Expand-a-Drain Linear Shower Drains
Expand-a-Drain is a specialist drainage brand that produces high-quality linear shower drains designed for modern, barrier-free shower installations. Available at Bella Bathrooms in Kramerville, Johannesburg, Expand-a-Drain products deliver the clean, streamlined aesthetic that architects and homeowners increasingly demand — eliminating the traditional centre drain in favour of a sleek channel that sits flush with your shower floor.
Why Choose Linear Shower Drains?
Linear drains offer significant advantages over conventional point drains. They allow the shower floor to be tiled with a single gradient towards one edge rather than a four-way fall to a central point, resulting in a flatter, more comfortable surface underfoot and a cleaner tile layout with fewer cuts. This also makes linear drains ideal for large-format tiles and natural stone, where maintaining unbroken tile lines is essential to the design intent. Expand-a-Drain channels handle high water flow rates efficiently, making them suitable for rainfall showers and multi-head configurations.
Customisable Lengths and Finishes
As the name suggests, Expand-a-Drain's signature feature is adjustable length — their channels can be adapted to suit various shower widths without cutting, simplifying both specification and installation. Available with tile-insert covers that create an almost invisible drain line, or with patterned stainless steel grates for a more defined look, the range offers flexibility for different design preferences. Browse our shower channels and traps collection to compare all available drainage options.
Installation and Compatibility
Expand-a-Drain products are designed for straightforward installation in both new builds and renovations. They integrate well with standard waterproofing systems and pair perfectly with frameless shower screens and walk-in enclosures for a seamless wet-room look. Complete your shower with a premium shower head from our range. Visit Bella Bathrooms in Kramerville to discuss your drainage requirements — our team can advise on sizing, positioning, and installation best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What channel lengths does Expand-a-Drain offer?
The Expand-a-Drain range covers shower widths from 685mm up to 1185mm in standard channels, with intermediate lengths including 785mm, 885mm and 985mm. The defining feature is that each channel is also adjustable within a range, allowing you to fine-tune the fit to the actual cavity dimensions on site. This eliminates the need for cutting on installation, which is the most common point at which drainage systems get damaged. For showers wider than 1185mm, we can specify twin channels with a shared trap, which our team will configure for your specific layout.
What outlet size and trap arrangement do I need?
Expand-a-Drain channels use a 50mm outlet that connects to standard 50mm waste pipe with the supplied trap and seal. The trap arrangement gives a 50mm water seal as required by SANS 10400 for shower drainage, blocking sewer gas while allowing efficient flow. The minimum fall from the drain to the soil stack should be 1:80 (12.5mm per metre run), which is straightforward in most slab-on-ground installations and achievable in suspended floors with planning. Your plumber will confirm the route during the rough-in stage of construction.
Can I use Expand-a-Drain with a tile-insert cover?
Yes, and it is one of the most popular options. The tile-insert grate is a stainless steel tray that accepts a slim cut of your floor tile, making the drain effectively invisible from a few steps away. This works particularly well with large-format tiles and natural stone, where the unbroken visual flow is part of the design intent. The insert tray takes tiles up to 12mm thick, which covers most porcelain and ceramic options. Our showroom team can confirm compatibility against your specific tile selection.
Is the drain compatible with large-format and natural stone tiles?
Yes, and it is arguably the best drain choice for both. A linear drain at one wall lets the entire shower floor fall in one direction (rather than the four-way fall to a point drain), which means large-format tiles can be laid without splitting them with multiple compound cuts. For natural stone, this preserves the dramatic graining and avoids the small, awkward triangular pieces that point drains require. We recommend a fall of 1:50 (20mm per metre) for natural stone to ensure clean drainage at lower flow rates.
What warranty applies to Expand-a-Drain products?
Expand-a-Drain channels carry the manufacturer's distributor-backed warranty against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. The 304-grade stainless steel construction is resistant to corrosion from chlorinated shower water and standard cleaning chemicals, so failures are rare. Bella Bathrooms & Tiles handles any warranty issues directly with the South African distributor, sparing you the back-and-forth. Visit our Kramerville showroom to see the drain in cross-section and discuss the right configuration for your project, with sample boards and full installation documentation on hand.
