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Thread: Home-brew Linear Drain Cavity/Connection advice request

  1. #1
    DIY Junior Member wilobe's Avatar
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    Default Home-brew Linear Drain Cavity/Connection advice request

    Looking for comments/advice please....

    We’re thinking of building a new sunken shower (new slab/no curb), flat sloped floor, with a home-brew
    linear drain at the back wall.

    We would like to have the drain base locally fabricated out of 1/2" sheet plastic welded together:

    Name:  Linear Drain.jpg
Views: 568
Size:  21.1 KB


    Interface to the stand pipe/trap to be via an incorporated Oatey 2” schedule 40 PVC Shower Drain
    (minus the strainer) found at Home Depot, Model # : 42099 MFG Part # : 42099

    http://www.*********.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

    Interface to surrounding floor/walls would be similar to the Noble “Free Style Drain” with incorporated membrane clamping for sheet membrane.


    Comments/advice appreciated,
    Jerry

  2. #2
    Retired Defense Industry Engineer jadnashua's Avatar
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    There are various linear drains out there that have already passed the test of time and the rating agencies...I'd seriously consider one of those before I tried to roll my own. A plumbing inspector might have big problems with a drain without an approval certificate, and, there's no way to determine how well it would last in the long term, which is quite important.
    Jim DeBruycker
    Important note - I'm not a pro
    Retired Defense Industry Engineer

  3. #3
    DIY Junior Member wilobe's Avatar
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    Thanks for the reply Jim. I have researched many of the commercial linear drains on the web. The Noble Free Style Drain looks to be the best to me, but what a cost.... Like you, I'm a Retired Defense Industry Engineer which is probably why I'm thinking my above design woukd be vary reliable - at about 1/3 the cost. As this will be an Owner-Builder job, I'm thinking that a Plumbing Inspector will not care if I pass a flood (leak) test. Guess I'll have to schedule an appointment with our local Code Compliance Dept (Plumbing Inspector) before going much further...

    Anyone know if an "approval certificate" is a requirement??

    TX
    Jerry

  4. #4
    Barrier Free Showers johnfrwhipple's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wilobe View Post
    Looking for comments/advice please....

    We’re thinking of building a new sunken shower (new slab/no curb), flat sloped floor, with a home-brew
    linear drain at the back wall.

    We would like to have the drain base locally fabricated out of 1/2" sheet plastic welded together:

    Name:  Linear Drain.jpg
Views: 568
Size:  21.1 KB


    Interface to the stand pipe/trap to be via an incorporated Oatey 2” schedule 40 PVC Shower Drain
    (minus the strainer) found at Home Depot, Model # : 42099 MFG Part # : 42099

    http://www.*********.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

    Interface to surrounding floor/walls would be similar to the Noble “Free Style Drain” with incorporated membrane clamping for sheet membrane.


    Comments/advice appreciated,
    Jerry
    Here is a link to the Oatley site. http://www.oatey.com/shower_drains/l...n_brochure.pdf


    Your home made drain looks a lot like the Noble and Quick Drain design. The big difference is in the strainer.

    How long will this drain be?

    Will you have a folded corner on the stainless so it stays straighter?

    How will water get under the strainer and done the drain?

    If you really want to save money - install the Oatley Drain and do the entire linear drain body out of tile.

    A shower drain needs a cUPC mark. Your Oatley drain will have one. Some local code will require your strainer to made out of stainless steel so you might check that out first.

    Good luck with your renovation.

    JW
    I'm a bathroom builder, a Houzz Contributor, a blogger, a linear drain salesman and "Coach" to about 24 North Shore Girls Soccer players. I live for snow days and love the work we do. My newest love is LED lighting and we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in a high end shower! Proud member of the NKBA & TTMAC. Voting member ASTM

  5. #5
    DIY Junior Member wilobe's Avatar
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    Hi John, thanks for your interest/questions and hopefully follow-up guidance.

    I have read many (possibly most all) your’s and gueuzeman’s (JB) posts about drain design. We realized early on that the shower was the most important part of our new m-bath expansion planning. We’ve always intended to Hydro Ban the Hardi walls and the shower floor.
    Our intended drain design has migrated from the Frankengueuze (3 piece clamping drain in a hard pack Divot), to Kerdi Drain instead of the Divot, and finally to a back wall channel drain design. As stated in the reply to Jim, I have researched most commercial Channel/Linear Drains, thus the point of this thread.

    Sorry the above drawing is so small, I couldn’t figure out how to attach an expandable version into my initial post. I’m emailing an expandable drawing to sales@no-curb.com. Maybe you know how to add it onto this thread so others may see an expandable dwg if desired.

    Your questions and my attempt to reply:

    Here is a link to the Oatley site. http://www.oatey.com/shower_drains/l...n_brochure.pdf
    Ref the Oatey PDF, my intent is to incorporate the 101 PNP base (without the snap in strainer) into the center base (drain floor) home-brew design.

    Your home made drain looks a lot like the Noble and Quick Drain design. The big difference is in the strainer. Similar but less cost

    How long will this drain be? 61”, see emailed drawing custom to my desired shower size

    Will you have a folded corner on the stainless so it stays straighter? Not sure of the question, Intend to use a 3” wide U shaped SS Rolled piece (strainer) 61” long with accent tile or marble epoxyed in as a cover to the open drain cavity. With a slight change to the drain base to provide better support a custom Cedar or Corian Whatadrain Grate http://www.whatadrain.com/page05.html may be better with more options.

    How will water get under the strainer and done the drain? The above SS/Accent strainer piece will set proud of 12 flat head adjustment screws (2 @ each end at the top of the slopped innards, and 1 atop each vertical support along the slopped innards). A whatadrain grate could set down flat on the supports since it would have slots cut into the surface like a typical strainer/grate

    If you really want to save money - install the Oatley Drain and do the entire linear drain body out of tile. Don’t understand; would that be like an open channel without a strainer?

    A shower drain needs a cUPC mark. Your Oatley drain will have one. Some local code will require your strainer to made out of stainless steel so you might check that out first. See above, 3” U shaped strainer/accent trim would be of SS with tile/marble insert

    Ref the expandable drawing, the perimeter + marks indicate drilled screw holes to secure SS bar strip clamping for surrounding floor/wall sheet membrane interface similar to the Noble “Free Style Drain” installation technique.

    If the Oately 101 PNP base has a cUPC mark it seems I may be able to get an Inspector to buy off on this design – what ya think?

    I'm looking for a small (removeable) hair catching basket that would fit inside a the end of a 2" stand pipe - any suggections?

    As before - comments/advice appreciated,
    Jerry

  6. #6
    Barrier Free Showers johnfrwhipple's Avatar
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    Hi John, thanks for your interest/questions and hopefully follow-up guidance.

    I have read many (possibly most all) your’s and gueuzeman’s (JB) posts about drain design. We realized early on that the shower was the most important part of our new m-bath expansion planning. We’ve always intended to Hydro Ban the Hardi walls and the shower floor.
    Our intended drain design has migrated from the Frankengueuze (3 piece clamping drain in a hard pack Divot), to Kerdi Drain instead of the Divot, and finally to a back wall channel drain design. As stated in the reply to Jim, I have researched most commercial Channel/Linear Drains, thus the point of this thread.

    Sorry the above drawing is so small, I couldn’t figure out how to attach an expandable version into my initial post. I’m emailing an expandable drawing to sales@no-curb.com. Maybe you know how to add it onto this thread so others may see an expandable dwg if desired.

    Your questions and my attempt to reply:


    Here is a link to the Oatley site. http://www.oatey.com/shower_drains/l...n_brochure.pdf
    Ref the Oatey PDF, my intent is to incorporate the 101 PNP base (without the snap in strainer) into the center base (drain floor) home-brew design.

    Your home made drain looks a lot like the Noble and Quick Drain design. The big difference is in the strainer. Similar but less cost The Quick Drain and Noble Drains are primary shower drains. The Noble hooks up with a glue connection of either ABS or PVC and the Quick Drain with a no-hub fitting. Your drain is more like the infinity drain but with a better design.

    How long will this drain be? 61”, see emailed drawing custom to my desired shower size

    Will you have a folded corner on the stainless so it stays straighter? Not sure of the question, Intend to use a 3” wide U shaped SS Rolled piece (strainer) 61” long with accent tile or marble epoxyed in as a cover to the open drain cavity. With a slight change to the drain base to provide better support a custom Cedar or Corian Whatadrain Grate http://www.whatadrain.com/page05.html may be better with more options.

    How will water get under the strainer and done the drain? The above SS/Accent strainer piece will set proud of 12 flat head adjustment screws (2 @ each end at the top of the slopped innards, and 1 atop each vertical support along the slopped innards). A whatadrain grate could set down flat on the supports since it would have slots cut into the surface like a typical strainer/grate

    If you really want to save money - install the Oatley Drain and do the entire linear drain body out of tile. Don’t understand; would that be like an open channel without a strainer? Fixing the strainer is key. With longer runs of stainless the stainless can twist or bow some. Having a good attachment to the drain is key.

    A shower drain needs a cUPC mark. Your Oatley drain will have one. Some local code will require your strainer to made out of stainless steel so you might check that out first. See above, 3” U shaped strainer/accent trim would be of SS with tile/marble insert That will make your inspector happy.

    Ref the expandable drawing, the perimeter + marks indicate drilled screw holes to secure SS bar strip clamping for surrounding floor/wall sheet membrane interface similar to the Noble “Free Style Drain” installation technique. If your going to build your own drain do not build a "Primary Shower Drain" - built a fancy strainer and keep the waterproofing systems tied into this.

    If the Oately 101 PNP base has a cUPC mark it seems I may be able to get an Inspector to buy off on this design – what ya think? Most every custom drain, trench, river rock drain and such start off with a primary shower drain or clamping drain. I prefer the Noble products vs the everyday black liner.


    We just did two in UBC. I used Noble Seal TS and a clamping drain.






    This will be a new master walk in shower. The shower will be packed in with dry pack later and the clients will walk in to a shower with a small drop of 1".

    I believe Kerdi is far to thin to work with a clamping drain. Last August I emailed Schluter for permission to use Kerdi with a clamping drain. I'm still waiting for an answer. I wonder if Jim knows???

    I'm looking for a small (removeable) hair catching basket that would fit inside a the end of a 2" stand pipe - any suggections?

    The one from ACO is nice!




    As before - comments/advice appreciated,
    Jerry
    I'm a bathroom builder, a Houzz Contributor, a blogger, a linear drain salesman and "Coach" to about 24 North Shore Girls Soccer players. I live for snow days and love the work we do. My newest love is LED lighting and we are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in a high end shower! Proud member of the NKBA & TTMAC. Voting member ASTM

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