At the core of every great shower is a great shower drain. But which drain is the right one for your shower?
It's simple: the best drain for your shower is the one you love the look of and that meets the requirements of the job. Every state, every town or every province might have some special code that makes the choice harder, but for the most part the sky is the limit. It all depends on what's right for you.
For many of the showers built in North America, the client is not even asked what type of drain they'd like. But things are changing. Today's client is far more educated and looking for more than a cheap fix. And they should! Drains do more than look pretty — the good ones can deliver on both style and function.
Here are some of my favorite styles.
It's simple: the best drain for your shower is the one you love the look of and that meets the requirements of the job. Every state, every town or every province might have some special code that makes the choice harder, but for the most part the sky is the limit. It all depends on what's right for you.
For many of the showers built in North America, the client is not even asked what type of drain they'd like. But things are changing. Today's client is far more educated and looking for more than a cheap fix. And they should! Drains do more than look pretty — the good ones can deliver on both style and function.
Here are some of my favorite styles.
Linear Drains
This shower is one of my favorites and features a linear drain from Quick Drain USA. This drain is one of my top picks and recommendations on most jobs. The narrow profile and the fact that it's also a primary shower drain make it one of the best options out there.
Tip: When working with standard 3/8-inch-thick tile, I plan on a 1 1/4-inch finished wall build-out (off the stud framing) to factor in a combination of the 1/2-inch backer board, waterproofing, tile thinset and tile thickness.
Plan your build-out before installing the drain so you can put the drain tight to the wall, as shown here. If you have not picked your tile yet, hold off on installing the drain until you have.
This shower is one of my favorites and features a linear drain from Quick Drain USA. This drain is one of my top picks and recommendations on most jobs. The narrow profile and the fact that it's also a primary shower drain make it one of the best options out there.
Tip: When working with standard 3/8-inch-thick tile, I plan on a 1 1/4-inch finished wall build-out (off the stud framing) to factor in a combination of the 1/2-inch backer board, waterproofing, tile thinset and tile thickness.
Plan your build-out before installing the drain so you can put the drain tight to the wall, as shown here. If you have not picked your tile yet, hold off on installing the drain until you have.
A tile-top linear drain is one of the hottest looks now and one of my clients' preferred choices. This shower, set by Ceramiques Hugo Sanchez, showcases the polished look that's possible with modern drains.
An opening of at least 2.48 square inches or 1,600 square millimeters is recommended. Smaller openings may work or even look nicer, but they will affect the flow rates of these drains.
Tip: Clean these tile-top drains regularly to keep the flow rates at optimum levels. Hair buildup around the drain's waste pipe can choke the air needed to keep the shower drain flowing properly.
An opening of at least 2.48 square inches or 1,600 square millimeters is recommended. Smaller openings may work or even look nicer, but they will affect the flow rates of these drains.
Tip: Clean these tile-top drains regularly to keep the flow rates at optimum levels. Hair buildup around the drain's waste pipe can choke the air needed to keep the shower drain flowing properly.
Make sure to consider how the remaining floor will be prepared when you're choosing your shower drain too. This bathroom was built and waterproofed with the Schluter Kerdi and Ditra system, which allows for a seamless transition from the dry area to the wet one.
Tip: Use a temporary dam to flood test these installations. You will need to dam the shower 2 inches above the entry point.
Tip: Use a temporary dam to flood test these installations. You will need to dam the shower 2 inches above the entry point.
Traditional Point Drains
A regular or traditional drain goes by many names. I've heard it referred to as a point drain, a clamping ring drain, a grate drains, a standard drains and on and on.
Many plumbing and building codes require certain drain line sizes, and sometimes even the quantity of shower drains in a single or gang shower. When in doubt, it is always better to have a larger drain instead of one barely able to keep up with the shower's flow rate.
Tip: If you have two thermostatic control valves, as in this shower, plan to use a higher-flow-rate drain. You can work out actual flow rates by calculating the capacity of the fixture with the pressure and size of the water lines. Do not leave this to chance — it's worth it to do the math!
A regular or traditional drain goes by many names. I've heard it referred to as a point drain, a clamping ring drain, a grate drains, a standard drains and on and on.
Many plumbing and building codes require certain drain line sizes, and sometimes even the quantity of shower drains in a single or gang shower. When in doubt, it is always better to have a larger drain instead of one barely able to keep up with the shower's flow rate.
Tip: If you have two thermostatic control valves, as in this shower, plan to use a higher-flow-rate drain. You can work out actual flow rates by calculating the capacity of the fixture with the pressure and size of the water lines. Do not leave this to chance — it's worth it to do the math!
If your shower or local code requires a 3-inch drain and waste line, consider a larger traditional drain like this one shown here. These higher-flow-rate drains can handle much more water flow and don't sacrifice on style at all.
If you want a more custom-looking grill, Designer Drains makes replacements for many of the standard drain grills out there.
Tip: In Canada, shower drains and grates should not be chrome plated, to comply with the guidelines of the Canadian Standards Association.
If you want a more custom-looking grill, Designer Drains makes replacements for many of the standard drain grills out there.
Tip: In Canada, shower drains and grates should not be chrome plated, to comply with the guidelines of the Canadian Standards Association.
When using a traditional three-piece clamping drain (or linear drain), it is important to have a pitch of 1/4 inch per foot to the drain under the waterproofing material. This allows any water getting under the tile and grout to drain toward the shower's weep holes (drain holes).
Skipping this slope creates a shower that can hold gallons of nasty water under the tile, leading to mold and a wet-looking tile floor.
Tip: To check for the right slope, place a 2-foot level with a 1/2-inch shim under the drain side. It should read level if the proper 1/4-inch-per-foot slope is installed.
Skipping this slope creates a shower that can hold gallons of nasty water under the tile, leading to mold and a wet-looking tile floor.
Tip: To check for the right slope, place a 2-foot level with a 1/2-inch shim under the drain side. It should read level if the proper 1/4-inch-per-foot slope is installed.
Most point drains (clamping drains) do not offer the fine adjustment other drains offer. Make sure your plumber sets them level. A good trick is to set the drain with a small level in place and then spin the strainer. The grill should stay level in any position.
Notice the additional weep (or draining) holes on the perimeter of this drain — these help the shower dry out faster between uses. This drain is sold by Noble Company, and it's one of the best drains out there.
Tip: Use pea gravel around the weep holes before the final shower mortar is installed to prevent the mortar from blocking or plugging the holes.
Notice the additional weep (or draining) holes on the perimeter of this drain — these help the shower dry out faster between uses. This drain is sold by Noble Company, and it's one of the best drains out there.
Tip: Use pea gravel around the weep holes before the final shower mortar is installed to prevent the mortar from blocking or plugging the holes.
Ready-Made Fiberglass or Cultured Marble Shower Bases
Due to time or budget constraints, some projects don't have the luxury of having a custom shower pan, so a ready-made unit can simplify the process. Some oddly shaped bathrooms can make a custom shower pan very expensive, and ready-made options may work just as well.
These types of shower bases also can greatly reduce the time it takes to prepare and tile a shower, making for quicker turnaround times.
Tip: As with any other pan, flood test your ready-made pan to check the connection of the drain to your home's waste system.
Due to time or budget constraints, some projects don't have the luxury of having a custom shower pan, so a ready-made unit can simplify the process. Some oddly shaped bathrooms can make a custom shower pan very expensive, and ready-made options may work just as well.
These types of shower bases also can greatly reduce the time it takes to prepare and tile a shower, making for quicker turnaround times.
Tip: As with any other pan, flood test your ready-made pan to check the connection of the drain to your home's waste system.
If you prefer stronger cleaning agents or you're concerned about the effect of your local water on your shower floor, a ready-made shower base may be a better choice, since it won't stain as easily as tile.
Tip: Not all shower bases are created equal. Many are slightly flexible and can benefit from the use of a concrete bed underneath. Double-check with the manufacturer that this is OK before purchasing, and make sure that this is done during installation. Often, this flexibility will lead to a leak at the drain connection, so extra care is needed to carefully support the drain at the drain connection area.
Tip: Not all shower bases are created equal. Many are slightly flexible and can benefit from the use of a concrete bed underneath. Double-check with the manufacturer that this is OK before purchasing, and make sure that this is done during installation. Often, this flexibility will lead to a leak at the drain connection, so extra care is needed to carefully support the drain at the drain connection area.
No comments:
Post a Comment