If we learned nothing else from the now infamous State Farm® commercial, it’s that people like to have their own space. Guys have a man cave, ladies like Cheryl have their she sheds, kids have a kid cabin or treehouse and now there’s such a thing as a Granny Pod. The idea of having a tiny house isn’t just for up-and-coming couples anymore; it’s helping families stay close (yet not too close) together. More and more tiny houses are popping up in residential areas.
Granny Pod
Multi-generational living isn’t a new concept, we just used different terminology such as “mother-in-law suites”. The idea is once again finding a new popularity. Some of this can be attributed to the rising cost of healthcare and eldercare which makes it difficult for aging parents or close family members to live independently. This need has inspired families to think outside the box. However, what does this have to do with plastic trench drains? We want to remind you about the importance of planning for drainage around your structure, regardless of what you call it.
The size of your living space doesn’t matter when it comes to flooding, water damage, and mold. Costly repairs can be avoided with the right drainage solution. Plastic trench drain systems are cost-effective and perfect for most tiny house applications. They are designed for light traffic in residential areas and can hold up well as long as you’re not planning on having heavy vehicle traffic go over them. You can install them near the home, patio, garden, and sidewalk areas to redirect stormwater to a safe distance from the house.
When it comes to plastic drainage, you have a lot of options to choose from. Polylok™ offers a small, yet heavy-duty system called Skinny Trench. It measures 3.5″ wide, and 4.2″ tall and comes in 4′ sections. The Skinny Trench is available in black, white, and grey. It can be cut into 1′ increments if needed. The grates are also plastic and come screwed to the channel. They are reversible with a flat side and a convex side. The grates are ADA-compliant and have a grid pattern that is available in black, grey, green, tan, and white.
Slim Channel
NDS® offers a few options including their new Slim Channel which, as the name states, is a narrow system. It is 2.25″ wide, 3.125″ tall (with grate), and 3′ long with easy installation using internal coupling. The channels in this system are black but the grates come in three patterns that are available in white, sand, and grey. They are the same length as the channels and snap into place for easy maintenance.
Mini Channel
Mini Channel™ drains are another option from NDS®. This drainage system is 2.75″ wide, 3.125″ tall (with grate) and comes in 6′ sections. There is a wide selection of grates for the Mini Channel® system since NDS® has their coordinating grates and several manufacturers have created decorative grates that are compatible with the system. The NDS® grates are plastic, 3′ in length, and come in three patterns that are available in black, green, grey, white, sand, and brick red. They also have a small selection of 12″ long decorative cast iron and brass grates.
Max Mini and Bronze Age Grates
If a finished, classy look is what you want for your tiny house, the MAX Mini™ drainage system is available exclusively through Trench Drain Systems™. MAX Mini is an enhanced Mini Channel® system with decorative edging available in kit lengths of 3′, 6′, 12′ or 24′ and includes coupler(s), an outlet, and an end cap.
One of the most popular kits includes Oil Rubbed Bronze edging on sand-colored channels with decorative cast iron grates that have been ‘pre-rusted’ with a Baked-on Oil Finish (BoOF).
Iron Age Designs has a large selection of decorative cast iron options for the Mini Channel® that will enhance the appearance of the channels and blend into the surroundings. Bronze Age Grates from Trench Drain Systems™ offers several patterns in aluminum, bronze, and brushed bronze for a polished high-end look.
Bronze Age™ Grates top off sand channels with a bronze veneer edging that provides an upscale look to any project. A stainless steel perforated grate option with stainless steel edging on grey channels is also available. The vast majority of the compatible grates are heel-proof and all are ADA-compliant.
Bronze Age™ Grates from Trench Drain Systems give plastic trench drains a sophisticated look.
Regardless of which system you decide to go with, you may a have difficult time finding these selections in the big box stores. Most of them have a limited supply of basic drainage products and are usually geared towards driveway drainage which may be overkill when it comes to tiny house and patio drainage. For smaller systems, better decorative grating options, and purchasing full kits, we recommend visiting DrainageKits.com.
Trench Drain Systems is one of the largest distributors in the United States who are committed to providing you with quick solutions to all your surface water runoff problems. Our professional staff can assess your project requirements and quickly offer you competitive pricing and information regarding the products you need. Contact us for a free quote or for further information on drainage solutions visit TrenchDrain.com.
Phone: 610-882-3630
Email: Shop@TrenchDrain.com
Click here for a fast and free quote!