I’m finishing out a basement with the bathroom already roughed in (1996).
Current Code (1997) and the Building Dept here in Colorado Springs, CO says that there needs to be a finished 30†side to side clearance and or 1024 sqr inches (your basic 32″ x 32″) as a minimum inside the shower pan/tub????. I’ve measured other prefab pans and tubs and they don’t even have those clearances inside.
<!—-><!—-> <!—->
Here in lies the problem. The 15†center of the toilet bowl (already roughed in) side to side clearance/code leaves me 2 1/4 “ short to be able to install a wide… say 4†shower pan entry lip with that 30″ inside to inside clearance in the shower pan area. I really don’t want to cut out concrete and re-plumb the toilet!
<!—-> <!—->
1. When I build the shower pan, will a finished 2 ¼â€ edge lip have enough strength. Or can there be some kind of sloped floor… flat edged entry lip and the bottom of the door frame sealed with sealant.?? And I think I can already hear the answer to that one……..
<!—-> <!—->
2. Can I use ¼â€ backer board instead of the ½â€ standard backer board on the walls? I need every ¼â€ I can get.
<!—-> <!—->
3. Then we have that “floating wall†issue,… still thinking on how to do that with tile…. I think that all the major settling is done…
<!—-> <!—->
The house was built in 1996 so Code at the time may have allowed tighter clearances.
<!—-> <!—->
Any idea’s
<!—-> <!—->
And a pre thank you for your thoughts.
Replies
Quarter inch Hardi is for floors, not walls. If you skin the studs with plywood, then the quarter inch Hardi could be used, but you are trading a quarter inch for a half inch so that doesn't make any sense, does it? I guess you could install the plywood with blocking and ledgers so it is at the same level as the inside studs, and gain two inches there (half per each of four walls). What a pain though
32 inches is pretty friggin narrow, and I understand why that is Code. First, I'd think about making it longer, since you can't make it wider. I haven't seen your layout but add a stud or two to the front, and you'll have square footage You may have to go with a custom pan.
Some prefab pans have a ledge or lip upon which the backerboard sits, so you might make up another inch with a custom pan.
You might be able to rip off a half inch from the inside of the studs and gain another two inches on all four sides. Block the heck out of it.
Regards,
Scooter
"I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow." WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
The length isn't the problem, I've got 5' + long for the shower. It's just the width that's the stickler. I've since found out that I can get a variance to 27" for the shower and 14" either side of the stool. That'll give me a minimum to work with and get closer to the 30" without pinching myself with a code problem.
Thanks for the thought.
The space inside a shower is measured at the floor level, inside the pan. As I remember you can apply a 30" diameter circle. I once bought and wanted to use a 36" neo-angle pan and it was not code compliant, so I had to toss it and get a 39" instead. For some reason Florestone made the 36" even though it was not compliant. Maybe they think some people don't get inspections or something, I dunno.
1/4" CBU on the walls is a no-no. It will make for a very soft wall.
Moving the toilet is not really that big a deal. It's probably a 4" slab. Hammer it out and move the riser over. Buy a couple of sacks of ready-mix and patch it. The whole thing could be done in a couple of hours. Then you can have an adequate shower and curb.
The space inside a shower is measured at the floor level, inside the pan. As I remember you can apply a 30" diameter circle. 1/4" CBU on the walls is a no-no. It will make for a very soft wall.
Yep, that's what they say. 30" circle. I can get it down to 27" with a variance and that'll alow me to make a decent curb and retain the 1/2 backer board as I knew I needed. And get it closer to the 30" than not. I thought somebody might have something new and more rigid in a tile board....
Moving the toilet is not really that big a deal. It's probably a 4" slab. Hammer it out and move the riser over. Buy a couple of sacks of ready-mix and patch it. The whole thing could be done in a couple of hours. Then you can have an adequate shower and curb.
Yeah, your right but I was really trying to avoid that at all costs. ;) It may come to that to do it right. Hope not!
Thanks for your ideas!