Which linear drain to choose?

Many people currently designing or renovating their bathroom opt for a modern (and very convenient) solution in the form of a linear drain. However, in some cases, installing such a drain may make water drainage difficult - and thus maintaining cleanliness in the shower will be troublesome. The installation of this product is also important, as it can be installed both in the floor and in the wall. So which linear drain should you choose?

What is a linear drain?

A linear drain is one of the solutions that work great in a modern bathroom. It's important to remember that when designing or renovating a bathroom, we need to consider the linear drain already during the design phase - in this case, we do not invest in the traditional solution of a shower tray and cabin - this type of drain is installed directly in the floor or wall. Moreover, at this stage, it will be easier for us to determine the height of the floor, under which the entire drain and siphon must fit without issues - the amount of space we allocate for installation is crucial. A large number of available shower siphons are vertical siphons - recently, horizontal siphons have also become available: they are maximally shortened, allowing us to install them low.

The linear drain is an aesthetic and trendy solution, which works best in modern bathrooms - we do not install a traditional shower tray here, as the shower cabin is installed directly in the floor. The linear drain gives us more possibilities when it comes to bathroom design and makes it look designer. However, it is worth remembering that this type of drain sometimes gets clogged and we need to have proper access to it to clean or repair it. If we cannot quickly repair the drain, its complete disassembly may be necessary, which involves significant additional costs.

Types of linear drains

There are various types of linear drains available on the market and for those less familiar, choosing the right installation can be quite challenging. What parameters differentiate linear drains?

1. installation method: a linear drain can be installed in the floor or in the wall, the former solution being the most commonly used. However, sometimes the height of the floor does not allow for this - the siphon and the entire drain frame must fit under it. An alternative is a wall-mounted drain. Recently, models with a horizontal siphon, which also work with low floors, are available on the market.
2. capacity: this is an extremely important parameter. It indicates how much water a specific model can drain in a specified time. Capacity is usually given in litres per minute and should be compared with the performance of the entire shower set.
3. drain shape: contrary to appearances, not all linear drains have a simple shape. Corner and curved models are also available, providing more installation options and thus more bathroom design possibilities.

Of course, apart from these technical parameters, we must also not forget about the visual aspect - after all, the linear drain we choose is meant to serve us for many years and should harmonize well with the entire bathroom design.

The finish of linear drains

The main element of the linear drain, which we see at first glance, is the cover, also known as the grate. It strongly influences the purchase of a given model and - especially, since it has a major impact on the final appearance of the bathroom. That's why you should pay attention to its appearance and choose the right product. The cheapest solution is a cast iron grate, which not only covers the entire drain but also collects all possible deposits and dirt. On the other hand, the most frequently used are stainless steel grates with cutouts of various shapes - you can find really interesting and designer solutions here that significantly change the character of the room. Those who prioritize high aesthetics can choose linear drains that can be covered with bathroom tiles, making them practically invisible. Another option - great for fans of unusual solutions - is LED lighting, which gives the bathroom a truly modern character.

When choosing a solution like a linear drain, you mustn't forget to select the right bathroom tiles - they fulfill not only a practical but also a decorative function. In this case, it's good to opt for tiles with a wear class of III or IV - they are not porous, making them easy to keep clean, and furthermore, they have anti-slip properties.