Tile Around Linear Drain

[jose1969]

I could use some advice on shower pan drain location.

I will be installing a KBRS linear drain showerslope for my converting my bathtub to a shower. I email KBRS to confirm their suggested location for the distance of the drain from the 32" wall. They say it should be a minimum of 6" away so there is a slope to the drain. My current drain location is 2 1/4" away and that seams to be the standard distance for all the other linear drains I looked at.

Do you usually need to have a slope to the drain for that short distance from the 32" wall of a shower?

[cx]

Welcome, Jose.

There's no one gonna be better equipped to tell you where to install the drain than the manufacturer. Some other linear drains are designed such that they can be snuggled up to a wall, but yours may not.

I suspect KBRS has designed their drain to be used with one of their prefabricated shower receptors and that's where they locate it. That's just a guess, though, as I've never used, nor even seen one of their linear drains. Are you using one of their receptors, or only their drain?

If you want your drain located against the wall, I'd suggest you look to another manufacturer.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[jose1969]

I am using their receptor too. I normally do go with the manufacturer recommendation, but I am trying to avoid a lot of plumbing reconfiguration. It also looks like the drain is against the wall in their installation instructions.

[cx]

Do you have their drain and receptor in hand?

[jose1969]

No, I do not have them yet.

[cx]

I'd hold off 'till I had them in hand before locating my drain, Jose.

[jose1969]

How do I go about installing mosaic tile around my linear drain. I am not sure how to handle the grout between the tile and grate. I will be getting the drain below.

Do I tape the grate and leave it in during grouting or remove the grate and build a frame to use? Is there a better way?

[workhurts]

There's no frame around the grate?

[jose1969]

No, there is no frame. I am thinking now I may need to install schluter edging to keep the grout from breaking.

This sketch from a similar drain shows no grout, they just stop the tile.

[jose1969]

I saw this on the drain manufacture's facebook page, it looks like someone had the same concern as me and added edging. Would there be any issue with adding the edging? Thanks.

[rmckee84]

No real issue, but make sure your tile is slightly proud of the profile so it doesn't hinder the water's path to the drain.

[workhurts]

Thinking out loud here. Schluter frame has opening all around it. They put tape around the entire permit of the frame to keep thinset from falling into the drain body while setting. Can't remember whether I removed mine or not but vaguely recall thinking I should remove it and tape from the inside. The thought was I'd like the water/moisture that goes through the grout and tile to get to the drain.

Now, with that logic, if you put trim around the drain and the trim sits on the waterproofing then how would the water/moisture get to the drain?

[jose1969]

Thanks for thinking of that. I may drill 1/8" holes in the edging for water to pass through to the drain. Or would water pass through the holes on the bottom of the edging through the mortar?