Decorative grating is the newest trend in residential and commercial trench drain design. Conventional slotted cast iron grates are giving way to decorative trench grating in high profile applications as homeowners, commercial architects and city planners are seeking more aesthetically pleasing hardscape drainage systems. A number of ornamental grating manufacturers sell products into the trench drain market. However, if you want an off-the-shelf trench drain channel that has a broad selection of decorative grating, you only have a few choices. The Dura Slope™ trench drain product line is one of these options.

Dura Slope™ is the brand name for a pre-sloped plastic trench drain system manufactured by National Diversified Systems (NDS). The channels have a 5” interior width and come in 4 foot lengths. The grates that fit this system are 6” wide and 24” long. The system has a built-in 0.7% channel slope that helps keep water flowing out of the drain. Catch basins and heavy duty frames are available for this system. Grating options are also available that will rugged enough for fork truck traffic or tender enough for bare feet on a pool deck.
Plastic grating is a popular option for the Duraslope™ system. Two styles are shown below. The slotted plastic grates are available in seven (7) different colors. Perforated plastic grates are only available in light gray. Slotted galvanized steel and perforated stainless steel grates are also available, as are ductile and grey iron slotted grates (cast iron).

A few years ago, cast iron grates for the Dura Slope™ channels only came in a standard black slotted style. However, this has changed with their introduction of the DecoGrate line of powder coated decorative grates. Five (5) new ductile iron grate styles are now available and can be purchased in any of 10 different color options. All grates are rated for class C loading and are ADA compliant. No other grate manufacturer offers the broad selection of grate style and color. Congratulations NDS!!!

Below are the photos of the new grate styles with an example of the bold colors they offer. I’ve also put a standard black slotted grate in here for comparative purposes.

Now let’s look at another manufacturer of decorative grating for the Dura Slope™ channel. Ironage Designs has built a respectable product line of ornamental grates that fit existing trench drain systems. For NDS’s Dura Slope™, they have two products: Interlaken and Locust.

You can get these grates in your choice of color powder coatings. However, Ironage Designs doesn’t stock any pre-coated grates. You may be better off purchasing the grates yourself and have a coating applied by a local paint shop prior to installation. Nevertheless, I really like the quality of the grates produced by Ironage. They are a sturdy, 15-16 lbs. in weight. The detail of the design and the quality of the relief are remarkable.

No matter, with the Dura Slope™ trench drain channels you have both decorative grating options and color selection. The Dura Slope™ product line is technically solid and will go toe-to-toe with other pre-sloped plastic channel systems, such as Zurn’s Perma-Trench Z886. These products are available at your local NDS distributor and the trench drain supplier Trench Drain Systems.

National Diversified Systems (NDS), a plastic trench drain manufacturer based in California, has a dazzling display of trench drain systems that appeal to homeowners and contractors alike. This 3 inch wide channel system comes in 6 foot long, easy to install sections. This product is popular because of its simple construction and inexpensive price. However, a large portion of its allure also comes from the variety of grating styles it has available.

The most common grate for the Mini Channel is the standard 3 foot long gray plastic grate (shown on the right). NDS also offers a plastic grate in 5 other colors (white, green, black, red, and sand). For those with a more discriminating taste, NDS offers two simple brass options (shown on the left). The one foot long brass grates are slotted and come in a satin or polished finish. Besides being simple, shiny, and elegant, they contain chamfered holes for optional screw placement which help to keep them fastened to the channel.

Decorative, cast iron products have recently become available for Mini Channel customers.  The cast iron grating product lines offer a beautiful side to what may otherwise be only functional. Currently, three styles of cast iron grates work with NDS’ Mini Channel: the Interlaken, Carbochon and the Minione. These products are not ordinary slotted grates. The Interlaken is an intricate geometrical pattern while the Minione has a flowing design.  Meanwhile, the Carbochon has a bold presence that only accentuates its open area.

 There are a few basic differences between the three Mini Channel grates. Style aside, the grate’s channel fit is the next most noteworthy difference. A comparison of the three grates illustrates this difference.

 The Minione is a thinner grate than the Interlaken. It does not rest in the channel with the same depth that Interlaken and Carbochon do. One gets the feeling that the Minione sits on top of the drain, rather than in it.

This could mean that the Minione grate is more susceptible to become dislodged than the other. The Minione grate is designed with two dimples that are the locations for optional screw holes (they do not come pre-drilled). If used with screws, the Minnione becomes as reliable as any other grate in its class. Another small difference between the grates is the length. The Interlaken (11″ long) is about an inch shorter than the Minione (12″ long), and the Carbochon (14” long) outdoes both grates by inches.

Cast iron is the standard material used to make these decorative grates. Cast brass, bronze and aluminum products can be manufactured for an additional cost. We should note that cast iron grates are uncoated and will form a rust coating. In some cases, the rusted look can be endearing.

If your situation doesn’t support this view, though, consider painting with an epoxy or powder coating.  I had two samples of the Mini Channel grating painted because I was curious to see exactly how the process would affect the grates’ performance and appearance over time.

The results, if I may say, are charming.  The powder coating process smoothed out the natural texture of the cast iron grates, giving them a softer, less metallic look.  You can really feel the difference between the painted and baked on oil finishes; the process encased these grates in paint rather than changing their outer layers.  One particularly interesting fact to note:  the grates shown to the left have been painted neutral colors – black and dark brown, but with a purchase over 60 LF a wide variety of colors can be chosen from.  Wowzer!

Let me just demonstrate the difference between the two available finishes in another way.  Look at the Interlaken grates shown below:  in terms of color, they are very similar.  But, if you look closer you can see the different shine, the thickly coated surface of the grate on the right.  It’s been powder coated.  The grate on the left, though, has a baked on oil finish.   I’ll leave you to decide which one you like better.

Cost is all in a person’s perspective, especially when talking about trench drain products. A simple plastic grate that comes in six basic colors is available for a very low price per foot. NDS’ brass grate, a beautiful, no-hassle solution for those still worried about rust or decor, is the most expensive. The cast iron grates, which add style and variety, come for the more moderate price that falls somewhere in between and have beautiful finish options. They are the true extra mile, the art to efficiency, and are the balance if a cost-efficient and stylish grate is desired.

There have been many people asking about it, and I’ve finally been able to gather some good information about decorative grating for trench drains. Take a look at the trench drain grating I have pictured in various articles in this blog. Only a few stand out as being “pretty” from an aesthetic or architectural point of view. I can almost guarantee that my article “Trench Drain in the Black Hills” will be noted as containing some attractive grating. Well, I have more to talk about on this topic, especially as it refers to “pretty” cast iron and bronze products. And, the good news is, I have three manufactures I can discuss.

I have to be honest. My interest in decorative trench drain grating is for material gain. I am looking for products to sell that give my customers selection and quality. The standard slotted and perforated grating, though functional, can get boring. I have had customers looking for products that give them a “look” that is in keeping with the theme of the house or community. Sometimes, galvanized steel slotted grating just doesn’t cut the mustard. Let’s discuss three manufacturers of ornamental or decorative grating.

Ironsmith— I’m starting with them for a purpose. This is a foundry in Palm Desert California with an additional manufacturing point in Mexico. They have a number of ornamental trench drain grating products. They advertise that they used 100% recycled materials to make their castings. I counted 8 different grating styles. However, only 3 of these had any “curviness” in the design (I like curviness). Most grate styles were some variation of a standard slotted or perforated ADA grate.

The Ironsmith products are available in 4, 6, 8, and 12 inch wide grates. In addition, you are able to purchase grates in iron, aluminum or bronze. So the variety is good. They also have 12” x 12” catch basin grates and tree grates. And, if that was not enough, you can purchase the frame and trench to use when forming a trench drain system.

The folks at Ironsmith are nice people to work with. They are eager to help. Their prices are affordable for the west coast. I had difficulty getting an affordable product from them to sell on the east coast. Nevertheless, they seem to have a good product. For more information, go to www.ironsmith.biz.

Urban Accessories — I think these guys are the oldest of all the existing ornamental grate foundries in the US. Urban Accessories was founded in 1972 by an architect who was inspired by the vision of Louis Sullivan to enhance the urban environment. This is the Tacoma, Washington foundry that I promoted in my “Black Hill Trench Drain” blog entry. I also saw products of theirs in the Epcott Center in Orlando, Florida.

Urban Accessories has a wonderful product line. Besides trench drain grates, they have a rich assortment of tree grates, bollards, building buttons, drain covers, manhole covers and more. You can purchase trench drain frames to go with their grates, as well. They have a nice catalog and good coverage with the architects who deal with hardscapes.

Too good to be true? Maybe so!!! I never had a very good experience trying to purchase product from these people. They were reluctant to work with me on requests for special items. I had a difficult time getting information from them or my phone calls returned. And, once I had made contact with my area sales representative, I didn’t feel confident that he really had all the knowledge required for this product line. In addition to all this, the prices for their products are very expensive. A reason for all of this is out there. Check out the next company.

Ironage — This is a new company that is making some waves in the industry. I think they are part of the reason that Urban Accessories seems “disorientated”. Apparently, a few of the top (and best?) Urban Accessories managers left and formed the new company – Ironage.

Compared to UA, Ironage’s product line is small. Don’t let this fool you. Their product line is growing, the design quality is great, and the marketing is the “missing link” in the industry. Listen to this…Where all other foundries have promoted a cast-in-place philosophy for trench drain marketing, Ironage has decided to make ornamental grating that fits the vast number of preformed or pre-sloped trench drain products that are currently on the market. If you want ACO, Mea-Josam, Polycast, Polydrain or NDS trench drain, you can still buy it and use the Ironage decorative grate. It is a wonderful idea!!
Affordable??? The answer is YES! Of all the companies I have mentioned in this article, Ironage is the most affordable. They have inventory on the east coast which makes the shipping of small orders even less costly. I’m excited about their future. Look them up on-line!