Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage systems, leading to water backing up in yards, driveways, and parking areas. This often occurs when debris, sediment, or undersized drains restrict water flow, preventing the system from handling the volume of stormwater efficiently. Understanding why drains back up and how to prevent it is essential for homeowners and property […]
Author Archives: Michael Schroer
The year 1975 is significant. That was about the time that modular polymer concrete channels entered the U.S. trench drain market. Prior to that, only the frame and grate systems and cast-iron channel body products were available in the trench drain marketplace. These products were made by iron foundries. Over the past 50 years, there […]
What makes a trench drain suited for residential vs. commercial projects? Manufacturers make both residential drains and commercial-grade trench drains. There are a number of trench drain manufacturers that sell 4 inch wide (100 mm) polymer concrete channels, but we’re comparing two POLYCAST® trench drains by Hubbell. Several differences between the smaller 400 Series and the 600 […]
There are multiple trench drain systems available on the market today, but not all have the application flexibility as Hubbell’s POLYCAST 600 series. These pre-sloped drain systems are ideal for a variety of projects and often use a standard slotted ductile iron grate, as it is a versatile option. Occasionally, there is a need for […]
Whether you are installing new or retrofitting an older system there are solutions. One of the most common trench drain questions we receive is from homeowners who need help solving driveway drainage problems. Installation If you are going to install a drain in an existing driveway, I recommend putting in a trench drain system. You […]
The grate options are expanding for the ever popular Mini Channel and Slim Channel drainage systems manufactured by National Diversified Systems (NDS). These well known and consumer friendly linear drains are manufactured in Fresno, California by NDS and warehoused in locations all over the United States. The Mini Channel is a 3-inch wide system that […]
Controlling stormwater drainage around your home is an important step in protecting the foundation’s integrity, as well as the the water quality of your in-ground pool, or the life and safety of your outdoor living space. It can be a hassle dealing with wet basements, pooling water on the patio, a flooding garage, or heavy […]
The FP Series trench drain is a large flow, transportation drainage product developed by Hubbell POLYCAST® in 2010. TDS purchased and then redesigned this drain in 2016. At the time of its introduction to the market, it filled a void for high-volume pre-sloped systems for heavy load stormwater applications. 1: Trench Drain Systems purchased this […]
Previous articles I’ve written have discussed the evolution of the polymer concrete trench drain channel and how it came to the U.S. Market. The big takeaway is that the rise of modular trench drain started in Europe and migrated to the United States, bringing with them metric dimensional standards (channel length and width) which rendered […]
The first time I learned of polymer concrete was in 1985 while on a tour of some silica mines in northeast Ohio. In that part of the country, the Sharon conglomerate crops out of the ground and is mined by a number of industrial mineral firms. The Best Silica Company, located in Chardon, OH, is […]










