Soaking tub dream down the drain?

[dian57]

All my bathroom alcove tiles and sheetrock were taken down tonight. My husband was less than thrilled to find carpenter ant or termite damage in two of the wall studs. Our tile guy happened to be here for dinner and was helping with the demolition. Both guys agree that all the studs and the wood on the floor (not the header, the other end) have to be replaced.

They also cut open that little "insignificant" wall beside the tub. Inside we found a big, black plastic pipe that bends to the left. The bottom collar of the pipe is 1 inch away from the outer edge of the existing tub. Neither one of us can imagine a way to squeeze the soaker tub into the spot.

I took pictures and sent them to John to post (Thank you in advance, John). Anyone have any ideas or am I stuck with a standard 30" tub?

[Sponsored Links]

[Cami A]

Sure, no problem...just rip out everything and start with one of these lovely tubs. (http://www.us.kohler.com/tech/products/why_sok.jsp) I think you can fit it in if you get rid of the toilet and sink...

Sorry...but don't you just love remodeling? That's the type of thing that always makes me say, "While we're at it..." and see if I can rip out any other walls.

[jlbos83]

They do a concrete tub in Fine Homebuilding's March issue. You could take as much room as you have, and collapse the floor, too! ;)

[John Bridge]

Dianne asked me to post these two pictures.

http://johnbridge.com/junk/diane6.jpg http://johnbridge.com/junk/diane7.jpg

[John Bridge]

And that big drain pipe is the reason the "chase" is there. Doesn't look like there's a lot of room to gain for a wider tub.

Let's be aware, though, that all tubs are not five feet long. Four-foot-six inch tubs are not hard to come by. Special order but no bid deal.

[dian57]

Would it have killed the builder to put that pipe 2 inches back or sideways? Do you think it was planned that way?

No matter, done is done. I've ordered everything from the plumbing supply store and I'm very impressed. The Moen faucets were A LOT cheaper there than from the Moen website and I got a little faucet, bathtub and plumbing education as a bonus.

Work start date is scheduled for April 6. Now just have to get the tiles and sheetrock and I'm all set.

[Bud Cline]

SHEETROCK?????

[dian57]

I sense that I've said something wrong

[flatfloor]

Your doomed, run for your life! :D

[Rob Z]

Hi Dianne

I survived my encounter with Flatfloor, and am back to the Forum, ready to help.

Two Q's:

1. What is above this bathroom?

2. What is the distance from the centerline of the toilet to the apron of the tub?

Rob

[Bud Cline]

......and what is it exactly dian57 that you have planned to do with this, "SHEETROCK"???

[dian57]

I live in a ranch on a slab. Above the bathroom is the roof (the eaves).

From center of toilet to bathtub skirt measures 19 1/4 inches.

The tile guy decided the sheetrock around the tub was damaged and might as well be replaced while we were at it, so the sheetrock is for the non-tiled walls around the tub.

He's getting the green sheetrock for under the tiles. I know there's a more scientific name other than green sheetrock, but I don't know it.

Am I still on the right track here?

[John Bridge]

Dianne,

The green sheetrock for under the tiles is okay IF he is going to install a moisture barrier and cement board (or mortar) over the top of it.

Tiling directly to greenboard in a tub/shower is a no no.

[Rob Z]

Diane

I'm out the door for work (yes, I know it's kinda late). We can go over this later tonight.

I'm cautiously optimistic that you can reroute that pipe and get the larger tub in (maybe).

Rob

[John Bridge]

That's one big pipe, Rob. Looks like cast iron.

[dian57]

John, you are ever the optimist. Imagine a house without one right angle anywhere in it, with kitchen cabinets made of balsa wood, with a bathtub that started to rust less than 2 years after it was built, a house that cost $37,000 in 1980 with something as substantial as a cast iron pipe in it. The pipe is plastic.

Unfortunately, the American Standard normal run-of-the-mill common I'll-never-know-what-luxury-is-like bathtub is paid for and will be delivered next Friday. . . to my living room.

My only hope now is that as I age, I will shrink, and more of my body will be covered with water as I soak. Sigh.

[John Bridge]

Dianne,

I think in this instance, Rob was the optimist. And had I known the pipe was plastic, I would have been right there with him. :)

There are three things in this life that are sure: death, taxes, and shrinkage with age. Been there. Done that. :D

[JC]

John would it be appropriate to mention the Kerdi over sheetrock system?


It is just a vent pipe correct...this is one story house..Fernco it or something even if it means doing some digging. Better to have the longer tub then work around that POS.

Cami..why you linking all those ghetto bathtubs? Wanna see a real tub?

http://www.jacuzzi.com/products/baths/private/vizion.htm


http://www.jacuzzi.com/graphics/baths/private/Vizion.jpg


gotta love the TV

Now dats livin'

[chip]

How do you get the wife/girl friend/one nighter in that, along with you?

I can assure you that I would have a tough time!! Especially if LL found out about the girl friend or the one nighter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chippy

[JC]

Hmmmm, I can think of a couple un-natural deviant ways it would work. Who says you have to be in it? Just think you can watch your favorite movie too............

[flatfloor]

If you can make it work without force it is not unnatural or deviant.

[JC]

oh..is that how that works...I had better think of some new words then.

[Rob Z]

OK, dianne, I am back home now...but I see you don't need to deal with the pipe anymore.


I'll save all my crafty plumbing techniques for the next job you do. :)

[dian57]

Our "tile guy" was over last night. I still can't figure out how someone you hire to do work in your home starts to drop in nearly every night at dinnertime. But that's a whole different story.

My problem now is that when I mentioned a moisture barrier for the tub alcove he just gave me a blank stare. So, digging deeper, I asked how many tile jobs he'd done like mine (which seems pretty basic to me). The answer: 2. His own and his mother's.

I went from incredulous to scared to downright pissed off in less than a minute. Seems we have hired a complete novice who represented himself as a tile man to fix my bathroom.

I looked in the technical database for instructions on tiling from the studs out but didn't see what I was looking for. Maybe it was the blood pounding behind my eyes that prevented me from seeing it.

Please point me in the right direction for the proper information and technique.

Ain't life just grand sometimes?

[John Bridge]

I don't think we have anything like that in the liberry yet. But when you decide on which backer board you're going to use, you can go on that web site for directions. It's really no big deal on a bath tub.