Solving a yard drainage problem is merely a matter of giving unwelcome water someplace to go, and that often involves installing an underground drain line which redirects runoff water to an appropriate location. The goal of a drain grate is to protect the drain by permitting water to rush into the drain riser pipe when preventing debris from clogging the drain.
Square and Round Grates
Simple flat grates made to cover landscape drains are typically circular or round in shape and vary from 3 to 12 inches across. The size of this grate determines just how much water can flow through it at a specified time, and when deciding on the appropriate size to get a grate, the landscaper should take into account the size of the area which is going to be drained and just how much water generally must be drained in the area.
Atrium Grates
Atrium grates are employed in areas where debris or leaves are likely to be washed toward the drain, in which they could shake the grate. An atrium grate is shaped like a bell or a hexagonal bowl that sits on top of the drain and also extends above ground level. If debris collects around the base of this grate, water can flow over the surface of the debris and then pass through the grate and into the drain.
Trench Grates
Trench drain grates, sometimes called station grates, cover an elongated flat trench drain as opposed to one round drain tube. These drains can handle a larger volume of runoff water compared to traditional yard drains, and they’re used around paved areas, such as patios, driveways and pools, and where more efficient drainage is generally required. The drain consists of a horizontal trench that’s open on surface; the trench grate covers the surface of the trench and allows water to flow into the drain across the its entire length.
Catch Basins
Occasionally drain grates are installed directly on top of the drain riser pipe, but more often the grate opens on a catch basin which sits under grade directly under the grate. The catch basin is a construction that collects and contains runoff water once it passes through the grate and before it runs into the drain line. The advantage of utilizing a grate in combination with a catch basin is the catch basin could be cleaned of debris more readily compared to a drain line that’s shielded by a grate alone.