Any plumbers here?

[LooseHip]

Have an older home, I am currently remodeling my basement bathroom and need advice. The floor drain is appears to be cast iron. What options do I have for installing a new shower pan on the cast iron drain. Originally I wanted to go the tile route but was told I would need to replace the cast iron with abs/PVC. This required breaking up the concrete floor to replace. Will I have to do the same to install a shower pan? The last owner had a shower pan but it looked like he just slip fitted the connection. Any ways if there are any plumbers who have dealt with this please let me know. I want to make sure I do the install correctly.

 

[DyM]

Not a plumber, but did a lot of DIY remodeling. We're lucky we didn't have an old house. I didn't replace the downstairs tub, but the toilet had a cast iron ring. not an issue since the o ring covers it all the same. Good luck, hope someone pipes in.

 

[sadams]

Another "Not a plumber" but a DIYer, weighing in, "if" you have to go the tile floor/replace the drain route, I just did this in my basement which we are currently working to finish (and in preparation for my new fish tank). We had to move the rough in plumbing which necessitated breaking up the old concrete, cutting the existing abs plumbing, and re-running/moving the toilet and shower drain. It wasn't fun by any means but it was completed in a weekend (probably take someone who knows what they are doing several hours ) Anyway, wasn't too horrible, re-ran pipe, put in a 3 piece shower drain (one where you lay a sloped bed of cement, then cover that with pvc membrane, then a topcoat of cement, then tile) and now have the toilet and shower where we want/need them. If I had it to do over, I'd go the same direction and I guesstimate (googled a little bit) it saved us maybe 1K+ in costs.

As a side note, to break out the cement where you are working, we rented a Hammer Drill from HD and outlined (with holes in the cement) around the toilet and shower drains, once we figured which direction the pipes ran, we then punched holes in the concrete to where the drains needed to go, and then broke it out with a concrete chisel and the hammer drill. Then dig a trench, lay new ABS pipe, check for slope, glue and back fill with dirt, then finally lay in new concrete.

Hopefully there is a solution to just replacing the cast iron drain

 

[Munch]

So no plumbers? I need some copper moved - multiple lines!

 

[SynDen]

Not a plumber but copper isn't to hard, especially if you use sharkbite fittings. Easy as cut the pipe to length and snap the fittings on tight. I used to do a lot of copper soldering when I did sprinkler installs but anymore I just use the sharkbites

 

[Munch]

I considered the sharkbikes, will they pass inspection?

 

[SynDen]

Ya they should, they work and seal just as well as soldering them. They work much like the connections we use on ro/di untis and such just beefer. I rerouted my water main in my house when I put in a new room in the basement and the inspector only glanced at them and moved on.

 

[Mav]

I do sprinklers but have plenty of copper experience replacing shutoff valves, breaks etc. I can help if you need lines moved. I use shark bites occationally. The only thing I'm not fond of is that they move. They don't hold the pipes in place like a good sweat will. If to have opposing 90s, the pipes can and will move a few inches. Just my .02