how tough was it in practice and what surprised you the most?

[eneria12]

I’m trying to figure out how big of a headache it really is to move plumbing around for a basement bathroom. I’ve read so many mixed opinions that I’m honestly more confused than when I started. Some people say it’s just breaking a bit of concrete and rerouting lines, others make it sound like a full-scale excavation. If anyone has gone through it recently, how tough was it in practice and what surprised you the most?

 

[Lamark1991]

I went through this earlier this year, so maybe my experience will help a bit. I also thought it would be a “just move the drain a little” type of project, but the reality is that it depends heavily on how your existing lines sit under the slab. In my case the main drain was a bit off from where I wanted the shower, so we had to open up a long trench in the concrete, which wasn’t a disaster but definitely louder and messier than I expected. Before starting, I browsed a lot of guides, including the one here — bathroom remodel in Kirkland — and it helped me understand why slopes, venting, and drain height matter so much in basements. One thing I’d recommend: measure everything twice, because even a small misalignment in slope can cause slow drains later. If you can get a plumber to assess before you break anything, it might save you from a surprise change of plans.

 

[eneria12]

I haven’t moved plumbing myself, but I watched neighbors deal with it last fall and it echoed what you both mentioned — not impossible, just way more planning than people assume at first. Their biggest takeaway was that seeing what’s under the slab early on helped them avoid a couple layout mistakes. Might be worth doing a small exploratory cut before committing to the full plan.