A drainage channel is an attractive and effective option for bathroom, patio, balcony and swimming pool drains that offers a sleek look yet fast water removal.

Today we’re covering some common questions regarding channel drainage, such as size and placement.

How deep should the drain be?

25mm to 40mm is the ideal depth for a channel drain installed in a typical bathroom, balcony or swimming pool location.

How wide should the drain be?

Channel drains come in 4 popular widths:

  • 70mm
  • 96mm - most popular width
  • 100mm
  • 115mm

Depending on your choice of tile, where the drain is located, and how much waste water needs to be removed, we can recommend the right width for your project.

The choice of outlet diameter also allows you to select the best fit for your project and where the drain will be located, plus how it will be plumbed into the rest of your drainage system.

What’s the best location for the drain?

The beauty of channel drains is they don’t have to be placed centrally. Channel drains are most commonly installed against a bathroom or balcony wall, or surrounding a swimming pool, meaning only one gradient sloping towards the drain, as opposed to multiple gradients for point drains.

The gradient, or slope, doesn’t need to be significant, just enough to allow gravity to move or direct the flow of water into the drain.  A gradient of just 1% to 2% will ensure efficient water drainage. You can read more about the gradient on our blog post about installing the drains here.

Are they effective?

Channel drains are highly effective at removing waste water. They’re designed to cope with high flow areas such as showers and swimming pool surrounds.

How much do they cost

Channel drains are custom manufactured by the lineal metre and start from as little as $300.

There’s a handy instant pricing tool on our product pages, so you can budget your project.

What are the different finishes?

channel drain

Marine grade/hospital grade stainless steel is our most popular choice of material, plus the tile insert range is available in brass, gold look finish, too.

We only manufacture our drains from metal, with no plastic parts. This increases the durability and longevity of the drain and eliminates any weak points caused by cracking or perished plastic.

What about fittings and outlets?

You can choose your outlet size and positioning, based on the requirements of your project.

You also have the option to choose multiple tile insert trays that will be custom made to suit your drain.

All Strip Drains outlets and trays are manufactured from quality stainless steel, designed specifically for use in wet areas.

Summary

A Channel drain¹ gives you the freedom of choice for size, width and location, making them the superior choice for any bathroom, balcony or swimming pool area, with the added benefit of a sleek modern look.

gives you the freedom of choice for size, width and location, making them the superior choice for any bathroom, balcony or swimming pool area, with the added benefit of a sleek modern look.

If you’ve got any further questions, please contact our friendly specialist team.