Proper Drain to Use in a Concrete Floor

Trench Drain

• Trench drains, also called linear drains, are often used in industrial environments, as they allow drainage of a large amount of liquid. These drains are created by a trench cut into the concrete floor and covered with a grating. The trench can be any length, from a few feet long to the entire length of the floor. Trench drains may be expensive to install, and are often used to carry away water from around a foundation.

Square Drain

• Square drains are so-called because the drainage hole is covered with a small, square grating, although the grating is also available as a round shape. Square drains consist of a series of vertical pipes laid under the concrete floor. Every few feet a horizontal pipe branches off and leads up to the surface of the floor. These openings are covered with the square grating. Square drains are inexpensive and simple to install, but must be installed the same time the concrete floor is laid.

Uses

• Trench drains can be built in many different sizes, and the more drainage required, the larger the trench used. Trench drains are commonly used to carry water away from driveways, and may also be dug into the dirt around a foundation to prevent water seeping into a basement. Trench drains are often found around pools and some types of modern showers use trench drains to prevent water from escaping to the bathroom floor. Square drains are more common in areas where a smaller and more inconspicuous drain is required, such as at the bottom of downspouts or in residential garages.

Considerations

• With both types of drains, you must consider where the water will drain off. Some cities require drain pipes to have a filtration system or to use a catch basin, especially in commercial situations. This is to avoid having chemicals or oil mixed in with water. Ideally, the concrete floor needs to be pitched so that it runs into the drain. With a large trench drain, you can use a mop or broom to push the water into the drain, but this is more difficult with square drains.