Procedure for No Caulk Shower Drain

[rookie123]

Hello:

I'm installing a new fiberglass shower pan on plywood subfloor with no access from below and have a few questions in using a no caulk shower drain.

1. Plastic or Brass? Besides cost and strength, any reason to pick one over the other ? Do they both install the same?
2. In securing drain to pan should anything go under the top part of drain to secure to pan? Silicone or plumbers putty? If so, is this dependent on wither its plastic or brass? Should either of these go on the underside before large locking nut?
3. What should the height of the 2" pipe coming up and into drain be? Height of gasket? ( allowing for slight rise of pan due to mortar thickness underneath )
4. Once small locking ring is securely tightened with special tool is it recommended to put a bead of silicone around top of gasket creating a slight slope to drain?

Btw i looked at the Bruco and Wingtite drains but they seem better suited to pans that are already installed and want to be kept but the drain replaced, correct?

Thanks in advance for any help, much appreciated.
Jeff

 

[Cacher_Chick]

I have not seen the brass version, but either way I would simply follow the manufacturers installation instructions.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[rookie123]

I have not seen the brass version, but either way I would simply follow the manufacturers installation instructions.

yup for sure will follow instructions. in your experience with the plastic one does it have the small compression ring to squeeze the gasket?

 

[Cacher_Chick]

yup for sure will follow instructions. in your experience with the plastic one does it have the small compression ring to squeeze the gasket?

Yes, that is what seals the shower drain to the riser.

 

[rookie123]

Yes, that is what seals the shower drain to the riser.

thks for the replys. i actually have some side access to drain but it might be tricky since i only have a limited amount of time to glue and push up from side/below...would it be ok to complete drain install to trap and portion of horizontal run...concrete in and then use a mechanical fitting to complete? thks

 

[rookie123]

Thinking about it, is a glued fitting perferred over a compression? i feel better with a glued seal, but curious to know wht others like? with access i could get a glued fit with everything but the critical riser to drain bottom which would be glue and feel only ...no sight line, so thts why i ask about doing the whole thing, dropping it with morter, then completeing with mech fitting.

 

[Cacher_Chick]

The no-caulk drain works great. The drain, trap, and riser is installed first, and you can test fit it with the pan to make sure everything is lined up before actually setting the pan the final time in a mortar bed. If I had full access from below, then there is even more room for adjustment after the pan is in, but it should not be needed.