Category Archives: Decorative Grating

Decorative grates, cast iron grating and iron grating finishes for residential trench drain systems

5 Questions to Ask Before Installing Plastic Trench Drain

NDS Mini Channel with TDS Bronze Grate

This is how you choose a plastic trench drain: When I started my career with trench drain, I didn’t know the benefits of using plastic trench drains on drainage projects. Since then, I’ve seen enough projects to tell the difference between good and bad trench drain systems. From what I learned, all trench drain is […]

Decorative Plastic Trench Grates Exist!

Decorative Plastic with NDS Logo

Ever since the first line of plastic trench drains emerged on the market, homeowners and contractors alike, have welcomed the convenience of lightweight and affordable drainage systems. Easily purchased and installed, these plastic drains bring patio and in some cases driveway drainage to an accessible level. Decorative Plastic Grates The design efforts from NDS® allows […]

Made In America: Iron Age Designs

Iron Age Grates for NDS Mini Channel

Iron Age Designs is a Washington-based designer that embraces its Made in the U.S.A. identity as it sells decorative iron grates, tree grates and custom casting at prices homeowners can afford. Founded in 2005 by Mark Armstrong and Craig Diamond, industry professionals who had already worked together for years designing decorative castings for landscape projects, […]

Patio and Driveway Drainage Solutions (Part 2) – New Catch Basin Drain Grate Options

Iron Age Catch Basin Grates

Our previous blog  introduced standard grating options such as the plastic slotted grate and the painted black iron grate. The neat thing, though, is that multiple grates fit the 12″ x 12″ size profile adapters and catch basins. Three new grating options recently became available to the market, which open up the design possibilities for […]

Patio and Driveway Drainage (Part 1) – Low Profile Drain

NDS Low Profile Catch Basin with Wave Pattern Grate

Just about any place in need of a drainage point can use catch basins (or one of their many variations) to evacuate water. Homeowners can use catch basins for driveway drainage, pools, patio point drains and landscape area drains. And, the installation techniques employed will be as diverse as the application. An interesting variation of […]

The Next Generation Basin by NDS

NDS 1200NGB Catch Basin

Over the past couple years we have posted several articles discussing catch basins and catch basin installation. More specifically, we have found ourselves focusing on the broad selection of catch basin products for yard and downspoutdrainage manufactured by National Diversified Sales (NDS).   This article is devoted to one of my favorite NDS catch basin products called the Next […]

Plastic Trench Drain Comparison – Zurn Z886 vs. NDS Dura Slope

Zurn Z886 vs. NDS DuraSlope

Part 1.  Channel Body Comparison There are many plastic trench drain manufacturers in the marketplace. By far, the top two manufacturers are Zurn Industries and National Diversified Sales (NDS). Zurn is a world-class plumbing supply manufacturer headquartered in Erie, PA. One of the four business grouping, Zurn, has is Drainage Products. The Perma-Trench products represent […]

Product Comparison – Zurn Z880 vs. NDS Mini Channel

NDS Mini Channel vs. Zurn Z880

The Z880 Perma Trench is one of Zurn’s most popular residential trench drain product lines.  Its name may sound intimidating, but there’s nothing to fear from this plastic drain.  It was designed for pools, patios and landscape drainage much like its competitor, the NDS Mini Channel.  Both the NDS Mini Channel and the Z880 are […]

The Catch Basin Medley: Know Your Options

Catch Basin Medley Text Image

Catch basin material, size, and shape are determined by its intended application. Often made in plastic, many round catch basin options are small and usually found in residential or pool applications. Many square basins – even those on the larger side of the scale – feature optional decorative grating to assist in making an ugly […]

Pro’s and Con’s of Plastic Trench Drain

NDS Mini Channel with TDS Bronze Grate

When I started my career with trench drain, I didn’t know the critical questions that determine whether a plastic trench drain is appropriate in a drainage project. At the time, I handled a polymer concrete product line. Polymer concrete is a mixture of an inert material (such as silica sand) and a two-part polyester resin […]