Set out around the drain
The floor tiles were set out to line up with the strip drain, so the grout lines and the drain work together.
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/The challenge
A Drain That Disappears Into the Floor
This wet-area floor in Hawthorn was finished with large-format tiles and a tile insert strip drain — a linear drain with a channel that takes a strip of the floor tile, so the drain sits almost flush and reads as part of the floor.
A tile insert drain only looks right if everything lines up. The tile layout has to be set out around the drain, the floor has to fall toward it, and the strip of tile in the channel has to match the tiles on either side — otherwise the drain stands out instead of disappearing.
/Project snapshot
The job at a glance
- Property
- Residential wet area
- Location
- Hawthorn, VIC
- Service
- Tiling
- Surface
- Wet-area floor
/Scope of work
What the project involved
- Setting out the floor tiles to line up with the drain
- Installing the tile insert strip drain
- Laying the large-format tiles to fall toward the drain
- Cutting and fitting tile into the drain insert
/Our approach
Drain and tiles planned together
The drain and the tile layout were planned together, so the finished floor reads as one clean surface.
Install the strip drain
The tile insert strip drain was positioned and installed along the planned line.
Lay the tiles to fall
The large-format tiles were laid so the floor falls toward the drain and water moves where it should.
Fit the tile insert
Tile was cut and fitted into the drain’s insert channel to match the floor on either side.
/Materials used
The finish applied
- Tiles
- Large-format floor tiles
- Drain
- Tile insert strip (linear) drain
- Layout
- Set out to the drain line
- Surface
- Wet-area floor
/Highlights
What stands out about this project
- 01A near-invisible drain line
- 02Large-format tiles
- 03Floor falls to the drain
- 04Layout aligned to the drain
/Common questions
Questions about strip drains and wet-area floors
It’s a linear floor drain with a recessed channel on top that takes a strip of the same tile as the floor. Once it’s fitted, only thin slots are visible, so the drain blends into the tiling.
A strip drain runs in a straight line, so the floor only needs to fall in one direction toward it. That suits large-format tiles, which are difficult to cut and slope in the several directions a centre floor waste needs.
Yes — it’s one of the most common reasons to choose one. The single fall toward a linear drain lets large tiles sit with fewer cuts across the floor.
In wet areas, preparation may involve screeding to establish the required levels and falls, followed by waterproofing before tiling.
/The result
A Clean Floor Line With the Drain Built In
Large-format tiles and a tile insert strip drain working as one surface, with the drain line almost disappearing into the floor.
Planning a tiling or renovation project?
Get in touch with Top Tier Tiling Group to talk through your job and request a quote.
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