I am trying to determine best way to lay ceramic tile around floor drain set in concrete floor in my basement. floor is sloped to the drain and has been painted in the past. The drain is a 7" bowel with a 2" drain. How do a accommodate the the edges of the ceramic tile at edge of drain? Have researched kerdi drains but not sure if I need something like this or how to get the job done.

A square shower drain should be the answer for your cutting, a straight saw cut is all you need on the edge of the drain.

Square Shower Drain

The tile should be same heights level as the finish drain.

There is another option, there is a square frame for a standard drain, it been install around the drain with thinset. And it cost about $2.50, you should be able to find it in any hardware store or local HD

Good luck

Thanks - looked into square - that's the answer for ceramic edge around drain but am having trouble finding solution to modify drain (bowl) so I can lay ceramic over it. Drain is 7" around in a concrete floor - there must be a way to fill in the bowl or can I? Would very much appreciate suggestions. [img][/img]

Your photo is too small and not very clear.
Try posting again without reducing the size.

Is this photo large enough? thanks
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It sounds like this is a standard floor drain for a concrete basement slab.
I assume you want to make this area into a shower.

You still need to build this with either a mud bed preslope and liner system or a sloped mud bed /kerdi drain and a waterproof membrain system.

The drain needs to be replaced no matter what you do.


Does this drain have a trap primer supply line in it?

I don't know about supply line - this drain is in the floor. How do I replace the drain?

I would suggest you have a licenced plumber do the change over to ABS so that a Kerdi drain can be used. I'm guessing the plumbing you have there is cast iron. That's not a DIY type of job to convert from cast iron to ABS.

I just did this in my basement. I had to rent an electric jack hammer remove all the concrete around the drain dig down past the trap. Milwaukee makes a carbide sawzall blade designed to cut through cast iron I cut off past the trap that went to the mainline, and used a fernco fitting to connect the old cast iron line to my new pvc drain line. It was a dusty project but rather simple my dad and I completed this in about 2 hours.

Good Luck I hope this helps.

I'm a newbie and in the same boat as jfh. I just tore down an older tile shower that leaked. It was done the traditional way, with shower pan built with hot mop and mud bed.

So I'm back to the studs and concrete slab with an older metal drain (I supposed that is cast iron) that sits around 1/2 to an inch on center under the rough concrete slab surface

Are you saying that unless I have the shower pan rebuilt with the tar and mud bed, I have to have the drain changed to a PVC one?. If that the case, how long do you think this would take a licensed plumber (trying to get an idea on cost as I don't plan to do that part)

Do I need to use a self leveler compound on the rough concrete slab before rebuilding the shower?

I just discovered this site and I'm really impressed by all the knowledge's being shared here! Hopefully I will be able to contribute as I learn and do more

Pat