wait for the concrete to settle.
In most cases, the best solution is to install a shower drain before pouring the concrete. This will ensure it is in the right spot and you don’t have to break through the concrete slab to access the pipe.
However, in some layouts, you are not going to have this option and that is fine too.
This guide will show you more about how to install a shower drain in concrete flooring.
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Steps On How To Install Shower Drain In Concrete Floor
1. Prep The Surface
Installing a shower drain on a concrete floor takes planning.
You will need to prep the surface. This includes understanding the layout of your bathroom and where the plumbing is set up.
This is going to ensure any machinery that is used to break through the concrete targets specific parts of the flooring. By doing this, you are going to ensure additional parts of the flooring are not damaged.
This is why prepping the surface is a must.
You will want to take the time to understand your options and make sure things are done carefully. This includes assessing the location of the pipe and then removing all excess debris from that area.
The goal is to clear the spot to ensure your machinery can go to work when it’s time to drill into the slab.
2. Access The Pipe By Breaking Concrete
If you have immediate access to the pipe then you will not have to break the concrete. However, this is rarely going to be the case if the concrete was already poured on top of the plumbing.
In this situation, the only option is going to be to break through the concrete to get to the pipe.
To do this, you are going to need a drill.
This will drill through the concrete and create a sizable hole where the piping is. You will need enough space to put the drain in.
Once you have at least 5-6″ of access around the pipe, you can then put away the drill.
3. Place A Can On Top Of The Pipe And Fill Hole With Concrete
When setting up a shower drain on a concrete floor, you will need to begin planning to fill the hole that was just drilled into the flooring.
How are you going to do this?
Your best option will be to place a can on top of the pipe to make sure there is enough space for the drain to get set up.
Once you are certain this is the case, you are welcome to pour new concrete around the pipe to fill the hole.
Be careful while doing this and don’t spread the concrete too thin.
4. Install Drain Cover
The last step is to set up the drain.
You are going to put the drain cover on top of the pipe as soon as the concrete is poured. This will allow the concrete to settle and dry while working around the drain cover.
This is why you need access to the pipe in the first place.
When there is enough access space for the drain cover, it will be a seamless fit. This will also ensure your shower drain remains functional when the concrete floor is settled.
Make sure the concrete does not get into the piping as it settles. If you notice this is the case, wipe away the excess concrete immediately.
Final Thoughts
These are the main tips on how to install a shower drain in concrete flooring.
To install a shower drain in concrete flooring, start by drilling where the pipe is, place a can on top of the pipe, pour new concrete to fill the hole, and install the drain cover while the concrete settles.
This will ensure the shower drain functions the way you want it to.
A good shower drain is not impeded by concrete and continues to work well as water pours into the tub later.
The concrete should never get in the way.
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