Linear drains have been attracting attention in shower and bathroom design of late for their low profile and design flexibility. But with new products come new installation practices. 

Slope – Traditional center drains require the tricky task of sloping the mortar bed in four directions towards the drain. If you are not careful, you may end up with a flat area that will collect water. Linear drains only require a single and slight (2%) slope in one direction for easier installation. The mortar bed can be built toward or away from the door instead.

Placement – In cases of curbless (no threshold) showers, place linear drains along the shower door wall or the wall directly opposite that. Because of the slope requirements, placing the drain perpendicular to the door creates a lip and a tripping hazard.

Length – Manufacturers offer linear drains in several lengths, which is an important point to consider during design. For curbless shower entrances, manufacturers recommend placing the drain either across the whole entrance wall - not just the doorway - or across the whole wall opposite the entrance. A drain that is too narrow, or one that only spans the doorway, will cause water to pool or flood beside walls and in corners.

Flow rates – For the most part, linear drains can remove 8 to 10 gallons of water per minute, so interior designers should not exceed that volume when selecting their shower designs. This shouldn’t be an issue for designers choosing low flow shower heads; however, luxury showers with multiple heads and sprays could come up against water volume issues. Flow charts are available for all linear drains. 

Safety – 2.5 million people every year are injured in home related accidents by falling, so by removing any form of encumbrance just makes good practical sense. It improves the quality of life and removes the fear factor in showering. Linear drains allow for wheelchair access and are ADA (American Disability Act) compliant.

Maintenance – Linear drains are easy to clean depending on the material they are manufactured in. Water and soap are the recommended method of cleaning. A good linear drain will have a removable debris basket/hair trap. This debris basket will help prevent clogging your pipes, which is one of the most frequent and expressive problems in any home. All of our linear drains come with a grate lifting key.

When it comes to the price, pick the most affordable linear shower drain for your budget. The truth is that linear drains are more expensive as compared to the traditional shower center drain. This is mainly because they are of higher quality standards allowing them to be more efficient in draining wet bathroom floors. We have seen that there are a lot of factors to consider while purchasing the best linear shower drains. Be sure to take enough time and carefully consider all options.