In response to this critical need, at least one manufacturer offers linear drain products that utilize a double waterproofing method combined with a factory-applied waterproof membrane fabric. It is readily compatible with traditional waterproofing methods like vinyl, lead/copper pan, or hot mop underneath, allowing the bonded fabric method to function as the first line of defense above. This saves installers time on the job. It also provides some assurance of performance since both the drain manufacturer’s and membrane manufacturer’s warranties apply.

Other Considerations

There are a few other things that can come into play when making design decisions about architectural drainage systems. As noted earlier, there are prefabricated sloped metal pans available that can streamline the installation of a sloped floor and drainage system. The size and slope options should be verified with a manufacturer, but in some cases, using this available product can mean less construction time and cost than traditional installations of flooring and deck surfaces. Manufacturers should be consulted for lead times on different products, particularly if customization is needed. Generally speaking, fast turnaround times are possible but always subject to change.

Large Commercial Building Project Example: JW Marriott Hotel, Charlotte

Photos courtesy of Infinity Drain

Architect of Design: HKS
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Application: Hospitality bathrooms and showers

About the Project: Marriott International’s JW Marriott brand debuted recently in North Carolina with the opening of the 381-room JW Marriott Charlotte designed by HKS Architects. Inspired by Queen Charlotte, the city’s namesake, the JW Marriott Charlotte evokes the 18th-century British queen consort through classic textiles balanced with a modern sensibility. The hotel’s design maximizes natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows in the guestrooms and most of the hotel’s 22,000 square feet of meeting space. These windows offer views of the city, stadium, and vista outlooks of Greater Charlotte.

About the Drainage Solution: DPR Construction utilized prefabrication for 335 guest bathrooms offsite in a controlled warehouse environment. The bathrooms were then loaded floor by floor into the 23-story building over a 13-week period. According to Greg King, assistant general manager of prefabrication supplier SurePods, “In hospitality construction, bathrooms generate 80% of punch list and coordination challenges in a guestroom. By prefabricating the bathrooms entirely offsite, we can help hospitality clients across the U.S. open early and get ‘heads in beds’ two to three months ahead of schedule.”

The pre-fabricator worked with the linear architectural drain manufacturer to customize a stainless-steel shower base with a lifetime waterproof guarantee and solid top grate style linear drain for the project. “The foundation of our business is built on efficiencies,” King continued. “Traditional, foam-based shower pans create numerous elements and steps to our build process, and the all-in-one solution is a great fit that saves us time and labor. We were able to work with the drain manufacturer to get a dependable and unique, customized product that fit our client’s design and our prefabrication needs.”

LINEAR DRAINS IN BUILDING APPLICATIONS

With an understanding of the principles and aspects of architectural linear drains, we can now focus on different types of building applications and project examples.

Commercial Building Applications

Commercial buildings are often high-use areas that require durability and accessibility. At the same time, the interior design of these buildings often needs to be high quality to be consistent with the image or appearance that the building owner or tenant is seeking to convey. Further, it needs to preserve that quality over time by being easy to clean and maintain.

Residential Building Applications

Residential projects may not need to be quite as heavy-duty as commercial ones, but clients and owners still seek higher levels of design and quality. In some ways, these projects, whether single-family or multifamily, can be more personal and fully customizable. This is true not only for aesthetic design but for functional design too. There has been a growing interest in residential design that allows for “aging in place” as a desirable long-term feature, thus increasing the significance of accessibility as residents grow older.

Indoor Applications

There are many interior locations besides bathrooms that can be logical places to use architectural drains. The general versatility of these products means they can be used anywhere. Some typical examples include commercial kitchens, laundry rooms, indoor pools, spa areas, locker rooms, exercise rooms, and other places where water may need to be drained away discreetly but effectively. A sometimes-overlooked place is an elevator pit which typically needs integral drainage. It can be equally important to include architectural linear drains in front of elevator doors. That way, if the fire sprinklers are activated, the sprinkler water can be collected and drained away, keeping it out of the elevator shaft and allowing first responders to function unencumbered.

Outdoor Application

Outdoor spaces often need to drain away rainwater, snow melt, irrigation water, or excess swimming pool water. That means that outdoor locations such as terraces, pool areas, balconies, and decks may all benefit from architectural linear drains. The same is true for paths of travel for pedestrians and/or vehicles.

CONCLUSION

Specifying architectural linear drains in a building project can provide appealing, well-performing solutions for many different applications. Successful design begins by understanding the nature and type of architectural drains available, including the options for design and performance characteristics. Then, all of the areas that require drainage can be assessed for sizing and type, including indoor and outdoor spaces. The combination of design and performance makes for successful drainage solutions in different building types and settings. It is abundantly clear that architectural linear drainage systems provide a design option that improves the overall, integrated appearance of drains while still meeting all of the needed code, performance, safety, and operational needs of different types of projects.

Small Commercial Project Example: Kingston Design Connection Showhouse

Photos courtesy of Infinity Drain; photography Phil Mansfield

Architect/Designer: Michael Gilbride Design
Location: Kingston, New York
Application: Custom bathroom and shower

About the Project: The Kingston Design Connection, a non-profit organization, has operated to connect makers, vendors, and contractors to the growing design scene in the upstate region of New York State. Every year for the past five years, the Kingston Design Connection has located a building in need of renovation and reimagining, and the result is a showcase house that attracts hundreds of homeowners, design aficionados, and media. All money raised is given to groups such as the Ulster Habitat for Humanity, Hudson Valley Senior Center, Family of Woodstock, and People’s Place.

The Victorian-style home chosen for 2022–located at 60 Maiden Lane in Kingston, New York–was built in 1901 for three unmarried sisters. Decades later, it became home to various local businesses until it was recently purchased by a growing family. More than 180 designers, makers, artists, and local businesses contributed to the home’s transformation to further build and connect the community through design.

About the Design: The house required some major changes, including turning a parlor space into a kitchen and reconfiguring an office kitchenette into an additional bathroom. Designer Michael Gilbride of Michael Gilbride Design was tasked with designing the additional bathroom, and his vision was to create a spa-like environment complete with steam shower. The room uses neutral tones which radiate tranquility with just a pop of color on the wall. The neutral-colored wall tiles in the shower and darker-colored vanity backsplash mimic traditional wainscoting, an homage to the age of the home. The tiled floor is patterned so to maintain design consistency. Michael Gilbride used a tile insert linear drain in the shower, allowing everything to match quite seamlessly. Similar to a trompe l’oeil painting, visitors and users have to look closely to notice the drain, which was Gilbride’s goal.