What is a pre-sloped drain? A pre-sloped drain is any linear drain that has a built-in slope, creating positive drainage from inlet to outlet and ensuring no standing water remains in the drain. Pre-sloped drains are engineered and constructed so that the top of the drain is installed level while the bottom of the drain body gets lower with each section of drain.
Should I Use a Pre-sloped Drain?
Pre-sloped drains are beneficial for everyone. Whether you are the end user, an installer or a designer, pre-sloped drains can help to simplify drainage installation and create a better end-user experience.
Pre-sloped Drains are available in many configurations such as: slot drains, trench drains and channel drains. These drains are designed to fit flush to their surroundings. Making them ideal for applications like landscaping or inside garages or industrial settings where they will see foot and vehicle traffic. If you are considering installing drainage in your shop, on your patio or in your business this blog will help you to decide if a pre-sloped drain is the right choice for you.
Why Use a Pre-sloped Drain?
Let’s say you are building a patio with paving stones. The entire hardscape space is going to be around 400 square feet (20’ x 20’). This means it will require drainage to avoid flooding and standing water during and after rainstorms.
The area for the patio has been graded to create a flat surface that has a slight slope towards the center, where the landscape architect has recommended installing a slot drain. This drain will capture water from the patio and discharge it into the storm sewer system. This drain needs to be installed flush to the patio stones so that water can drain into it and so that it is not a tripping hazard.
If the installed drain is not pre-sloped then the entire patio will have to be sloped from one end to the other in order to accommodate drainage. However on top of this end-to-end slope this patio was also designed to be graded towards the middle to allow water to reach the drain.
Having a patio with multiple compound slopes is going to do two things: it will increase the complexity of the installation for the landscapers and it will make the patio less usable since it will be harder to place furniture on a surface that is sloping in multiple directions.
Pre-sloped linear drains were created to help reduce the number and complexity of floor slopes required for proper drainage. Reducing floor slope complexity reduces the installation costs of poured concrete or patio pavers. These qualities make pre-sloped drains ideal for protecting places like patios, garages and factories from the hazards of standing water.
What if I Don’t Slope my Drains?
‘So what if I don’t slope my drains,’ you might be saying. They will still collect water and when there is too much water it will spill out of the drain. This is true. However in a neutral-slope drain the water will follow the path of least resistance. This can lead to water pooling in the drain if the drain doesn't have a minimum 0.5% slope towards the outlet. Standing water can have a few consequences including:
- Creating a breeding ground for insects
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Collecting leaves and other debris
- Becoming stagnant and smelly
If you are installing a neutral-slope drain it should be manually sloped at 0.5% in order to create positive drainage towards the outlet and avoid standing water.
Whatever drainage you decide to install It is much easier, and more cost effective, to plan to install the proper drainage (whether that is pre-sloped or neutral-slope) at the start of a project than to have to upgrade your drainage in the future.
What do Pre-Sloped Drains Cost?
Pre-sloped drains are generally more expensive upfront than neutral-slope drains. Neutral-sloped drains are not sloped in the factory and need to be sloped by the installer. This makes them less complicated to manufacture and reduces their purchase price.
Many of the plastic drains available at big box stores and online are neutral-sloped drains. While these can seem like a good deal, the low upfront cost can hide other future costs. As we discussed earlier in this blog, neutral slope drains need to be manually sloped by the contractor this can add to the cost of not only the drain installation but also the construction and sloping of an entire patio or floor.
Labor is one of the most significant costs driving up construction prices. Because of this we recommend doing a price cost comparison not just of the purchase price of the pre-sloped drain vs. a neutral-slope drain but also of the cost of the entire project including the cost of grading and installation.
Pre-sloped Drains are Cleaner and Easier to Maintain
In the food and beverage processing industry stainless steel pre-sloped drains are the standard. This is because food and beverage processing plants need to meet stringent sanitation standards. Stainless steel pre-sloped drains are perfect for hygienic environments. Because of the pre-sloped nature of the drain any water that enters the drain pulls dirt and debris along the drain moving it towards the outlet. Giving them self-cleaning properties.
Periodic cleaning of pre-sloped slot drains is made easy through the use of customized cleaning tools like form fit paddles and brushes. More advanced cleaning methods like Flush Flo, Clean in Place and pressure cleaning systems are available to help you maintain clear and sanitary drainage.
Pre-Sloped Drains Available
Global Drain Technologies offers a wide range of pre-sloped drains through our online store and through our custom brands Landscape Drains, FoodSafe Drains and Slot Drain Systems.
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For any custom needs contact our sales team. Our sales and engineering staff can help you meet your drainage needs today.