Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shower Drain
One of the most important decisions you can make for your shower is choosing the right drain. Quality shower drains such as ECT shower drains will help keep your bathroom clean and hygienic by ensuring proper water flow into the drainage. A shower drain should be long-lasting as it marks a crucial investment for your bathroom. Below are several factors to consider so that you can end up with the perfect drain for your shower.
Decide what kind of finish you want
Begin with the end in mind. Think about the color and material of hardware in your bathroom. You may want to match them with the drain you will choose. However, some showers use materials such as wood and porcelain, which are not suitable for a drain. In such cases, you have to go with either silver or gold for the material of your drain. If you want further detailing, there is a variety of creative designs available such as flower and cornice patterns.
A point or linear drain?
Shower drains fall into two major categories; point or linear. The most common types are point showers, which are placed at the middle of the shower floor. The shower floor, in such cases, gently slopes from all sides towards the center. If your shower is tiled, you can go for a square drain as it matches the shape of the tiles and eases the work of the installer.
Linear drains are long and narrow. They are more popular because they exude style and class. Designers mostly place them near the wall of the shower as opposed to the middle. The entire shower, therefore, slopes toward the drainage. A point drain is less costly than a linear one.
The size of tiles you will use
With a linear drain, you can use tile size you like, because the entire floor slopes in the same direction. The linear drain is popular because it allows bathroom owners to use similar tiles for the shower and bathroom. The use of similar tiles is a design aspect in itself as it makes the bathroom appear larger and seamless. For a point drain, you have to settle for smaller tiles, not larger than 4 by 4 inches. If you want to make the shower look different from the rest of the bathroom, the point drain is a good choice.
The flow rate
The most efficient shower drains have a flow rate of between 8 to 10 gallons in a minute. Factors to consider when determining your flow rate are the pressure of your bathroom and the number of sprays that your showerhead has. If your figures are on the high, you need a drain with a higher flow rate.
Ease of maintenance
The ease of cleaning your shower drain is essential. Your shower will often get clogged with debris, dirt, and other materials. You need to be able to clean or repair it quickly and effectively.
Shower drains are the core of every excellent shower design. The market is bursting with choices of aesthetic and functional drains you can choose from.
