I am in the process of doing a high end remodel project. The client would like to have frameless shower enclouser with the glass disappearing into the tiled surround (walls & floor), and a gutter drain located beneath the shower door. This way they could eliminate the shower damn, and not have to have a wet floor in the adjoining bathroom areas.
The problem is the trench, or gutter drains i have located so far are designed for industrial, or landscape use. But I thought I saw a web site mentioned in here recently for a company that makes trench drains for showers. But in searching I could not locate the tread with it in it.
If any one has any experance or advice with using them I would like to here about it.
Replies
I like that idea. How about having one fabricated out of stainless steel that would be connected to the plumbing with a flange or a Fernco?
Eric
What you are building is a shower without a dam or a handicap shower. One way to do it is to have the shower pan extend 4' past the door and have the tile slope starting 2' outside the door to the drain. No need for a gutter. The pan has to go far past the door because water in the mortar would ruin any wood floor it come in contact with.
Great. Just f u c k i n g great. Your client is designing his own shower. He knows nothing, but he alone is determining the design. This shower will leak.
Now that I have my rant under control, the problem is with the "gutter drain." These types of drains are not two party clamping drains in which a membrane would be attached. So this drain won't work and will leak at the seams.
I also would not have the glass be embedded in the tile. Most custom glass makers like to have a solid brass anchor screwed into the tile and into framing to anchor the glass.
You can install a couple square drains that are installed back to back which would look like a gutter drain. That is what I would do.
This application screams for a product by Schulter called KERDI, which is a topical membrane applied directly to the setting bed, and connected at the height of the tile to a their proprietory drain, which is square, by the way. KERDI is very thin and could be extended outside the shower area and terminated at any point without lippage. Of course, the KERDI would have to go up the walls too. Believe it or not, it is applied directly to ...... gulp ...... regular drywall.
KERDI is not Code in my area but if you ask the inspectors, they may allow it.
The bottom line is that I would forgo the "gutter drain" because (1) It won't work; and (2) It looks s h i t t y . Install a regular KERDI drain in the center of the shower and run the KERDI up the walls and outside the shower area 4 feet or so. Consult with your glass dealer on installation of the half inch panels. He needs to be a part of this conversation.
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Do your clients really want to be on their knees cleaning a gutter?
Maybe he wants to watch the maid cleaning it.
Set the glass block before you tile and it will look like they dive into the tile. May leak.
If you can't talk them out of the gutter drains, you are going to have to sink the shower floor enough to clear the gutter in any case, then build it up inside the shower are to match then gutter finish El.
Find the gutter cover they want (gotta have it for safety) , set a standard shower drain in the gutter, and frame it all for tiling the gutter, maybe lay a piece of softer-than-tile marble at the top of the gutter to cover the backer board and tiles edges for the cover to sit on. I'm thinking that the marble is less likely to crack, chip, or shatter under the stress of walking on the cover.
Be sure and think like water when you set the pan. Think soft and fragile as you cover the edges of the gutter with the pan.
Much easier, cheaper, more watertight, and safer to go with a 4' threshold outside the door.
SamT
Edited 1/7/2004 10:53:02 PM ET by SamT
The system you are looking for is made by a Colo. co. I believe it's called DrainUSA. Very high end product. Had an ad in KB&B monthly publication, any length is possible. With regard to the shower door set in the tile. I was just in a home in Mallibu, the builder used Silestone just like a door jamb, head, legs, and floor dadoed, just slipped the glass in and held with a couple of hinges. Maybe 5/4x6. Very modern, very clean look. Tile was run into the edge of the silestone, again very clean look, no need for bullnose etc. The ceiling was one piece of white marble with a $l5,000.00 shower head. Stunning!!!!!!!!!
could you post a photo of the shower ?not that i could aford it but i can dream.
Believe it or not I only took a picture of the shower head and the private tram that goes down the hillside to the beach. The other poster got the correct name of the drain system QuickDrain and it is beautiful. This was a $20 million $$ SPEC house.
I'm more interested in that tram. Got pic's?
I do, it was in the build process, with the track in place, beautiful section of beach with rock out-croppings etc. Will attempt a posting later with the expert at my side.
Here ya go
http://www.quickdrainusa.com/
Saw it at PCBC and it looked pretty slick.
I'm planning on using it on a shower at my house.
Daniel Neumansky
Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA. Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/
Oakland CA
Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer
Looks like Boris needs a lesson in learning something new. I like the idea myself of that drain and see no reason whatsoever that it would not work. While it wasn't an open gutter that I thought the OP was asking about, it's still nice looking.
Nothing wrong with thinking outside the box. In hindsight I would have liked a curbless shower but I'm not willing to go without a glass enclosure. I'm just not a fan of the style or the mess it would make with water all over the bathroom as I really enjoy multiple body sprays. In fact I only turn on the overheads to shampoo my hair then they are turned off.
Try these guys
http://www.ironagegrates.com/
Nice stuff and all galvanized... some copper and brass available too.
L
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