Basement Bathrooms

Basement Bathrooms

Drainage considerations

When adding a bathroom to basement spaces, drainage is the most essential factor to consider. Standard above ground restroom plumbing depends on gravity to drain away sewage and waste water. Gravity offers a push, known as "fall" or "slope," that moves waste down the pipes. In basement bathrooms, since it is below ground, creating that slope because the major challenge and expense.

When examining your basement for a new restroom setup, your basement contractor and plumber will consider 2 primary problems initially.

Plumbing depth-- If your existing plumbing drain is deep enough to produce sufficient slope for drainage, constructing a bathroom will be relatively easy. If not, you'll have to think about some different options to conventional gravity-fed toilets.

Pipe size-- If your existing pipes are too small, your plumber will certainly need to put in larger pipes to allow for proper basement drainage.

Your sewage system line may be deep enough to enable your basement bathrooms plumbing to work on gravity. Your local public works department can supply you with info on the depth of your sewer line. If you have a septic system tank, your basement contractor will be able to find out if your house's septic lines are deep enough to get the proper slope for drainage.

If your home was constructed with the intention of installing a basement bath, there might be plumbing stubs readily available already. This makes installation substantially easier.

Even if your drain lines are deep enough, there are still some unique considerations. If you're on a city sewer line, you'll require a backwater valve to keep sewage from backing up into your toilet.

You might need to eliminate part of your basement floor and excavate the ground below. This is where time and money really comes into play. But there are some alternatives available.

Basement toilet choices

Relying on your existing plumbing, you have a variety of commode options for your new bathroom.

Pressure-assisted toilet-- Although your drainage lines could technically be deep for gravity-fed plumbing, the fall still isn't really as strong in the basement as it is on upper floors. Rather than risking blockages with basic plumbing, pick a pressure-assisted toilet that makes use of atmospheric pressure to push waste out with some force.

Up-flushing toilet-- An up-flushing toilet is a self-contained unit that sits on the floor, so you don't need to remove any concrete or excavate to install one. The plumbing lines run up the wall to the basement ceiling and connect to the sewage system or septic tank line there. This is one of the most basic choices for including a bathroom in your basement.

A few of these designs consist of a macerating function that grinds waste to prevent clogging. Older up-flushing macerating models count on water pressure for this grinding, which caused smell and overflow concerns. New designs work on electricity, which eliminated these issues.

Sewage-ejector systems-- Sewage-ejector tank-and-pump systems are designed to pump sewage up to the sewage system or septic tank line. The toilet is positioned on top of a confined tank and pump system. Your sink and bathtub or shower can also drain into this tank. The tank and pump does need to sit in a hole below your basement floor, which means this method of drainage does require excavation.

Composting toilets-- One of the most environmentally friendly solutions, composting toilets use little to no water and turn your waste into garden compost that you can then use in your vegetable garden or flower beds. The biggest disadvantage with a composting system is that they are made just for toilet waste (however not sink or shower waste water) and require excellent outdoors ventilation.

Setting up a tub or shower Installing a tub or shower in your basement brings pretty much the same concerns as setting up a toilet. You may need to break up the floor and excavate to set up the plumbing. Again, if plumbing stubs are readily available, you can set up a shower as you would in any other room. Conversely, you can connect your shower to your up-flush toilet or sewage-ejector system.

Lighting factors to consider Excellent lighting in the bathroom is a must for comfort, however basement bathrooms face particular challenges. Make use of the chance to bring in natural light if you're locating it against an above ground outside wall. Glass-block windows are one simple means to let in daylight in without jeopardizing privacy. In addition, select brilliant ceiling and vanity lights.

Including a bathroom in your basement makeover project provides the finished basement an extra touch that makes it feel similar to other level(s) of your house. With the best layout, components, and design your basement bathrooms can be as elegant as your any of your bathrooms.