How to Add a Basement Shower Without Breaking Concrete

Existing Plumbing Stub-Outs

• The most efficient, and least expensive, method of installing a basement shower, without the need to break concrete, is to install it over existing plumbing stub-outs. This limits your ability to change the basement layout, but if the stub-outs are in place, using them will save money and labor.

Up-Flush Drainage System

• An up-flush drainage system features a pump that removes sewage from a holding tank located behind a toilet, tub or shower and pumps it into a sewer located at a higher elevation. The system also contains a grinder that liquefies solid waste for easy removal. Unless the collection tank is attached to a special toilet, you can install it behind a bathroom wall to keep it out of sight. You’ll need access to an electrical outlet to run the pump, and the system must connect to the main drain and to the home’s plumbing vent system.

Shower Elevation

• To allow adequate drainage from the shower to an up-flush system, the shower must be elevated. The standard fall required on a water drainage pipe is 1/4 inch per foot of drainpipe. This will result in the need to step up about 6 inches to enter the shower stall, because you must also allow for the installation of a P-trap drain beneath the shower. You can purchase an elevated shower base or frame one from treated lumber.

Considerations

• Basement ceilings are typically lower than other ceilings in the house, and when you add an elevated shower, you'll further reduce headroom in the shower stall. Consider the location when installing a basement shower that will depend on an up-flush system. Generally, it’s better to keep plumbing fixtures in close proximity. The farther away the shower is from the collection tank, the higher the floor of the shower must be to allow for adequate drainage.