Q Our drain is not center it's opp...

Q Our drain is not center it's opposite to to one side. Can we in some way alter the new fiberglass shower base to fit an off-center drain? We really want to build the shower ourselves, if possible.

A. Fiberglass shower bases are ready to walk out of the box, and they are true attractive and have special flanges to accept tile walls. However, they do have a pre-drilled drain opening installed in the center of the base, likewise changing the location of the drain cavern is not possible. In a case like yours, you will have to re-pipe the existing drain and trap to fit the recent fiberglass shower base. If you're installing the shower onward a first floor and have access to the drain line in the basement, it's really not a big deal to propel (or have a plumber move) the shower drain and install a novel trap that's centered under the shower base. If the work is upon a second floor or higher floor it becomes a bigger devise to open up the floor, re- pipe the drain and plant the trap to fit the base. Then you ne to place the shower base from one side of to the other the drain and hope everything fits!

Remember, replacing a shower usually requires a permit, and the work at jobs needs to be inspected. Call a licensed plumber to install the base if you're not assured of your drain piping skills. You can still tile all the walls and build the quiet of the shower stall yourself, and you'll not ever notice you had a little help!

Master Plumber ed Del Grande hosts "Ed The Plumber" in succession DIY Network and can be reached at edtheplumber@diynetwork.com.

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