Curbless shower on a slab
I am looking at a remodel that will be converting a tub to a curbless shower. The house is meant for someone with mobility challenges so needs a universal approach. The house is on a slab so Tom Meehan’s method of adding plywood makes sense but what happens then at the threshhold of the bathroom (hallway to bath)? Add a sloped transition piece? Is there anything more graceful? Thanks!
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
Another option is to score the slab and chip out the pieces. I've watch videos of this process. It's messy but not particularly difficult. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W21I0pg_kPY.
This is the way I'd go. You're going to have to bust up the slab anyway because the drain for a tub isn't code for a shower. The only thing I'd check is to make sure the existing drains are deep enough in the slab, you're probably going to have to drop the trap a couple of inches. If you pull the toilet you can see how deep the drains are.
Thank you! I am getting some push back on messing with the slab but perhaps this how-to will help.
There are "curbless" shower pans out there that only have a 3/4" threshold, and if you are installing a new tile floor you could easily make it flush with the tile.