How can I reconfigure the washroom layout in my 100-year-old house without professional knowledge?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the washroom layout in your 100-year-old house.
I’m not an expert in this area, but I’ve been thinking about making some changes. In the dark blue area, I currently have laundry and the drain pipe in the same spot.
I’m considering placing a new toilet in the red area and connecting the drain line to the 3-inch laundry drain. I’m not sure if this is feasible, so any advice would be appreciated.
In the yellow area, I’m planning to install a new sink. There’s a drain right underneath, but it’s covered with a grate. I’m not sure if I can connect the sink drain to it, so I might connect it to the laundry and toilet drain instead.
In the turquoise area, I had an old toilet and drain. I’m thinking of installing a new shower and connecting it to the toilet drain.
I would really appreciate any guidance or advice on this plan.
It’s really just a lot of guessing until the slab gets jackhammered out and you can actually see how the current lines are laid out. Dealing with slab drainage is pretty tough and definitely not something for beginners to do themselves. Keeping the toilet where it is now will cut down on a ton of work
I think there might be some sawing happening soon 😊
Is this some kind of joke, maybe from PBS?
I’m just curious to see what happens next.
You’re already in over your head. It’s best to avoid this. Where there are drains, there are also vent lines. I’ve tackled this kind of task before, but it’s not for beginners. You might want to reconsider. You can spot where the concrete was cut, not sure why unless you did it yourself. If work was done, it should be patched up well. Also, working with cast iron can be tough.
That’s a pretty big change. It might make sense to hire a plumber for the initial plumbing and then you can focus on the rest of the work. The reason is you’ll have to think about vents for both the existing and new plumbing, and also check if the incoming water lines are sufficient or if adjustments are needed.
You will also need to open up the ceiling because you have to connect to the toilet vent and redirect it to a new location. You can’t just connect to the existing toilet drain and move it that far away from the original vent. If you move it too far, you will have flushing problems. A plumber can also check if there is a separate gray water drain in the house due to its age. Different types of water are supposed to be directed to different sewage drains depending on the water type, but this can vary based on the age of plumbing in the area and the house.
They will also have to calculate the correct pipe angle for all drains, including the toilet. P-traps need to be installed under the slab for all drains to prevent harmful and foul-smelling gas fumes from raw sewage from entering the house. If there is not enough angle, it will not drain or flush properly, and too much angle will cause centrifugal force to drain the P-trap completely, leaving no water to block the fumes.
If the original pipe is still in good condition, it may be usable. 80 years is a long time, and a hundred years is even longer. It’s best to hire a professional for underground work, maybe using solid core PVC.
You’re going to have to remove pretty much that entire floor.