Linear Shower Drain Sales & Installation Advice

Linear Shower Drain Sales & Installation Advice - Product selection, sales and installation specifics tailored to your home.

I received two calls in as many weeks asking me if I do in fact sell these linear drains or if I just install and offer installation advice. I do both.

My very first linear drain install! - Still on of my favourite showers ever

I call sell and ship your drain right to your home. We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express or even PayPal. If you live in Vancouver we can do more than just drop off a linear drain we can install it as well, waterproof the shower, build your bathroom and just about anything else related to a shower's construction.

With every drain I sell I offer up a hour's tech support - I meet with my clients online and work by telephone and email to guide their own crew through this new install procedure.

Regardless if you live in BC, Canada or South Carolina - with the internet and digital pictures I can wrap my head around your install requirements and suggest the best drain for your project.

I do not sell just one linear drain line like most retailers so I'm unbiased in my opinion of which drain will work best. I have installed drains from ACO, Noble Company, Laticrete, My Shower Grate Shop, Quick Drain USA and a few European Models.

There are a lot of variables in picking a linear drain and many questions need to be answered. If your having troubles get service in your home town - call me. I think you will be surprised just how fast I can get a new linear drain into your hands and the amount of information that can be shared in an hour's time.

The process of selecting the right drain is more about the type of home you have planned and the skill set of the tile crew and plumber.  Although one drain may look nicer to you it might be problematic to install for your team.  I ask a lot of questions and in a short time a clear winner will come to mind.  Once we know what drains will work in your home we price each and you decide.

The last drains shipped have gone to Texas, Hawaii & Fort Saint John - everyone different.  My current project has three shipments from three suppliers to get excatley what he wants.

If you have purchased your linear drain already and need the same service - I can help regardless of this fact.

Installing a linear drain can be done in many ways and with many different products. I prefer working with Mapei and Laticrete setting materials but there are many other's that we can use to do the job right. These showers can be waterproofed with Kerdi, Nobel, Hydro Ban, Red Guard or Aqua Defense. Understanding the mechanics of the installation and which systems work with which and what tile is very confusing to those not in the business.

What Drain to buy?

How to frame the floor?

What is the process?

How do I remove the curb?

Can I build a low curb?

Where do I drill for the drain?

Does the plumber install it?

Can I install it?

A current project in Texas

These are the sorts of questions we can review in a short time. This picture above was just emailed me this morning and I meet with the home owner for roughly 90 minutes and he is weel underway to competing a perfect install. Over the past three months I have helped with Seven remote builds. I can assist you with your tile layout and plumbing fixture layout as well.

Perhaps you want a smooth transition from the finsihed wall and the tile surface. How to build and tile a shower curb as well is easier with a little direction. I have documented the process and prepared line drawings for the owners and their crew. This information can save you valuable time and costly errors. Let me know if I can help.

Give me a ring. A let's build that dream shower of yours.

Kind Regards,

John Whipple

By Any Design Ltd.

North Vancouver

(604) 506 6792

sales@no-curb.com

Shipping coast to coast Canada and the USA.

Recommendations

"We recently rennovated three bathrooms in our home, acting a our own GC, but working closely with an experienced tile contractor (with carpentry and drywall skills). Our master bathroom renovation was significant and included transitioning from a traditionall enclosed shower design with standard center drain to en expanded, curbless, open, shower using a 72" linear drain and tiled in large format (25"x13") ceramic tiles throughout, walls and floors. For this to work we needed expert consultation on the specs and installation of linear drains, and considerations in tying everything together properly into the drainage system. John Whipple spent a great deal of time and care thinking through our situation with us, making many thoughtful and practical recommendations which came from his extensive experience in this field and from his desire and willingness to be forward thinking, yet prudent. We spent several conference phone calls talking through our project with John and still are impressed with his care and concern from the opposit end of No. America (he in Vancouver, we on the east coast of the US). John was tremendously reaassuring to us and also greatly helped our contractor to feel confident proceeding through this adventurous project. We bought our linear drain (we bought ProLine -- Quick Drain USA) and related supplies from John who was competitively priced and who delivered everything promptly and properly. We highly recommend John and thank him for his role in helping to bring our project to a very sucessfull conclusion. We are thrilled with our results and have John to thank for much of this successful project." - EricGold

I located John online while doing research for the installation of a linear drain solution in my master bathroom. Acting as my own GC, I was removing a shower/tub combination shower and replacing it with a 30" linear drain system from Quickdrain USA. John was an invaluable resource throughout my master bathroom remodel. He graciously spent time on the phone and via email with me answering questions and providing expert recommendations for my project. It is obvious that John and his company, By Any Design Ltd. are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the technical details of linear drain installations and shower waterproofings systems. I would highly recommend John for any bathroom remodel and would be glad to be a reference for his company. I would whole-heartedly agree that John's motto is one he lives by: "When it's perfect. It's good enough!"

More Recommendations here

The drains can even be lit. These West Vancouver Shower features a Red LED light kit - Water activated

Certified Linear Shower Drain Installer List *

* Not all installers have proper tickets but all installers are a good first stop. These men and women I have showcased because of their attention to detail and local and national support online. I would be more than happy to help consult with any of these crews listed on my Certified Linear Shower Drain Installer List

The three biggest mistakes made when ordering a new Trench Drain or Channel Drain.

There are three big mistakes made in most channel drain selections and installations;

1). The skill set of the installer and waterproofing specialist

2). The size of drain ordered and plumbing rough in location

3). The choice of waterproofing system and how it affects the grade and code compliance issues.

Make sure you understand this complexed process and you will get the shower floor you dreamed of - the flip side is a failed attempt and more waste in our landfills. Many installers are unfamiliar with these new products and topical applied membranes. Always ask this of anyone working on your home - "How long have you been incorporated and how much insurance do you carry?"

Much of the online advice is poorly layed out - you often get install overviews but not step by step. I hope to improve this and offer my clients a much better approach and one on one training. Seek out more opinions. Check their credentials and then decide on the drain supplier, waterproofing measures and tile selection. I would love to help in all three. I have much to share on the subject.

"Waterproofing your curbless shower is not something you can all most do perfect. When it's perfect. It's good enough." John Whipple www.no-curb.com

Online Linear Shower Drain Sales

www.centannitile.com

Please visit www.centannitile.com - ask for Gloria

Certified Linear Shower Drain Installer List *

* Not all installers have proper tickets but all installers are a good first stop. These men and women I have showcased because of their attention to detail and local and national support online. I would be more than happy to help consult with any of these crews listed on my Certified Linear Shower Drain Installer List

Schluter's new Line Drain (Channel Drain) or KERDI-line channel drain

Schluter's Linear Shower Drain

The new linear drain from Schluter Systems is finally here after a long wait. Can you even see it in this picture.  It's there right under the niche between the toilet and the towels on the right.

Modern Bathroom design by Montreal Specialty Contractors CeramiquesHugo

This version above is the tile insert version and my preferred choice of the Schluter line up.  The other models have an exterior trim and tight fitting grills which I do not care for.  

I feel the drain has many short comings; the ability to clean the drain is a concern and the waterproofing and installation steps worrisome on a couple points.  In the installation guidelines it shows cutting the kerdi corners (tight wall instal) and I do not like this idea.  I have built many wonderful showers with Kerdi and would suggest for a linear drain installation you invest in some Kerdi Fix for those cut Kerdi pieces.

Water entering the drain should be able to flow in my opinion between the tile and the grill or grate.  I think this framed grill of the Schluter line drain restricts hair and soap from dropping down at this point.  

Kerdi Line Drain Cover

Tight fit on sides

You will notice in the picture above the razor blades can stay put.  Water entering this drain will need to travel over this point and I believe hold back some residue.  The tile option grill (not shown) on the Kerdi line drain does not suffer from this drawback.  How you clean the drain and who cleans the drain  is an important consideration in choosing your linear drain. Schluter includes a linear drain cleaning tool for removing the grill and cleaning the underside of it and the linear drain base.

I do not like the large size of this brush and personally prefer a smaller brush - more like the type used for hand washing glasses.  I think care should be to fold the trim around the grill when applying upward pressure.

Here is a closer look at the frame detail. 

Again a little more thought to design would have gone a long way. Each one of the supports is a place to snag hair and cleaning the bottom side is difficult with such a large brush. 

The design on the drain base is solid and is both wedged and internally sloped to a 2" no hub fitting.  The waterproofing is factory applied and very secure.  I know because I yanked on it.

  

The Kerdi Line drain is hooked up to the homes plumbing system with a 2" no-hub fitting. This is not included with the drain and something you can pick up at a Plumbing Wholesaler. No recommendations for fire proofing are provided in the box but this is not to hard to work out with your builder.

When sourcing your 2" no hub fitting pick up a 2" inflatable test plug at the same time or a 2" twist and set test plug.  This will be needed to flood test the project. When designing a barrier free shower pan to build a temporary dam to properly flood test the shower.

        

The drain is protected with a plastic strip and when I removed this to dry fit the grill was shocked to see it applied with such an agressive adhesive that it ripped at the Kerdi and pulled so hard it removed much of the fleece matting.  I would be very careful pulling the protective wrapper off.

It is important to understand that the Kerdi Linear drain is a "Primary Shower Drain" and like any drain needs to be installed by a plumber. Not your tile installer. All shower drains require a ticket plumber to do this step. Like all showers they also need to be flood test for a period of 24-72 hours. An inflatable test plug (2") will work just fine here.

Modern Spaces design by Montreal Specialty Contractors CeramiquesHugo

Sometimes it hard to locate these test plugs and we can include them in your online order.

If you would like to order a Kerdi Line drain here in Vancouver I can help with that.  This drain is on display at Ames Bros Tile on Beta Avenue in Burnaby.

By far the greatest install of the Kerdi Line drain is by Hugo.  Here is a peak at two fine installations.

Modern Bathroom design by Montreal Specialty Contractors CeramiquesHugo

Purchase your linear drain today!

All these drains available for sale here on www.no-curb.com