Decorative grating 

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.

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Orange tile and blue diamond DecoGrate

 
Wow!!! What bold colors! I imagine that some high school or college colors can be found in their selection. Each grate is made from ductile iron and weighs about 14.5 pounds.

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  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.

Locust (top) and Interlaken (bottom)

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 website http://trenchdrain.biz

A driveway that slopes into a garage can direct storm water toward the house. Trench drain can be used to remedy this drainage problem by helping to redirect water away from the garage or living space. However, a big contributor to the water problem can also be downspout water. Driveways often have downspouts that drain roof water directly onto the pavement. If the driveway doesn’t slope away from the house or allow for adequate drainage, water pooling or flooding can occur. This article is about how simple catch basins can help to re-route downspout water.

Nobody likes a wet basement. The first line of defense in keeping your basement dry is to keep water away from your foundation. The most common source of water will be storm water which falls on your roofs and hardscapes. Take that water and re-direct it away from your foundation by using drainage pipe and catch basins. This is going to require that you first develop a drainage plan. For this plan, you need to determine which point sources of water you have and where you want to re-route them using drainage pipe. To minimize digging, use a single “artery” through which all the other downspouts and yard basins connect. In some cases, you may find it more efficient to use two different drainage sites (i.e. front yard site and back yard site). Devise a plan that minimizes digging and disturbing your shrubs and landscape.

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Taking your downspout directly into a drainage pipe is a common and economical method. This involves first digging a trench and laying drainage pipe to a lower drainage point. In some communities, the drainage pipe can run underground to the street where it exits from a hole drilled in the curb. Then hook your downspout directly into the pipe for immediate redirection of your roof water. ?????? ?????????

If you want to include surface water in your drainage plan, consider using a catch basin under your downspout. If situated properly, the catch basin can collect water that pools in your yard as well as water from your downspout. Catch basins can also be made to be an attractive addition to your garden down spout. In the examples shown below, the catch basins (9” x 9”) were set in concrete for stability. These basins were part of a larger “gray water” plan which directed all the downspout water to a 1300 gallon reservoir which could later be used for an irrigation system. The overflow from the holding tank travels through perforated pipe prior to draining into a ravine.

Basins have a variety of sizes and outlet configurations which should be a consideration when designing your system. Basin selection will be a function of the anticipated water volume, piping depth and water source layout. Catch basin grating selection is broad. You will have color, style, application and material options that will depend on the cost and aesthetics desired on the project. Plastic grating is, by far, the least expensive option and is available in a number of colors. Smaller basins can also be fit with brass or chrome grates, which are both attractive and costly. Cast iron grates are surprisingly affordable and available in a variety of styles for 12” x 12” basins and some small round drains. For help in material selection, call EarlyCut Supplies at 610-882-3630.

There are a number of trench drain manufacturers that sell 4 inch wide (100 mm) polymer concrete channels. In general, each manufacturer offers two grades of channel – residential and commercial. Hubbell, the maker of Polycast Trench Drain, is one of these companies. In this article, their residential product, 400 series, is compared to their commercial grade product, 600 series.

400 - 600 differences

The photo to the left compares a 2 foot long section of a 400 series (left) and 600 series channel (right). Both products are made from the same polymer concrete composition, which is a mixture of silica sand and epoxy resin. This material, while taking on some of the polymaic properties of the resin, displays the compressive strength of a concrete due to the high amount of silica sand. And though the material has the compressive strength which allows it to withstand heavy traffic while in service, it behaves as a ceramic and will crack upon impact or if dropped prior to installation.
Both channels have a similar 4” interior width and are available in 2 foot and 4 foot lengths. And from a functionality point of view, in low flow, low load applications both products perform equally. Most residential driveway applications would fall into this category.
Some of the differences between the 400 and 600 series are apparent in the above photo. Wall thickness of the 600 series is greater, which allows for heavier load bearing capabilities. Also, the channel end of the 600 series has a more integral male-female connection than does the 400 series product. Additionally, the grate used on the 400 series rests on top of the channel, while the 600 series channel actually has a recess within the channel for the grate to lie. However, a major difference between the two products is that the 400 channels are all non-sloped, while the 600 series channel are pre-sloped. The pre-sloped character of the 600 channel insures that water flows more quickly, thus allowing for higher overall flow rates. 600 Series channels can still be purchased without slope and are needed when designing complex drainage systems.
The 400 series product comes with a Class B galvanized steel slotted grate and is capable of withstanding loads from most automobiles. This is the only grating option. With the 600 series, you get a wider selection of grating options. You can get a Class B galvanized steel slotted grate, shown below. Or, you can upgrade to a cast iron or ductile iron grate for heavier loads. Stainless steel grates are even available for applications in a corrosive environment. In fact, there are 19 different grates options and four frame option for the 600 series channels.

Top View of Channels

The frames available with the 600 Series include a galvanized steel channel protector (shown above). This is a steel edge covering that keeps the channel from deteriorating while in use and helps increase the load capabilities of the system. The channel protector is also available in stainless steel. For heavy load capabilities (fork truck or airline) a cast iron or high density poly ethylene (HDPE) frame is used to cover the channel prior to inserting a ductile iron grate.
A final comparison between these two products is price. The 400 series product is manufactured for economy. It is a light duty product that is easily manufactured due to its uncomplicated dimensioning. It has only one grate option. Because of this, it sells for approximately 30% less expensive than the comparable 600 series product.
With the 600 series, you get flexibility and value. Though more expensive than the 400 series, the 600 series allow for higher load capabilities which can be further improved by changing your frame or grate. The 600 channels are more expensive due to the sturdier and pre-sloped design. And, of course, your choice of grating will directly influence your final $/foot price, especially if your application requires a stainless steel grate.
For a quotation on a 400 or 600 series trench drain system, email michael@trenchdrain.biz or call EarlyCut Supplies at 610-882-3630.