How to replace shower drain?

[mookah11]

Hello. I was hoping I could remove my old shower drain and replace it with a new drain that is black to match my recently replaced tapware (please see photos). I'm usually a pretty handy girl when it comes to DIY but this is a bit beyond me so I am just wondering if anyone can tell me if this can be done easily or not? And how?

I have tried to research online but had no luck finding anything about removing a shower drain similar to mine. The only one I found sort of similar were screwed on from underneath the showerbase however there is no way to get under this shower base because its straight into the slab. There is no under the house access which makes me think that surely it must be removeable from above. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated TIA 😊 

 

 

[EricL · Accepted solution]

Hello @mookah11 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about removing your shower drain.

Your research is actually correct, the shower waste is screwed on to the base of the shower tray and the shower tray is then placed onto concrete which fills in the cavity under the shower tray making the shower waste impossible to remove except by removing and dismantling the shower tray. There is the option of spray painting the shower waste just like in this discussion - How to paint a shower grate? by @viide. But please note that because it is spray painted it will not last as long as a chrome plated waste. It will be necessary to touch it up once the paint starts to fade. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[mookah11]

Thank you so much for the prompt response Eric. You have immediately told me all I needed to know. Even my next query which was about painting it. I am impressed! Cheers.

[jmesa]

Hi Eric and wbout that one , i would like change all plastic top it us possible ?The cover and around the cover, the white parts 

thanks 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jmesa. It's marvellous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about removing a shower grate.

Drain grates like the one you have are typically cemented into place as part of the tile bedding, so unfortunately, it is not a simple job to remove both the grate and the surrounding white housing. Taking the entire assembly out usually involves breaking tiles and can very easily damage the waterproofing membrane underneath, which is why it is not something that would normally be done unless you were planning a full shower renovation.

You may have some luck replacing just the grate itself if you can find one that matches the size and fixing style of your existing drain, but the surround around the grate is not something that can realistically be removed as a DIY task. Doing so would mean redoing tiles and waterproofing, which would not be practical or cost-effective just for cosmetic reasons.

If the issue is mainly the appearance, you could look at improving how it looks rather than replacing it. Masking off the surrounding tiles and lightly sanding the surface with fine sandpaper can sometimes help clean it up. If the plastic has yellowed or stained, you could also consider painting it with a white spray paint designed for plastic. Just keep in mind that a shower is a very humid environment, so the long-term durability of paint in that area can be a bit unpredictable.

In short, replacing the grate may be possible if you find a suitable match, but replacing the surround is not recommended unless you are prepared to retile and rewaterproof the shower.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell