Roughing in a bathroom issue-Basement

[mgb1974]

I built my custom house 2 years ago. We roughed in a bathroom on one side of the basement. We now want to add a MIL/FIL suite. So something that would of cost me $20 to rough is now turning into a major project!

I need to cut out a trench that is about 6 feet from the main line going out the house. I rented a 14" diamond saw and cut the concrete thinking that removing the floor would been easy after that. I found out that my concrete floor is over 6" deep. I maxed out a masonry bit that I had, so it could be thicker. I was going to get a 12" drill and see how deep it exactly is. I went ahead and cut everything to 5" deep. Max depth the saw one go.

Question that I have, can I rent a jack hammer and will that remove the area I cut out? I gave a couple swings with a sledge hammer with very little results.

Any other better methods?

Thanks
Matt!

 

[larry4406]

I’ve done similar.

Used a concrete blade in a circular saw to cut about 2-3” deep. Creates a nice edge.

Then I used my SDS hammer drill to make a series of holes close to the sawn edge on the trench side. Finally busted out the trench side and did the plumbing.

 

[jrsavoie]

Have you considered a pit and pump or an above floor model?

 

[mgb1974]

Have you considered a pit and pump or an above floor model?

I did originally but I knew I would regret it later not doing it 100%. Plus I have a small run overall to connect.

Guess ill rent a Jackhammer. I figure the floor would be 2-3"s thick....

 

[Spud McGee]

You dont need no stinking water. https://incinolet.com/

 

[JRC3]

Definitely rent an electric breaker. You won't regret the $50-75.

 

[jack stand]

A "ring saw" should cut the rest of the way through but I'm not sure if they'd charge you for a new blade. That would make a hammer/ chisel a less expensive option and you already have a "clean" edge, that's all that really matters.

 

[hans109h]

I'd stay on it with a heavy sledge. Once you get it started the rest will fall in line. Just keep on the same spot until you make a break.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

No comprende!

If you had a bath “roughed in” why are you having to cut the slab?

If this is suppose to be the main wasteline for said bath- what exactly was “roughed in”?

Or???

 

[JRC3]

I don't have tons of experience, but it seems like the cut is probably deep enough to break out between the cuts. But I've found when the remesh is almost at the bottom of the concrete it might make this case a bit more difficult to break out. I am amazed how well a breaker works though. Break it all up then sink the breaker chisel and pry with it as you actuate the breaker. Butter. Anyone who thinks a hammer is up to the task has never used a proper breaker. Like I said, you won't regret the small rental price.

 

[JRC3]

No comprende!

If you had a bath “roughed in” why are you having to cut the slab?

IME, frequently it's not laid out properly or plans change. OP might also mean just the supply was roughed in.

 

[csp]

Out of a dozen or so basement bathrooms I've finished out from the rough in stage or had first hand knowledge of, one had the rough ins in the correct place. This includes two of my own that had a lot of thought put into them to determine where the rough ins should go.

Plans change between rough in and actually finishing out a basement.

 

[pbon]

12” carbide blade on a sawsall should work for that last inch or so. Just keep the sawsall on the surface so the blade does not have the chance to peck and bend. Get the blade hole started with a concrete drill bit. I did this for about 3’ of concrete. You have a lot more length to go.

You could also run the 14” saw down your channel in 8 thin slices so you can more easily break or chip out the channel.

 

[benjamintmiller]

I did what you're proposing -- cut my 4" slab about 3" deep and then used a rented electric breaker to remove. It will break along the cut lines and if the bottom ends up a bit rough, that just means the new concrete has something to key into.

Definitely rent the breaker, I own an SDS drill and then SDS max breaker I rented was 10x the tool. I had an 8" x 20' trench of concrete broken up and removed in about two hours.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Agreed, rent a demo hammer, you probably have to break it up to remove it anyway.

 

[tstaude]

I had to move a couple water lines when we built our school, it was also in 6" of concrete....

I cut out the perimeter with a circular saw and a diamond blade, punched a few holes and went to town.

After that I used a hand held air chisel and got that first piece out, once you get that first chunk out it gets easier. You can then pull a little gravel out from under the next area, then when you swing at it the material breaks instead of having the rock and sand as a cushion.

 

[mike93lx]

I wouldn't even thing about an SDS anything for this...that is nuts. A real "breaker" is what you want. The most powerful one they have.

And a couple buddies to help

Hilti, Inc. PRO Breaker Rental 3495262 - The Home Depot

Rent a PRO Breaker Rental from one of our over 1,200 THD rental locations. Call your local store for same day pickup availability.

www.homedepot.com

 

[mgb1974]

Rented the above Hilti Jack hammer and it worked great. Had it cleared out in about an hour.

Next problem, the sewer line is about a foot under the slab in gravel. I try to pull the gravel out and it keeps backfilling it. Any tricks to stop this? Make a box around the pipe?

I just need to cut it and put the T on and im ready to go.

 

[JRC3]

Next problem, the sewer line is about a foot under the slab in gravel. I try to pull the gravel out and it keeps backfilling it. Any tricks to stop this? Make a box around the pipe?

Shop vac, slowly. This is one time I won't preach about running a bag in a shop vac. lol

Vac out gravel, empty canister near by, repeat.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Cut some 1 x 4 wood stakes and drive them in around the area you want to cut leaving yourself some room to work.

 

[Uncle murph]

I built my custom house 2 years ago. We roughed in a bathroom on one side of the basement. We now want to add a MIL/FIL suite. So something that would of cost me $20 to rough is now turning into a major project!

I need to cut out a trench that is about 6 feet from the main line going out the house. I rented a 14" diamond saw and cut the concrete thinking that removing the floor would been easy after that. I found out that my concrete floor is over 6" deep. I maxed out a masonry bit that I had, so it could be thicker. I was going to get a 12" drill and see how deep it exactly is. I went ahead and cut everything to 5" deep. Max depth the saw one go.

Question that I have, can I rent a jack hammer and will that remove the area I cut out? I gave a couple swings with a sledge hammer with very little results.

Any other better methods?

Thanks
Matt!

Hit it harder,once you punch through,extending the hole is easy.