By choosing the right shower drain and grate for the job, you can complete a stylish and functional wetroom that will last for a long time and be easy to maintain. Our new range of Lauxes Grates means you can get the top quality aluminium grates in different styles and colours that will work with any wet room while looking stylish and having a lifetime rust proof guarantee.
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How to Drain a Wetroom with a Shower Grate Drain
Wetrooms are an increasingly popular idea for many homes, from those with elderly residents to people with kids. The idea of a wetroom is that you don’t have a bath or shower cubicle but instead the floor has a built-in drainage system to take away the waste water. One of the best ways to drain a wetroom is with a shower grate drain so let’s take a look at what they are and how you install one.
How do you drain a wetroom?
A wetroom has a shower area that is at the same level as the rest of the floor but the key is to have the floor sloping slightly towards the drain. This means there’s no climbing in and out of a shower cubicle or bath and results in a room that’s also a lot easier to clean.
One of the most common problems with a wetroom is inadequate drainage. The other is a build-up of debris from showering that causes blocked drains. But there are steps to take to combat both of these.
What is a shower grate?
A shower grate is a centre floor waste that allows water from all parts of the room to gather in one place and drain away into the drainage system. Grates come in two main types and can be installed against a wall, in the middle of the shower or even at the entrance, depending on the type you choose.
The shower drain cover or grate is used to prevent that debris such as hair from falling into the drains. They are a version of the common plug cover we see in baths and shower trays but designed to handle the requirements of wetrooms as well.
What are the different types of shower drain covers?
There are a few variations in terms of shower drain covers but the two big categories are centre or point drains and linear drains. Both work well in the job they need to do but there are differences in looks and function.
Linear Drain vs Center Drain
Linear drains are long and rectangular in shape, often spanning the width of the wall of the shower or wetroom. They often stand against the wall and the whole room will slope towards it so this makes it easier to tile around them and also ideal for wetrooms.
Centre or point drains are the more familiar style that we see in baths and shower cycles with a small centre drain that is usually circular in shape, although sometimes you can get square ones. The floor needs to slope in all directions towards this centre point which offers extra complexity when tiling around them.
Is a linear shower drain better?
While there’s no doubt that both types of shower drain work well, there are some solid benefits when you look at linear drains. Top of the list is the need for just one slope to the room which can make it less expensive to create the wetroom and also better for anyone unsteady on their feet.
The other reason is the ease of tiling around them. There’s no complicated circular elements to deal with and this means you can use larger tiles that are usually more cost effective and quicker to install.
They also come in a variety of sizes ranging from a 900mm shower drain grate through to smaller sizes and even styles of outdoor shower grate that work in the garden in the same way as an indoor wetroom.
How do I install a wetroom shower drain?
When it comes to installing the wetroom shower drain, there are going to be specific instructions from the particular brand of drain that you use. But there are a few general steps you can anticipate will be in all processes and particularly for linear drains which are becoming the most popular option for wetrooms.
- Choose your location. The first step is to think about where you are installing the drain. There are four main options for a linear shower drain - wall mounted on one side, wall mounted on three sides, floor mounted free on the floor or between two walls on the floor. The location of the drain and the room will dictate which location you choose while the drain itself may factor into this. Wherever you place it, the floor needs to slope towards the channel so that all the water drains away. Otherwise, the water will pool and cause flooding.
- Prepare the drain area. The next task is to make sure the area for the drain installation is clean and free from debris. This can get into the drain if it isn’t cleared and cause problems from the start. Especially if the drain comes with a pre-assembled sealing membrane or cloth. Check for any particular requirements with the product you are using and also about the tiling around it afterwards before you start.
- Work out the height of the shower drain. The most important step is to figure out the height of the shower drain. Remember that tiles need to be laid level or 1mm higher than the top edge of the drain to ensure the water goes where it is required. So factor in tile thickness, tile adhesive layer and the levelling layer when working this out.
- Place the built-in set and connect it to the drainage. Once the space is ready, you can add the built-in set and ensure it is aligned and levelled. Most will have adjustable legs to make this easier. Then you are ready to connect to the drainage pipes. Ideally, these will be less than 50mm in diameter and the linear drain can connect to it with enough slope away from it to ensure the water keeps moving. Make sure the whole connection is watertight to stop any leaks.
- Create the sloped floor and waterproof. Once the shower drain is in place, you can ensure that the floor has the right slope for the job. Ideally, a gradient towards the drain of at least 2% is needed and make sure the slope connects to the upper edge of the drain’s flange. A water protection system will then be installed to ensure that the area around the drain is waterproof and sealed.
How do you tile a linear drain?
The question of how to tile a shower floor with a drain in place is a lot easier with a linear drain than with the classic centre drain because it is rectangular in shape.
The key thing to remember when you tile a drain is that you keep your 2% or more gradient in place. Don’t put the tiles directly at the shower drain, use a gap of around 5mm to ensure you can add the sealant around the edges.
Once you have sealed it with silicone, the grate cover can be put into place.
How to clean a shower drain grate
Once the shower grate is in place and the sealant has rested for the required time, the room is ready to use. It is a good idea to regularly clean the drain by using the siphon trap or similar process to remove accumulated dirt. That way it remains smart looking and functional for the longest time.