How to make a shower without a threshold

11/27/2013 at 11:11:22 AM

Must create a structurally sound floor thats lower than the rest of floor by as much as the thicknes of shower pan to be installed.

11/27/2013 at 12:03:42 PM

Valerie,

It isn't a simple project. The area where the shower is to be has to be lower than the floor in order to allow for proper drainage. The area would have to be cut out and the floor joists underneath require some modification to allow for the drop in height.

It is workable but I would suggest that you contact a structural engineer to confirm the renovation is both legal and structurally sound. Remember, you are changing the structures strength and any plumbing. The plumbing (drain) has to be able to flow into the main drain at some point and depending on where the connecton would be, your project may bigger than you anticipate.

Regards,

Mark

11/27/2013 at 12:14:48 PM

Go to google and look at ARK Tuff-Form, it will be just what your looking to do.

11/27/2013 at 12:51:53 PM

Hi Valerie,

The first two responses you recieved were correct. The third does not in anyway deal with the fact you want the floor of the shower at the same level as the tiled floor in the bathroom as you move in.

You mentioned the house is under construction now. At what stage is the construction?

Because if you foundations are poured but the basement floor has not been poured yet, them it is an easy do. If you are beyond this point the floor joists will have to be cut by as much as 3 1/2" deep if you are installing a typical sized shower.

If larger, then the cuts will have to be deeper. If you side up to every joist with a laminate joist that is larger by at least the depth you have removed. And those newly installed laminate joists must run about five feet beyond the cutouts of the original joists. You should be all right.

I am assuming there is not a support post running from a second story area running into a wall putting load in the area we are discussing.

If this is a bungalow or a second story bathroom we are discussing you should be okay.

But I would still run this by a structural engineer, or at the very least, a building inspector from the jurisdiction you are building in.

Hope this helps,

James Fram

11/27/2013 at 4:18:19 PM

It isn't that simple. It is possible but I would suggest contacting a structural engineer to confirm what can be done to code

The area where the shower is will have to be lowered, to allow for proper drainage. This means cutting out and the floor joists. This can also affect the area below the shower.

Having no curb is nice, but this can be a costly change at this point in your construction.

All this has been said in the other postings as well.

Regards,

Daryl

11/27/2013 at 4:43:01 PM

Hi Valerie.

As everyone has mentioned, it is difficult to do what you want without structural modifications. One other idea (assuming you are using this shower for a wheel chair, and depending on the size of the bathroom). Build a slight slope in the floor upward before you actually get to the shower stall. (a ramp with a gradual upward grade) Where the shower stall begins, install a flexible rubber threshold. (I believe these may be available through a medical supply store) Then slope the shower floor downward to a centre drain. The rubber threshold flexes to allow the wheels to pass over, but then springs up to help keep water out of the main bathroom. Also, the entire bathroom floor would need a product such as kerdi, to prevent water penetration into the subfloor and you would also need a floor drain in the bathroom.

Check with the local codes first.

Tony

11/27/2013 at 10:04:37 PM

Hi Val,

hope you had a chance to look on google for the requirements that you are looking for. After doing many wheel chair acsess showers the tuff-form floor system is so far advanced and new that it is not well known. It is the easyest and most cost effective way to have a leavel floor entering a shower, the videro is self explanatory. This site is great for pepole to get advice .........But if you research the things you want it gives you options.

Cheers,

Eric