4 Linear Shower Drain Installation Tips | EZ Able

Linear Shower Drain Installation: 4 Tips for Contractors

Quick answer

Slope the floor in one direction only. In a curbless shower, place the drain along the entry wall or the wall opposite it, never perpendicular to the door. Run the drain across the whole wall, not just the doorway. And keep total water flow within the drain's capacity, typically 8 to 10 gallons per minute.

The 4 tips

  1. Simplify the slope. A center drain needs the mud bed sloped in four directions, and it's easy to end up with a flat spot that means a callback. A linear drain needs one slope in one direction.
  2. Place it right. In a curbless (no-threshold) shower, put the drain along the shower entry wall or the wall directly opposite. A drain perpendicular to the door creates a lip and a trip hazard, and a building inspector will flag it.
  3. Get the length right. For curbless showers, run the drain across the whole entrance wall (not just the doorway) or the whole wall opposite the entrance. A drain that's too short, or only spans the doorway, lets water pool or flood beside walls and in corners.
  4. Check the flow rate. Most linear drains remove 8 to 10 gallons per minute. That's fine for standard showerheads. Luxury showers with multiple heads and body sprays can exceed it, so add up every fixture before you pick a drain.

Good to know

Even a slight 2% slope across the entry can become a trip hazard. Slope the bed toward or away from the door, not side to side.

Quick reference

CheckDo thisAvoid
SlopeOne plane, one directionFour-way slope with flat spots
Placement (curbless)Entry wall or opposite wallDrain perpendicular to the door
LengthFull wall widthDoorway width only
FlowTotal fixtures within 8–10 GPMMultiple heads on a single standard drain

These tips come from Jim Van Landingham of QuickDrain USA, as published in Remodeling magazine.

Common questions

Where should a linear drain go in a curbless shower?

Along the entry wall or the wall directly opposite it. A drain perpendicular to the door creates a lip and a trip hazard.

How long should a linear shower drain be?

For curbless showers, it should span the whole entrance wall or the whole opposite wall, not just the doorway.

How much water can a linear drain handle?

Most linear drains remove 8 to 10 gallons per minute. Add up all showerheads and sprays before choosing a drain.

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