While I'm in my bathroom, I noticed that I could replace the bathtub
with one that is two inches deeper. That would make for better baths.

I could also, without even going past the tile, get a tub that is two
inches wider. The problem with that is that the drain in the tub
would then be half that distance (1 inch) from the drain in the house.

It might not be the same distance from the wall where my feet go, also,
unless that is totally standardized. ???????

Do they have a simple remedy for offsetting a bathtub drain an inch or
maybe more? This is the most important question in this post!!


Any other reason why not to put in deeper or wider bathtub? 2nd most.



Do I need to reinforce the floor under the tub?

2"d x about 48"l x 18"w (last two are estimates) = 1/6' x 4' x 1.5' =
1/6 x 6 sq.ft.= suprisingly exactly 1 cubic foot.= 62 pounds. I guess
I could test by putting 62 pounds of extra weight plus me and the water
in the bathtub now and see if it creaks as I add the extra weight. ??




Or I could lose 62 pounds of my own weight. Well that wouldn't help
because when I bend my legs so my neck is at the water line, most of my
body is displacing water, and if I were thinner, I'd just add more water
to get the water line to the same place. The worst thing would be if I
stood up to leave while the tub was full of water. No, that's no worse
than if I were sitting down. No one adds water after they stand up,
unless they shower next but then they open the drain. Random thoughts
by that guy on SatNightLive just after it was funny.

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 9:03:59 PM UTC-5, micky wrote:
While I'm in my bathroom, I noticed that I could replace the bathtub

with one that is two inches deeper. That would make for better baths.



I could also, without even going past the tile, get a tub that is two

inches wider. The problem with that is that the drain in the tub

would then be half that distance (1 inch) from the drain in the house.



It might not be the same distance from the wall where my feet go, also,

unless that is totally standardized. ???????



Do they have a simple remedy for offsetting a bathtub drain an inch or

maybe more? This is the most important question in this post!!



Whether it's simple or not would depend on what we don't
know. If when you take the tub out, the trap and pipes
are right there in front of you between joists, it could
be just cutting a PVC pipe and putting in a new trap.
Or it could be that a joist is in the way of where the
new drain has to go. Or it could be that the trap heads off
in the other direction under a wall, etc where you can't
get to it. Or it could be that it;s a slab, there are
no joists and it's buried in concrete.






Any other reason why not to put in deeper or wider bathtub? 2nd most.



Do I need to reinforce the floor under the tub?



If it's standard sound construction that small change shouldn't
require reinforcing anything. If it's not, or you find
that the plumbers cut the joists all up, then yes.

On 3/8/2014 9:03 PM, micky wrote:
While I'm in my bathroom, I noticed that I could replace the bathtub
with one that is two inches deeper. That would make for better baths.

I could also, without even going past the tile, get a tub that is two
inches wider. The problem with that is that the drain in the tub
would then be half that distance (1 inch) from the drain in the house.

It might not be the same distance from the wall where my feet go, also,
unless that is totally standardized. ???????

Do they have a simple remedy for offsetting a bathtub drain an inch or
maybe more? This is the most important question in this post!!


Any other reason why not to put in deeper or wider bathtub? 2nd most.



Do I need to reinforce the floor under the tub?


First step it to find out the drain location on the new tub. You can
probably get the specs on line. They are standard to fit the same
location when you replace them Is there a way you can access the
existing drain now? You may be able to see if there is a way to move
the drain a bit. There is always a way if you have enough time and money.

A couple of months ago I took the tub out and replaced it with a shower
pan and made a large shower 32 x 60. No one has taken a tub bath for
years and this makes access much easier. Only a 2" step to go over.

The shower is ceramic tile, the walls half way up. Glass door 3/8"
thick. We love it.

On Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:02:13 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 3/8/2014 9:03 PM, micky wrote:
While I'm in my bathroom, I noticed that I could replace the bathtub
with one that is two inches deeper. That would make for better baths.

I could also, without even going past the tile, get a tub that is two
inches wider. The problem with that is that the drain in the tub
would then be half that distance (1 inch) from the drain in the house.

It might not be the same distance from the wall where my feet go, also,
unless that is totally standardized. ???????

Do they have a simple remedy for offsetting a bathtub drain an inch or
maybe more? This is the most important question in this post!!


Any other reason why not to put in deeper or wider bathtub? 2nd most.



Do I need to reinforce the floor under the tub?


First step it to find out the drain location on the new tub. You can
probably get the specs on line. They are standard to fit the same
location when you replace them Is there a way you can access the
existing drain now?

No, not without taking the tub out, or ripping out the dining room
ceiling below. On the other side of the wall from the tub valves is
a shower stall.

OTOH, it's one of 100 townhouses so the design they strove for was
probably simple, and I don't expect anything very complicated.

You may be able to see if there is a way to move
the drain a bit. There is always a way if you have enough time and money.

I have time, and I have some money.

A couple of months ago I took the tub out and replaced it with a shower
pan and made a large shower 32 x 60. No one has taken a tub bath for
years and this makes access much easier. Only a 2" step to go over.

Yes, I've thought that when I'm really old the tub hurdle might be a
problem, and I want to make it 2" higher.

I have a shower too if I can't use the tub. The bigger problem might be
getting to the second floor! or the basement. The stairs are broken
into 2 parts with a landing, U shaped, so I can't see one of those
stair-chairs. I think it would be quicker to crawl.

When I was home from the hospital 5 years ago, after a big abdominal
incision, I had a hard time sitting up. I got a friend to take a piece
of wood, a 1x2 inche by 3 feet, drill a hole in one end and run some
cotton clothes line through it. It worked fine at home and when I went
into the hospital 4 months later to finish the surgery, I took it there
too. I ttuffed it under the hospital mattress and I could pull on the
clothes line to sit up. The hospital didn't complain about germs or
anything.

When my mother was 87, she used a backless chair in the tub. With two
legs outside the tub maybe. Sat down when she was outside, then lifted
each leg to get inside, but still couldn't lower herself to the floor of
the tub.

Maybe I can come up with a fabric seat and a block and tackle screwed
into the ceiling. to get myself in and out of the bathtub.

The shower is ceramic tile, the walls half way up. Glass door 3/8"
thick. We love it.

Very nice.

On Monday, March 10, 2014 1:37:13 PM UTC-4, micky wrote:
On Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:02:13 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:



On 3/8/2014 9:03 PM, micky wrote:

While I'm in my bathroom, I noticed that I could replace the bathtub

with one that is two inches deeper. That would make for better baths.



I could also, without even going past the tile, get a tub that is two

inches wider. The problem with that is that the drain in the tub

would then be half that distance (1 inch) from the drain in the house.



It might not be the same distance from the wall where my feet go, also,

unless that is totally standardized. ???????



Do they have a simple remedy for offsetting a bathtub drain an inch or

maybe more? This is the most important question in this post!!





Any other reason why not to put in deeper or wider bathtub? 2nd most.







Do I need to reinforce the floor under the tub?





First step it to find out the drain location on the new tub. You can

probably get the specs on line. They are standard to fit the same

location when you replace them Is there a way you can access the

existing drain now?



No, not without taking the tub out, or ripping out the dining room

ceiling below. On the other side of the wall from the tub valves is

a shower stall.


Which means depending on how the piping is routed, you might not
have access to enough pipe to effect the necessary work from
above. If the pipe runs from tub, to trap, to shower, to sewer,
then you'd only have a little bit of pipe, under the tub that
accessible when the tub is removed. I'd say good chance you'd
have to be prepared to get access from below.

Presuming you don't run into any snags with the floor joists being in the way, then I don't see any problem in putting in an offset tub drain.

Offset drains are used all the time for sinks, in nursing homes or hospitals for example where the person using the sink is confined to a wheel chair and a regular P-trap under the sink would be in the way. In fact, a tub drain is NORMALLY offset because the flow down the drain and down the tub overflow spout collect at a tee before both flows go into the p-trap. So, all you're doing is making the existing offset an inch or two longer, and I can't see why that would be a problem.

PS:
If you take baths instead of showers, it's a good idea to keep a 5 gallon pail handy. After bathing, pour a full 5 gallon pail of dirty bath water down your bathroom sink drain. Drains clog gradually, and putting maximum flow down the bathroom sink drain periodically keeps it clear. And, of course, it's a good idea to use that grey water in the tub to flush your toilet. If you flush the toilet normally before or after a bath, you refill the tank with cold water, and in a room filled with warm humid air, that results in the toilet tank sweating and puddles of water under the tank on the floor. These puddles are often presumed to be a problem with the toilet leaking.