Straightforward answers about patio drains, driveways, thresholds, fittings, prices and installation. Find the right next step for your project.
32 answers found
A channel drain is a long, narrow drainage unit installed at the edge or low point of a paved surface. Water enters through a grate or slot and travels along the channel to an outlet. It collects surface water; the outlet still needs a suitable place to discharge it.
Linear drain, drainage channel and channel drain usually describe the same type of surface-water collection system. A slot drain is a version with a narrow opening at the surface. Compare the body, grate, dimensions, loading and fittings rather than relying on the name alone.
A channel drain intercepts water running across a hard surface, such as paving. A French drain usually uses a gravel-filled trench and perforated pipe to intercept water in the ground. The right choice depends on where the water comes from and where it can drain.
Only if water can reach the channel and leave through a working outlet. Check paving levels, the catchment area, discharge route and any blockage first. A drain installed above a low spot, or connected to an undersized or blocked outlet, will not remove the underlying problem.
For a pedestrian-only patio, start with the A15 domestic range. Then check the available installation depth, grate finish, outlet position and matching end fittings. If vehicles can cross the channel, select a system assessed for that traffic instead.
Locate the drain where the paving design directs runoff, commonly along a low edge or before water reaches a doorway. Confirm levels and a suitable discharge route before ordering. A channel is part of the paving and drainage design, not a substitute for correct falls.
A shallow channel can help where excavation depth is restricted. Allow for the entire installation, including the channel body, bedding, surround and outlet connection. A shallower body may change hydraulic capacity, so depth alone is not enough to choose the system.
A patio channel collects surface water that reaches its opening. It does not automatically drain saturated soil beneath a lawn. Persistent garden waterlogging may need investigation of soil, levels and groundwater before choosing a drainage solution.
For the Forti Nova range sold here, start with B125 driveway systems for residential vehicle areas. Check the complete channel-and-grate assembly and its installation detail. Delivery vehicles, turning loads or unusual site conditions may need a different specification.
The A15 systems in our domestic range are presented for pedestrian use. Do not select them for a vehicle crossing. Use the appropriate load-rated system and follow its installation requirements; a stronger grate on its own does not upgrade the whole channel.
No. A channel collects runoff from the surface. Whether the overall design manages water through infiltration depends on the discharge arrangement, ground conditions and paving construction. Collecting rainwater and sending it elsewhere does not make impermeable paving porous.
In England, government guidance distinguishes permeable front-driveway designs from impermeable surfacing over five square metres without drainage to a permeable area. Check the guidance and your local planning authority for your property. Other UK nations and restricted properties may have different requirements.
Further reading
Government guidance: front gardens and runoffA threshold drain is a slim channel positioned beside an external doorway to intercept surface water. Check the door manufacturer's threshold detail, finished paving levels, drainage outlet and accessibility requirements together. The channel does not replace the doorway's weatherproofing.
Choose a threshold channel that fits the available space and works with the door and paving detail. Measure the opening and installation depth, establish the discharge route, and confirm whether traffic is pedestrian only. Our threshold range includes different widths and finishes.
A slot drain presents a narrow opening at the surface; a grated drain has a wider exposed grate. Slot finishes can be discreet in paving, while removable grates may make inspection easier. Compare access for cleaning, loading, depth and outlet options before choosing.
Check the exact listing. The Pave-A-Drain aluminium options in our current supplier list are complete channels with the selected black or silver grating. The separate Pave-A-Drain body listing is a different product. Match the colour, length and code before ordering.
Plan the run before choosing fittings: channel sections, the specified grate, closure of unused ends and at least one suitable outlet arrangement. Corners, connectors, sumps or other fittings depend on the family and layout. Use the accessories listed against your exact channel.
An end cap closes the channel end. An end outlet allows water to leave through a pipe connection at that end. Some families use combined or adaptable fittings; others use separate parts. Check the product code and outlet dimensions for your channel.
No. Similar-looking channels can have different body profiles, widths, depths and connection details. Match fittings to the supplier family and product code. For example, MAX B125 and Forti Nova Driveway are different systems, and Eurokit fittings must not be assumed to fit Euro Mini.
Forti Nova has confirmed that baskets in this supplied range are supplied with sump units, rather than sold separately. Choose the appropriate sump assembly for your channel family. Do not order an unrelated basket on the assumption that its dimensions or seating arrangement will match.
The drainage design must carry water to an outlet, but not every channel body has a built-in fall. Forti Nova describes level, linear, stepped and mixed arrangements. Follow the selected system's hydraulic design and installation detail rather than applying one slope to every product.
There is no single surround size for every channel. Bedding and surround depend on the system, load class, ground and adjacent surface. Obtain the manufacturer's installation detail before excavation or estimating concrete. The load rating relies on the complete installed assembly.
Check the manufacturer's instructions for the particular body and grate. Cutting may remove a joint, outlet or locking feature, and some systems require specific finishing or closure parts. Plan section lengths and end details before cutting.
Use the access method specified for the product, remove leaves and sediment, and check the outlet and sump. Refit grates and locks correctly. Inspect after storms and adjust the cleaning frequency to the amount of debris on your site; do not simply wash sediment into the downstream drain.
Further reading
Forti Nova drainage arrangementsThe channel price depends on its family, load class, length and grate. Use the current price on each product listing and check whether it is per metre or per item. Add compatible fittings, delivery and installation materials to compare complete project costs.
For a straight run, divide the measured length by the usable length of one section and round up. For example, a 5.4-metre run needs six 1-metre sections before allowing for the layout and permitted cuts. Check corners, sumps and end details separately.
Our product prices are labelled excluding VAT. Delivery is a flat £35 + VAT (£42 including VAT) per order; Blackburn collection is free. Homeowners should allow for VAT and installation costs. Compare quotations on the same tax and delivery basis; a channel-only price is not a complete installed price.
Order before collection — free. Confirm availability on 01254 433987, place your order, then wait for confirmation that it is ready. Collect from Unit 1–3, Bridgewater Business Park, Blackburn, BB1 3EU.
Send the supplier codes where known, channel family, total run lengths, grate type, load specification, required fittings and quantities. Include the delivery postcode, access restrictions and required date. A drawing or marked-up photograph helps explain corners, outlets and levels.
No. The class describes a test-load classification for the drainage assembly, not a simple maximum vehicle weight. The installation position, wheel loads, traffic pattern and surrounding construction matter. Use the specified class and installation detail for the project.
Do not select C250 simply because a site is commercial. Forklift wheels, repeated turning and HGV crossings need a project-specific assessment of loading and installation position. Ask the designer or manufacturer to confirm the complete channel assembly and installation detail.
Matching the nominal width is not enough. Compare internal and overall dimensions, depth, load class, grate fixing, outlet arrangement and end fittings. Check the substitution against the specification; accessories and installation details may change with the family.
