How would you do something like this while keeping the floor looking flat?  We are planning to use a trench drain and have a zero threshold entrance to the area.  Originally, we were thinking to have the tub on a slightly raised platform, but I think the shower water can still pool, and so we want to have the tub on a sloped area, but should we make the floor "flat" under the tub, and have the tub slightly into the floor, meaning have the high side of the tub floor have an indentation, or would it be better to shim up the low side, so there appears to be a small gap on the low side?

We plan to put the trench drain between the shower and the tub, and the entrance to the shower area will be the shower than the tub.

Here are some pictures.


http://www.houzz.com/tub-inside-shower
http://www.houzz.com/photos/17269/Gary-Earl-parsons--Architect-eclectic-bathroom-san-francisco

If you made a raised platform the exact size and shape of the tub, then you could caulk the crack and there would be no place on the platform for any pooling. I'd prefer the tub being a little higher anyway.

Any depressions would collect water so I don't think "slightly into the floor" would work.
When working with this type of arrangement a lot depends on you tolerance for "wet". If you need to have all the water drain away like in an acrylic shower stall, then you will need to use uniformly gauged flooring and build a considerable slope into it. If you don't mind a little water escaping that you mop up with your towel later, you can get away with a bit rougher tile and less slope.

If the rest of the construction works for it, consider putting the trench drain across the opening and keeping it maybe an 1/8 to 1/4" below the main bathroom area. Then build in a small single direction slope from the back of the tub wall to the drain.

Also consider placing the wall shower close to the front so there is room to aim it away from the opening.

I plan to have a good discussion with everyone on the job site.  The plumber is setting up all of the drains, so I need to make sure we decide on the location of the drain at a minimum.  I think they will have the sewers done this week.

this looks like a better way of doing it to me

Posted By Jelly on 18 Nov 2013 01:32 PM
this looks like a better way of doing it to me

the problem is that what is necessarily the best drainage water protection idea and what the wife wants might not coincide.  we are pretty much set on a free standing tub for design/aesthetic reasons.  the subcontractor mentioned the same idea to us.