Category Archives: General Installation

Trench drain installation, drain installation methods and problem trench drain installations

Universal Ductile Iron Trench Drain Grate (TDS 461D)

TDS-461D-in-Various-Trench-Drains

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 […]

How to Replace 1-Inch Thick Grates

1 in Thick Bar Grate

Over time expected loads have increased, and the 1″ thick grate has become a rarity. New construction projects often specify current standard sizes of 3/4″, 1.5″, or 2″ thick grates. However, there are applications where frames are incorporated to help raise the Load Class of the 3/4″ drainage grates. The thicker 1.5″ and 2″ grates […]

4 Places To Install Trench Drain

Driveway drainage

Residential trench drain is a large market that fluctuates with the construction season. Homeowners and private drainage projects often extend the market well into winter months when the commercial sectors slow. The most common residential applications are pool/patio, driveway drains, downspout drainage and shower drains.  This article discusses these four main drainage applications and some […]

Stemler Corporation – Best Service, Best Products

outdoor decorative drains

It’s refreshing to see a company that truly understands its customers. Stemler Corporation is committed to service excellence, striving to outperform the competition through both quality products and dependable support. A family-owned business since 1925, Stemler has served the Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana region with trusted solutions for professional and industrial plumbing needs. The […]

Planning Drainage When You Don’t Have A Plan: A Case Study for Breweries

Brewery Drainage

Overview: One of the most important components of planning a new brewery or expanding an existing facility is the drainage system. Acidic chemicals, high-temperature fluids, and sanitizers make it necessary to have a high-quality system made of stainless steel or vinyl ester concrete. Breweries discard large volumes of fluids. Some larger breweries see drainage of […]

TDS 3000 Series empowers art at Newark electric station

3000 Series, TDS 3000 Series, plaza drains, fiberglass trench drain

Hurricane Sandy took its toll on many things, including Newark’s grid reliability. PSEG decided to invest $277 million into a new switching station in the Fairmont Heights neighborhood of Newark to improve the city’s grid reliability after Hurricane Sandy. Switching stations re-route electricity to backup lines in case of failure. So if the main distribution […]

3 Trench Drain Installation Tips You Need to Know

dura slope install, installing dura slope, thermal expansion drains

Since trench drains are part of the project’s foundation plan, they are literally the groundwork of their project. Entire projects can be “wounded” if the trench drain is dysfunctional.  The drain installation has much to do with how functional the drain will be. And, drain installations can go horribly wrong.  Here are three trench drain […]

The Trick With Trench Drains in Suspended Slabs

suspended slabs, trench drain second floor,

Suspended slabs are trickier to pour than on-grade floors. Likewise, installing a trench drain in a suspended floor requires more thought than does an on-grade drain installation.  I’ve come up with a few considerations to help prevent your suspended slab drain install project from going sideways. DISCLAIMER: For fork truck traffic on suspended floors, don’t […]

Zurn Z882 ADA Grates – P12-HPD vs. P12-ADA-USA

zurn z882, ADA zurn z882, ADA 12 in grate

In the past couple years, I have had the opportunity to sell a bunch of Zurn Z882.  This 12” wide, pre-sloped trench drain system is one of Zurn’s most commonly sold Perma-Trench product lines.  It is used for applications that span a variety of residential, commercial, industrial and transportation applications. The standard grating that is […]

Controlling Highway Runoff: Linear Drainage vs. Inlets

highway drains 101

Without containment, storm water can cause traffic hazards on highways. Rain storms send water rushing across highways and bridges, leading to increased runoff into the environment and a greater risk of hydroplaning due to sheet flow. Highway engineers use two types of drains to control surface water on highways: Linear Drainage Systems Catch Basins (Inlets) […]