Shower/Tub rebuild

[Lampshade221]

Hello everyone, first post here. I am just getting going on a shower/tub removal where I intend to replace with a large walk-in, doorless shower (we have a tub in the other bath within the house). The old corner shower was tiled, developed a cracked tile and water seeped in over time. Realized something bad was going on when wife thought she smelled a "moldy" smell. Shower is gone and mold remediated. Tub remains. Entire area is on a concrete slab, no basement or other floor underneath.

I am dealing with a concrete slab and am wondering the smartest way to eliminate the old shower drain. I want to remove it. Cap it below grade and fill the recessed pan in the picture (about 3 1/2 deep) to level with the rest of the slab. Then curb a large area in and build the new shower. Second pic shows the area with tub, and I have basically a wide open 8' x 5' 5" area to work with once the tub is gone - albeit with a window on one end.

My initial question is am I being shortsighted in capping the drain and filling the recess? The vent stack for both drains can be seen in the wall opposite the tub drain - which I want to untilize as the new shower drain. I can relocate all the supply plumbing easily within walls.

Sorry for being a bit long-winded out of the gate, but I have a good size area to work with and believe I can do something very nice with it. Then move on to replacing some contractor-grade vanities in the rest of the room.

[cx]

Welcome, David.

Simple, but not necessarily easy. I'd recommend you determine where the center of your new shower area will be and cut out sufficient concrete to move your drain there. Should be no problem to remove the existing drains in the process.

You'll also want to determine first what kind of shower waterproofing system you intend to use so you can provide for the correct type of drain.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Lampshade221]

Thanks CX. I believe I can spot it most anywhere in the available space. I've gotten a better look at everything since I now have the tub and framing for it removed. Slow by steady progress. Now on to some mock drawings to plan the exact layout.

[Davy]

I would tend to design the shower toward the left side and stay away from the window. A window that low in a shower can be a problem if not waterproofed well. Along with privacy issues.

[Lampshade221]

Thanks for the tip Davy. The wife and I are "discussing" the layout (basically she is telling me what she wants). LOL.

[Davy]

Well, we aren't gonna be much help in that department. I'd at least pretend to be listening.

[Lampshade221]

Well, still slow on progress - but Davy I am doing a great job of "listening" at home. But after coming back one more row of floor tile on demo, I found something you guys likely see at times. I bought this house back in '04 when the local market was rampant and houses were listed for literally less than a week. Ripe with real estate broker flippers. I knew eventually I'd find some substandard work. Today was the day. The floor tile was laid right on the old linoleum! LOL. You can see my screwdriver underneath it.

At least it worries me less about how far I demo floor tile, as now it will eventually all get removed. One plus, I don't have to scrape any thinset after the tile is taken up. Zero adhesion on the lino.

[Houston Remodeler]

At least the demo will be easy

[Lampshade221]

Indeed it will. I look for silver linings, and demo of the file will be massively easier at this point. I believe I could now remove most the of the floor tile by rolling up the lino like a carpet. LOL.

[Lampshade221]

Slowly making progress...and demoing more. Wife and I decided on using a Kerdi-Line 36" drain with the offset outlet. This will allow it to visually be almost dead center along the length of the shower, and will make for some less drastic distance on the slope. Shower floor will end up about 4' x 6' 6". It will not go to the window in the picture, but will be tiled to that area, with a shelf coming out from window for ~12 - 14". Thankfully there is a local shop that stocks most everything in the Kerdi line.

Question of the day - Intending to install 2 rain heads. I am thinking of bringing one of the left wall, with a shower hose attached on that valve as well. Wife wants a teak bench to use for leg shaving/hair rinsing. The other from the wall I am facing in the picture. I can get them lined up perfectly when looking along the length of the shower (imagine if I'm standing in the window). But am wondering if it will look odd entering the room (which is the perspective of the camera).

Sorry for being so wordy!