Shower Drain Installation

Something as simple as changing the lights in your bathroom, with the new ones perhaps having a nice cheerful color, can brighten it up. If changing such a small thing can do such wonders, imagine the effects of changing something as central to your bathroom as the shower faucet!

Shower drain is also something which might warrant a change if it has not been replaced for a while, as it may result in water clogging. Installing a shower drain is not too tough, but it is not a cakewalk either. Here is a guide on how to go about this small DIY project:

What you will need

• Shower drain
• PVC cement
• PVC cement prep
• Drill PVC saw

Procedure

• Shower pans have a built-in drain hole that is set on a sloped floor for directing water to the hole. Place the shower pan in the roughed-in space on the floor and mark the drain hole position on the subfloor which is underneath.

• Using a power jigsaw, cut a hole in the subfloor surrounding the mark. Drill one or two large holes on the subfloor. Make sure that the holes are big enough to reach into using a PVC saw for the purpose of cutting the drain pipe.

• Cut the existing drain pipe with a PVC saw. Please take proper precautions and use requisite safety gear to avoid any injury. In case the subfloor is not at the same level as the rest of the bathroom floor, you may need a sheet of plywood to build it up and get it to the same level.

• For fixing the sheet of plywood, you will have to cut it according to the required dimensions to dry-fit it in place. This plywood sheet can be secured using construction adhesive, which has to be applied with the help of a caulk gun and screws. 

Once this is done, fix the new shower pan in place and mark the location for the new drain hole to be installed. A hole saw can be used to create a cut-out for the new drain.

• Cut the PVC pipe to go with the new drain according to the length of the drain. Deburr the end which you have cut with the help of a file. The next thing on the cards is to dry-fit the PVC fittings. More than half your job is done once all the parts fit properly.

• Put PVC cleaner to the surfaces which are joint and connected. Apply PVC cement as well, and then follow that up by slipping the PVC parts in place and holding them in position for a while. 

This is very important for making sure that the PVC cleaner and cement mix well, and that the chemical reaction between the two does not force the pieces apart. Finally, attach the new drain cover.

• Once the glue and caulk have dried up, check the drain for water tightness. Avoid hurrying things up regarding drainage solutions, especially in case of caulk and PVC cement.

You can easily install a shower drain by following these simple instructions, but if you still feel that it is not your cup of tea, you can always call up a plumber to do the job!