Floor drain tile: selection and installation

To date, shower compared to the bathroom is more popular. This is a great opportunity to quickly take a shower between things for a busy person. Recently, more advanced models of shower cabins are coming into fashion. They do not have sides and look incredibly stylish. But the main attribute of such a shower is a drain for collecting and collecting water, which is installed directly in the floor. How to install it correctly and whether it is necessary to hire professionals for this, we will tell in this article.

Modern showers tightly occupied a leading position in the repair of the bathroom. To date, designers prefer not to use bulky pallets and other structures.Transparent doors, non-slip tiles on the floor, a hose with a shower and no complicated electronic stuffing - in this form, many people imagine their future bathroom.

The design resembles a funnel, which collects water and drains it into a sewer pipe. On the one hand, the sanitary drain has a fixing adapter, and on the other, a coupling for connecting to the pipeline. Inside the case is a filtering grid, which serves as a shutter. But installing such a sanitary device requires a waterproof coating on the floor.

Why do you need a ladder:

• discharges waste water into the main drain channel;
• does not allow contaminants into the drain riser and thus prevents blockages;
• tightly connected to the docking area;
• protects against unpleasant odors sewage;
• leaves access to the drain system for cleaning pipes from clogging;
• It is an additional emergency drain, which may be especially important when the bathroom is flooded by its neighbors above.

Plumbing devices differ in type of design, appearance, shape and size. And in all this diversity is easy to get confused. To begin with we will be defined with the main classifications.

Different ladders by design.

• Linear - more like a rectangular tray, installed on the sides, in a corner along the wall or at the exit. This type of construction is also called slotted. The installation process is simplified by the fact that in this case it is necessary to equip the slope only in one direction. In addition, in one minute, the linear ladder passes about 60 liters of water.
• Dotted - has the most compact dimensions and can be located at any point. Most often located in the central part, but it is very important that there is a uniform slope on all sides of the floor. Despite its miniature size, a point ladder is able to pass water in the amount of 20-25 liters per minute.
• Corner (wall) - located near the wall and is considered the most invisible. The decorative grille hides the joint between the wall and the floor.The cost of such models is slightly higher than the usual point ones, but in one minute the wall ladder lets in up to 40 liters of water. In addition, to install such a model is much more difficult and possible only at the stage of the construction of the bathroom or during the overhaul.

In most cases, sewage pipes are too high in apartment buildings and in such a situation it is necessary to raise the floor level by at least 20 cm, which is completely irrational. Therefore, the only option to install the ladder in this case would be to create a podium with waterproofing for the shower.

Regardless of the appearance, the internal structure of the ladder is always the same:

• funnel housing;
• removable decorative grille;
• filter grid for collecting garbage and hair;
• funnel for receiving water;
• siphon - necessary to prevent unpleasant odors;
• branch pipe for drainage with sewage - has a horizontal or vertical position, the diameter of the hole should ideally coincide with the size of the drain pipe.

Inside the siphon there is a shutter, which is necessary so that unpleasant sewage odors do not penetrate into the bathroom.

Modern manufacturers offer models with two types of valves.

• Water lock - the most affordable and practical option in which water acts as a barrier to an unpleasant odor. But if the shower is not used for a long time, the universal valve with check valve will not cope, the drain will dry out, and unpleasant smells can leak out.
• Dry shutter - unlike the ladder with a water seal, the design is complicated by an additional valve that closes the opening in the absence of water. Therefore, in order to increase the reliability of a shower cabin that is rarely used, experts recommend choosing a siphon with a dry gate. Such valves open with a stream of water, and then close and do not allow sewer gases to pass through.

The main requirement for the ladder in the shower - it must be made of corrosion-resistant materials, so manufacturers produce ladders from plastic or stainless steel. Sometimes it is possible to meet models and from the combined materials.

For the hull manufacturers choose:

• Plastic - the most affordable option, can be used in a residential apartment.
• Stainless steel - has excellent anti-corrosion properties and is reliable and durable. Meets strict sanitary and hygienic requirements. Such a building can be used in hospitals, sanatoriums, childcare facilities, swimming pools.
• Cast iron is a costly and reliable material. Such a housing has excellent throughput and corrosion resistance. The service life is about 50 years. It can be used in public showers, baths or pools.
• Metal - refers to the category of combined models.

The colors of chrome and bronze are especially popular, they are excellent for both classic and modern styles. The grilles protect the water supply system from clogging with small particles and hair and are able to withstand an impressive weight - about 300 kg.

The front part is made of durable materials:

• stainless steel - polished or matte is especially popular;
• tempered glass - in terms of service life is not inferior to stainless steel elements, but has a more attractive and modern appearance;
• Plastic - the most affordable, but has a short life.

Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of sizes and shapes.

Available ladder in 6 forms:

• rectangular;
• round;
• oval;
• square;
• triangular;
• in the form of a long tray.

Square and rectangular models are more popular, this is due to the fact that such simple shapes easily fit into the lining of the floor covering.

The height of the ladder is of great importance. As a rule, it coincides with the level of lifting the floor covering. Height varies from 55 to 180 mm. The higher the ladder - the better the capacity of the water. The ladder is installed at the lowest point on the floor.

Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of sanitary products, which a novice specialist can sometimes lead to a stupor.But, as a rule, all the ladders are designed for water temperatures up to + 80-85ºС.

The main reasons why the owners of both large and small bathrooms choose modern stationary showers:

• large selection of sizes and configurations - shower can be of any size;
• visually expands the space in the bathroom;
• the ability to install a shower in a non-standard place;
• modern and unique design;
• simplifies cleaning the shower;
• the lack of a threshold is especially convenient for both the elderly and children.

Viega products produced in Germany. The ladders have an additional cover to protect the internal structure when installing the screed. But at the same time, the lattice of the point ladder is of relatively small size, which, in turn, increases the time for water to pass. But the manufacturer also offers other types of ladders: linear and angular. Users say that for two weeks, the Viega drains must be washed with clean water, because even a small amount of shampoo or any other soap means impairs the throughput.

RGW Company (China) produces reliable ladders of various designs.And in the manufacture of products, the manufacturer gives preference to stainless steel cases, but more products are manufactured in chrome color.

To the benefits Czech manufacturer Alcaplast can be attributed the affordable cost of products and reliable connections of structural elements. Models of this manufacturer perfectly masked in the floor. For example, the linear tray has an additional area on the front side for fixing ceramic tiles. Thus, only two lines in the floor, which will pass the water, will be visible. The design of the ladder at the same time can be adjusted by the height of the side supports, which is very convenient for a major overhaul in the bathroom of an apartment building.

Basic tips and recommendations that will help not to be mistaken when choosing a ladder.

• Choosing a ladder, pay attention primarily to the material from which it is made. The product must be durable, durable and provide a reliable tight connection with the floor covering.
• Also important role played by the direction of the sewer. The vertical connection of the pipe is more suitable for sewage in private homes.A horizontal is considered the most versatile option and joins the drain pipe sideways. This option is more suitable for apartment buildings.
• Pay attention to the dimensions of the coupling that connects to the pipeline, the diameter should be ideally suited for the inlets. Therefore, experts recommend buying all the items in one set and pre-test work.
• No detail of the design should not have chips and scratches.
• The ladder may have a national structure - this option is considered the most advantageous. In this case, you can remove the upper parts and clean the pipeline during clogging.
• And the last step, but no less important, is the choice in appearance. In this case, select the decorative drain grille. It should be in harmony with the interior of the bathroom and ideally suited to the color and size of the floor covering.

Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare all the necessary tools and materials. The amount of consumables depends on the size of the bathroom.

For work you will need:

• tape measure, laser or ordinary ruler, corner;
• construction knife;
• marker;
• a set of keys and screwdrivers;
• clippers;
• bucket and shovel for screed solution;
• hand tools for leveling the base: trowels, spatulas and graters;
• tile cutter;
• full gangway;

• metal pipes;
• dry sand-cement mix for screed (5 kg per 1 m2);
• expanded clay and foam concrete - for the first layer of the screed;
• sheets of polystyrene foam 5 cm thick;
• waterproofing membrane (3 kg per 1 m2);
• mastic (3 kg n 1 m3);
• isoplast;
• tile adhesive (5 kg per 1 m2);
• grout for joints;
• paste sealant;
• ceramic tile.

The situation is different if the ladder must be installed in the bathroom of an apartment building. Installation work must be carried out in stages. First of all, pipes with a ladder are laid and works on the screed and the waterproofing layer are carried out. All tasks must be addressed simultaneously. The laying of the whole structure takes place in several levels and resembles a more multi-layered cake, which is laid under a slope of at least 2%. Then again comes the screed, and then the floor tiles.

Detailed step by step instructions.

• The branch pipe is joined to the sewage system at an inclination of about 2 cm. The connection contour is covered with paste-sealant.
• The main requirement for such showers - the floor should have a slight slope for quick drainage of water. In this case, you do not need to install additional bumpers and borders along the edges. Therefore, the next important step is to calculate the height of the screed. To do this, try the ladder 1.5 cm above the branch pipe and using a laser ruler is marking on the wall. For the smooth flow of water, you need to make a slope of about 1 cm per linear meter. On the wall, indicate with a marker the height of the future floor.
• In the new house under construction all the work can be done without any difficulties. In the old house you will need to remove the flooring in the bathroom and replace the pipes, and then do the whole work step by step. As for apartment buildings - in most cases it is necessary to raise the floor level by 12-15 cm under an inclination.
• Next, you need to completely clean the surface and close the existing cracks or irregularities. From the mark of the floor level indicated on the wall, we take 8 cm (5 cm for a sheet of expanded polystyrene and 3 cm for a screed). On the new label we proceed to work on the draft screed.To ensure a smooth tilt, you must use special metal slats. But before that, it is necessary to lay a damper tape along the walls, it will create the effect of a floating screed and will not allow the floor to deform in the future. For the first screed we use foam concrete and expanded clay, they are necessary in order to reduce the weight of the future floor. After this stage it is necessary to dry the roughing layer of the screed. As a rule, a layer of 3 cm takes about 14 days.

• After two weeks you can go to the waterproofing layer. To do this, using a wide brush is applied sealingfree tube.
• Then fit the insulating layer of polystyrene foam. From the individual parts of the material is covered floor.
• After that, you can go to the second layer of the screed. After a few days after complete drying, it is necessary to lay down a waterproofing layer. To do this, you can use isoplast, separate sheets of material placed on the floor and heated from the back side with a blowtorch. Irregularities and corners must be treated with sealing mastic.
• Next, the body of the ladder is fully assembled, but instead of a decorative grille, a small piece of waterproofing material is placed on top.This is necessary so that the cement mortar does not clog the internal structure. After that, the third layer of the screed is poured, its thickness should be lower than the height of the ladder by the thickness of the tile and the layer of glue. Before laying the tiles it is necessary to completely dry the entire cake. Experts recommend waiting 40 days.
• In a few weeks the tile is laid according to the selected pattern. Installation begins from the ladder towards the wall. After a couple of days it is necessary to process the seams with moisture-resistant grout. Then you can close the ladder decorative grille. The joint between the ladder and the tile is filled with silicone sealant.
• After all stages of work, you can proceed to the installation of fencing for the shower or leave the space open. In this case, you can choose a transparent partition or curtain.

The gangway is a unique fixture that can save space in the bathroom. But when installing independently, it is necessary to take into account many nuances, since it depends on this whether the whole structure will perform the necessary functions.You can choose the most suitable option according to the type of construction and the method of placement.

When choosing a ladder in the store, it is necessary to take into account its height. It depends on this, how many centimeters will be necessary to raise the level of the floor and adjust the slope. And the higher the design, the more water in one minute misses the ladder. Designs with height-adjustable housing are considered the most practical option.

When choosing the type of valve, experts advise to consider both options, but it is important to know that the reliability of the universal hydraulic seal is somewhat lower. The structure itself can be torn off, and if the hair or thread from the washcloth gets inside, it is likely that the shutter will fail faster.

The discharge pipe that connects the drain and sewer should be as short as possible and not bend. The connection must have a slope towards the sewer.

For the insulation layer, experts recommend choosing extruded polystyrene foam.It has greater hardness and is more protected from moisture.

Before installing the ladder, select the most suitable position. Experiment with the tiles. The overall appearance of the floor should look harmonious and complete. Try to choose a position so that a multiple of the tile is placed between the ladder and the wall, then you will not need to trim some elements. The ideal option would be to place a decorative grating for a ladder instead of a single floor tile. But if the tile is too large, then you can lay it in such a way that the grid is inside three or four elements.

• The gangway is an excellent substitute for a familiar shower cabin, besides it is capable of incredibly transforming a familiar interior in a bathroom.
• Even the bathroom in black and white with a modern shower looks easy and stylish. Instead of the usual curtains, you can use unusual doors-partitions or transparent walls.
• For a large family bathroom, a linear ladder would be the best option. He misses more water and looks almost unnoticed.Some models of stealth can be revetted with the same material as the floor covering. Thus, only four lines will remain visible from the ladder.
• Modern shower enclosures fit perfectly not only in fashionable interior styles, but also in classic ones.

• The interior of the bathroom and shower can be beaten in any style. So, for example, the interior in vintage style. In this version, the shower gives a special mood to the bathroom.
• In modern classical style, preference is given to simple shapes and lines. At the same time, the functional filling is hidden from the eyes. Therefore, connoisseurs of modern classics prefer to install a concise and compact shower in the bathroom.
• The color of the sea wave looks very harmonious in the interior of the bathroom.
• Delicate bathroom in the style of Parisian Provence.
• For the convenience of the elderly and children in the shower you can make a small comfortable bench. It can also perform the role of disguise - behind it you can hide communication.

In the video below you will see an overview and installation of the ladder under the tile Alcaplast APZ12.