How to Install Shower Floor Drains

You need some plumbing skills to properly install shower floor drains. The drain must seal watertight to the shower floor using a special washer called a compression washer. If you have a basic knowledge of plumbing and piping, you will be able to master this job, which takes about an hour to complete. You won't need to do any extensive plumbing to get your new shower drain in place, but the work may require some physical labor.

Silicone adhesive
Large pliers
Compression washer
2-by-4 board
Mallet

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the underside of the drain's flange, which is the flat lip that runs around the top of the drain, with silicone adhesive for shower drains.
- 2
  Place the drain into your shower pan drain hole so the adhesive contacts the top edge of the shower pan drain hole. Push the drain down so the flange sits flush on the shower pan.
- 3
  Turn over the shower pan and thread the drain's locking nut -- a round, threaded nut -- onto the drain's threads. Tighten this nut with a pair of large pliers.
- 4
  Set the base into the showering area. Push the existing drain pipe up through the shower pain drain. Slide a compression washer over this pipe. Place a 2-by-4 board on top of the pipe and with a mallet, hammer down on the board to force the pipe and washer back inside the drain. This causes the washer to compress around the pipe, sealing the pipe to the drain.

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