Whether you are building a new bathroom or renovating, the installation of the shower drain presents several options. The type of shower pan will determine the choices. Additionally, the type of drain pipes in the home will also influence the decision on the shower drain types that are most suited for it. Certain manufacturers also have recommendations on the type of shower drains that will be compatible with the shower pan model.
It’s essential to remember that the drain pipe into which the shower drains is 2 inches wide. This is because showers tend to flood easily and require a slightly wider drain pipe than the standard 1 and ½ inch pipe. Therefore, if you are converting a shower-tub combination to a shower in a bathroom, the size of the drain pipe will need to be changed before the shower drain replacement is carried out.
Selecting the perfect combination of the shower pan and drain is not easy, and the last thing you want is to have a shower drain installation that isn’t efficient in flushing out the water. It’s advisable to consult a professional interior architect or bathroom designer to ensure that the right type of shower drain covers is installed in your bathrooms.
Today, we provide details and tips on all you need to know about installing shower drains, depending on the material used for the bathroom floor.
There are three types of shower drains that are commonly used in bathrooms – compression type, glue-on and tile shower drains. The compression type of drain for the shower gets its name because it uses compression washers and nuts when it is attached to the drain pipes in the home. They are usually made from PVC, ABS or brass. All these materials are compatible with shower bases made of plastic, fiberglass or steel, which makes them among the easiest type of shower drain to install.
The glue-on type, as the name suggests, is fixed to the drain by using glue. They come in PVC plastic and ABS and are compatible with fibreglass, plastic or steel shower bases. However, when installing a glue-on shower drain in a bathroom one should ensure that the type of plastic in the drain is the same as that of the drain pipe.
Tile shower drains are used for custom-made shower bases with ceramic tiling. These drains are installed at the initial stage of constructing the ceramic tile pan. They are usually made of PVC, ABS or cast iron. Ceramic tile shower drains have a flange that attaches the waterproof liner to the pan to provide resistance and ensure that the water drains without accumulating under the mortar.
A compression shower drain should be installed into the shower base keeping the following points in mind:
The installation of glue-on drains is more complicated than that of compression drains. It’s not as easy to get the measurement of the drain pipe right, so one should ensure that the measurement is done accurately. The pieces should be fitted dry to ensure the measurement is right before it is glued in place. The points to be noted for glue-on fittings are:
For custom-made tile showers, the drains usually have three parts – the bottom flange, the middle flange and the strainer.