We are now at the hardest part, from what others have said and I now believe, and need some advice/help before proceeding.
I have posted photos below and to profile to help describe my words.
The new steel/enameled tub (which I now regret getting) has an overflow. The old one did not.
We are now trying to install tub and connect to drain. Yesterday, we tried to put tub into place without removing toilet which sits parallel to tub alcove. Alcove is 54 inches wide; so is tub. We have been contemplating using straps to drop it in. I'm thinking we need to cut the water to the house and remove the toilet.
** If you look at the photo of the tub, you'll see that the vertical overflow drain extends below the base of the tub. Sliding the tub with drain on may damage the floor. Do people remove it and then connect it after tub is installed? Doing that from below would be a VERY long reach.
** If you look at the photo of the recess we have created, you'll see that we left in place the plywood sheathing. I am thinking that we should make a 12 x 12 inch (or so) hole in the sheathing near floor level. The cut will have to go not only through the plywood sheathing but also the 3/16 inch melanite panel that we installed from ground to ceiling yesterday. Is that customarily what people do -- to connect overflow drain to tub drain and to drain under house?
** I am looking at the hole in the floor that was used by the old tub for the left drain/no overflow. The new tub's overflow drain is on the left end of the tub, rather than under the tub, and thus very close to the end wall. I am thinking that we need to cut the floor under the tub almost up to the wall to enlarge that hole to enable the new overflow drain to go vertically down. Correct? (See picture)
I am then thinking that the hole in the access box, if we cut through the sheathing and the melanite, will provide us access to the overflow drain. Will we be able to connect it to all of the pipes (tub and below floor) from through this hole? One of us says no; the other yes.
I am also worried about the effect of these cuts on structural integrity. Once the tub overflow drain is connected, I don't see how we can close the enlarged floor hole. Problem or not?
I have been all over the gallery looking for photos to help but came up with no visual aids. I do have Mark's manual.
Thank you SOOOO much in advance for being here to help. I know it's hard to do this from a distance but it truly does help greatly to have your input and advice.
PS It's raining and cold here today. I cannot imagine sliding under the house today. Grim.
THANK YOU!!!
