Kerdi drain & existing (new) drain in concrete

[Loren L]

The Kerdi system looks very good (and the Schluter website has a set of confidence-building videos). So I'm sold. But here's my situation (probably covered in John's book on page 33, but maybe not) . . .

The plumber recently jack-hammered the concrete basement floor for major replumbing, including the new shower, and already has set an ABS drain (now cemented in) that I assume is intended for a standard membrane-under-screed shower pan.

Is there any way I can jury-rig the Kerdi drain into this set-up (e.g., glue it in), or has the die been cast so I'm non-Kerdi now ('cause I'll tell ya, I ain't gonna tear this baby outta the concrete at this point), or can I (sort of) make the Kerdi-under-the-tile-on-the-floor system work with a not-Kerdi-drain?

Many thanks for ideas.

-Loren

[John Bridge]

Loren,

The new concrete around the drain will chip out fairly easily (not totally easy, though. ). I would chip down about four inches and about ten inches in diameter. That'll give you enough room to cut the pipe and install the Kerdi-drain. There is no way to install it with the ABS drain in place.

[JTG]

Loren
At a plumbing supply house you can find a cut off wheel you put on your drill and you can cut off the ABS from inside the pipe out. Put on a 2" coupler and a piece of 2" pipe to attach the Kerdi drain. Make that piece of pipe longer than you need and then again you can cut it off with your new tool to get your exact height. Check the box when you pick up the Kerdi drain or Schluter shower system kit as they have ABS and PVC types.
Good Luck
JTG

[phobbs]

If you have enough depth you can remove the clap down ring from the drain and you will find that the Schluter drain throat will fit down into the opening of the flange. It will also glue allowing a fixed connection, doing this will make for a thick mud bed in the shower floor .

Loren

This is the tool that Jerry was mentioning....

[Loren L]

Guys, this is great advice. Many thanks! A couple of follow-up questions that I hope aren' too stupid. I'm trying to visualize what's embedded in the concrete under the floor.

Jerry, the 2" coupler you're suggesting goes on the outside of each section of pipe, right? So I'd need to chip away concrete to get the coupler around the stub sticking up after cutting the drain piece out. The Kerdi drain (I don't have one to look at and the pictures I've found aren't very clear) has a female coupling that connects to my new 2" pipe coming up?

-Loren

[jgleason]

Hi Loren,

Take a look through this post - http://johnbridge.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=28637 it has excellent pictures of the Kerdi Drain. Definitely worthwhile to pick up a copy of JB's Kerdi Shower book, it is a great reference for doing a Kerdi shower.