Pre Installation Guide

These questions will help you determine some good options for installing your linear drain, and guide your planning and decisions.

Consider this: Floor prep and tile installation is easiest when you have just 1 flat plane sloping to your drain rather than 4 complex slopes to a center floor drain.

1. What type of entrance will your shower have?

  • Curbed entry 

    • Drain placement options

      • Just inside the curb 

      • Against either side wall 

      • Against the back wall

      • Down the center of the floor in either direction

  • Curb-less entry

    • Drain placement options

      • At the entrance

      • Down the middle of the floor

      • Against the back wall


2. Where will your drain be installed?

If this is the location (consider this waterproofing method)

  • Concrete Slab (Paint on top membrane)

  • 1st floor on joists with crawl space access (Paint on top or fabric membrane)

  • 1st floor on joists with basement access (Fabric membrane)

  • 2nd floor (Fabric membrane or rubber liner)

*California projects also have the hot-mop waterproofing option.

3. How long should my drain be?

Consider this: Our drains are available in custom lengths from 2ft to 12ft in 1/4 inch increments.

The greatest advantage to using a linear drain is 1 flat plane sloping to the drain. This is best accomplished by installing the drain so that you have an open trench from finish tile to finish tile. (No possibility for standing water on either end of the drain)

4. What are my floor tile options?

Consider this: Traditionally, with 4 slopes to a center drain, we were limited to using small tile/stone. (I.e. 1’’ square tile on a 12’’ mesh sheet) With a drain sized to your shower you can use larger tiles such as 12”x12”, 12”x24” or even 1 big slab covering the entire floor. Imagine the ease of installation and cleaning without all the grout lines.

  • 12’’x12’’ tiles

  • 12’’x24’’ tiles

  • 18’’x18’’ tiles

  • 24’’x24’’ tiles

  • 1 big slab

5. What are my drain finish options?

  • With a drain grate

  • As a “hidden drain”

  • As an “open drain” with smooth river rock, glass beads, colored stones, sea shells or drift wood. The possibilities are endless.

Download a PDF of the guide here

Please contact us with any questions or to discuss the specifics of your project.