How to Put a Shower Where a Toilet Was

Turn off the household water supply. This supply valve is usually located in the front or side yards. Rotate the valve to the right to cut the water. Open the taps inside the house so any water in the pipes will drain away.

Turn off the power for the water heater. Connect a hose to the drain on the heater and empty out all the water inside.

Route a pipe from the water heater to the location for the shower. Depending on your plumbing, this will require either uncapping a pipe tee and running a new hot water pipe or cutting into the pipe and installing a tee for the shower connection. Run the pipe through walls, cutting through the studs with a reciprocating saw, when necessary. Cut out any drywall as needed with a keyhole saw or jigsaw so you can access the pipework and the studs. Secure the new pipe to the studs with clamps.

Remove the water supply valve from the cold water supply pipe where the toilet was located. Saw off the pipe so it ends behind the wall. Solder on an elbow or bend as needed to direct the water supply pipe upward, toward the center of the wall.

Drill a hole through the center of the wall for hot and cold water lines, using a power drill. If you're using a preformed shower, measure the height of the water inlet openings from the base of the shower. Some kits may provide a template to help you in positioning the hot and cold water inlets.

Connect a tee fitting between the two hot water and cold water shower points. The tee should lead upward to the showerhead. Knock out another hole in the wall for the shower head, using a chisel or a drill as needed. Solder a compression fitting onto the end of this pipe.

Position a preformed shower pan above the closet flange so that the drain in the pan lines up with the flange. Mark around the edges of the shower pan. Set the shower pan aside. Slip a metal collar into the flange opening, turning it until it locks into place. Secure it with flange bolts. Place the rubber gasket seal on top of the flange. Apply a bead of silicone caulk around the top of the gasket.

Place the bottom of the shower pan over the flange, aligning it with the marks you made earlier. Slip the grate into place over the drain. Insert the screws through the drain and into the flange collar. Tighten with a screwdriver.

Apply silicone caulk to the inside walls of the shower compartment. Connect the sides of the shower compartment to the drain pan base. Press the compartment into place.

Solder compression fittings onto the ends of the hot and cold water pipes leading from the wall.

Apply plumber's tape to the compression fittings. Fit hot and cold running water lines to the fittings. Connect a showerhead to the fitting at top.

Restore the water supply. Turn on the hot water heater and fill the tank. Run the water in the shower and check for leaks.