Wiper VF clamp drain
Wet room drains made for vinyl floors
Sheet vinyl needs more than a hole cut around a drain. The Wiper VF linear drain has a stainless steel frame that clamps down onto the vinyl, sealing the edge and holding it in place so it cannot lift. Fit the drain on its own, or choose a Showerlay VF tray with the drain already built in.
Ordered from and delivered by Wetrooms Design, with 30 days to return and trade pricing from £500.
- Locks the vinyl edge to the drain
- Clamping frame
- Stainless steel channel
- 30 × 78 mm
- Drain lengths
- 500 to 1200 mm
- Guarantee with the Wiper waterproofing kit
- 25 years
The problem
Why vinyl needs a clamping drain
Vinyl goes down as a continuous sheet, which is what makes it so good in a wet room: there are no grout lines and no joints for water to find. The weak point is the drain, where the sheet has to be cut. If that cut edge relies on adhesive alone, it can start to lift over time and let water in underneath.
A clamping drain fixes the edge mechanically. The vinyl is bonded to the drain's flange, then a stainless steel frame is screwed down on top of it, so the edge is held flat and sealed. The frame is also shaped to reduce wear on the vinyl where it meets the drain.
The drain
What the Wiper VF gives you
A stainless steel linear drain designed for vinyl, supplied as a complete set.
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Mechanical clamping frame
Screwed down over the vinyl, it seals the edge and holds it in place so it cannot lift or peel back.
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Grade 304 stainless steel
A brushed stainless steel channel, 30 mm high and 78 mm wide, 160 mm across including the flange.
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Kind to the vinyl edge
The frame is contoured to reduce premature wear on the vinyl where it meets the drain.
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Six waste trap options
From the 46 mm H+M Snake for shallow floors to the vertical McAlpine V50 for getting past joists.
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Cleaned from above
Lift the grating with the hook that comes with it and the trap is right there to clean.
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Everything in the box
Drain, clamping frame, grating, waste trap, sealing membrane, adjustable legs and fixings.
Two ways to build it
A drain on its own, or a tray with the drain built in
Both use the same VF clamping drain. The difference is who makes the falls: your fitter, or the factory.
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Wiper VF linear drain
The drain on its own, in lengths from 500 to 1200 mm. Your fitter forms the falls towards it in the floor, so it can go wherever the room needs it.
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Showerlay VF wet room tray
An XPS foam tray with a 2% fall cut in from every corner to the drain, which comes built in. 20, 28 or 35 mm thick, in sizes from 800 × 800 to 900 × 1850 mm.
Grates
Three grates, one drain
All three fit the same drain and share the same technical properties, so choose the one you like the look of. Each is brushed stainless steel and lifts out for cleaning.
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Ponente
A plain, unbroken steel top.
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Mistral
Round perforations in mixed sizes.
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Sirocco
Rows of small square perforations.
Installation
How the vinyl is fitted to the drain
A summary of the manufacturer's fitting instructions for the drain, which come in the box. Always follow them, and the instructions for your vinyl.
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Set the level and falls
Set the finished floor level, form a 2% fall towards the drain and mark the positions of the drain and the waste trap.
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Fit and connect the drain
Cut the floor so the drain's flange sits flush with the floor surface, then connect the channel to the drainage system.
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Bond and lay the vinyl
Seal around the drain with an SMP (silyl modified polymer) adhesive, glue the rest of the floor with vinyl adhesive, and roll out the vinyl, taking it at least 100 mm up the walls.
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Cut, clamp and finish
Soften the vinyl with a heat gun and cut along the inside edge of the drain. Place the clamping frame, tighten the screws to lock the vinyl down, and push the grating into its frame.
Specifications
Sizes and waste traps
Drain lengths: 500 to 1200 mm.
Showerlay VF trays: from 800 × 800 to 900 × 1850 mm, 20, 28 or 35 mm thick, and can be trimmed by up to 50 mm on each side.
Every drain ships with a McAlpine HC26-50 unless you pick another trap at checkout. Pick by the depth under the floor first, then by flow.
| Trap | Height | Flow | Seal depth | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAlpine HC26-50 (supplied) | 68 mm | 26 l/min | 20 mm | Normal floor depth, 1.5 inch UK waste pipe |
| H+M Drop 35 | 63 mm | 48 l/min | 35 mm | Low floor, but you still want high flow |
| H+M Drop 50 | 78 mm | 48 l/min | 50 mm | You need a 50 mm seal (DIN EN 1253) |
| H+M Snake | 46 mm | 36 l/min | 25 mm | The shallowest floors |
| H+M Snake 360 | 50 mm | 32 l/min | 25 mm | Shallow floor, awkward pipe route |
| McAlpine Vertical V50 | 132 mm | 52 l/min | 25 mm | The waste has to drop straight down past joists |
Heights, flows and seals are the trap makers' figures. Add the drain body when working out the depth you need.
What you get
What comes with the drain
Each Wiper VF drain is supplied as a complete set, with fitting instructions:
- stainless steel drain body with its flange
- clamping frame and fixing screws
- your chosen grating, with a lifting hook
- detachable adjustable legs
- sealing membrane
- your chosen waste trap
Waterproofing is not in the box: the Wiper waterproofing kit is a separate item. Wiper guarantees the drain for 10 years, or 25 years when you buy the kit with it.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
What does the clamping frame actually do?
It is screwed down on top of the vinyl around the drain opening. That seals the cut edge and holds it in place, so the vinyl cannot lift or peel back from the drain over time.
Which floor coverings is it for?
Sheet vinyl and vinyl safety flooring used in wet rooms. If you are not sure your flooring will suit the clamp, call the technical team on 0800 368 9956 before ordering.
Should I choose the drain or the tray?
Choose the drain on its own if your fitter will form the falls in the floor, or if the drain needs to go somewhere a tray will not fit. Choose a Showerlay VF tray if you want the 2% falls made for you, with the clamping drain already built in.
Can it be fitted in a timber floor?
Yes. The drain's fitting instructions show it being fitted into a timber floor, and the Showerlay VF trays are made for timber floors as well as concrete. On timber, the tray needs a plywood underboard; the tray instructions give the details.
How far up the wall should the vinyl go?
The fitting instructions ask for at least 100 mm of vinyl on the wall surface.
What is the lowest waste trap?
The H+M Snake, at 46 mm high. The H+M Snake 360 is 50 mm and fully rotatable. See the table above for all six options.
Can the tray be cut to size?
Yes. A Showerlay VF tray can be trimmed by up to 50 mm on each side. Trim both sides equally so the falls still lead to the drain.
Does it work with underfloor heating?
The Showerlay VF tray is compatible with underfloor heating, but because the tray insulates, heating installed underneath it will warm the shower area less. Thin underfloor heating can go on top of the tray, within the allowance for materials laid over it.
What guarantee does it have?
Wiper guarantees the drain for 10 years. Buy the Wiper waterproofing kit with it and that becomes 25 years. On top of that, you have 30 days to send it back to Wetrooms Design.
Are there trade discounts?
Yes. Installers and wholesale buyers get 5% off from £500, with bigger discounts at higher order values. The trade discount policy has the thresholds.
Choose your drain or tray
See every length, grate and tray size and order online from Wetrooms Design, or call the team for technical advice.