Jim The Bathroom Guy

If you’ve been in the bathroom industry for more than five minutes, you’ve seen strip drains take over.

They look unreal in photos and in person, with their clean lines and seamless finish

Then people start using them with a bunch of different opinions so I am here to help guide you through it.

Lauxes Grates comes into the conversation as one of the better-known options in Australia, and they’ve clearly been designed with installers in mind, more marketed to a renovation or builder than your DIY renovator

So this isn’t just a Lauxes review. This is the real story on strip drains, where they’re good, and where they can be a pain.

What Are Lauxes Grates?

Lauxes Grates are an Australian-made linear drain system used in showers, balconies, and outdoor areas.

They’re aluminium, rustproof, and designed so you can cut them on site and make them fit whatever you’re working with, which is awesome for how shower sizes have changed so much.

That’s the big difference straight away. You’re not locked into exact sizes like most other brands, making it ideal for working with renovations where nothing is the right size.

The Good Stuff (Where Lauxes Actually Shine)

Easy to Install (This Is the Big One)

From a tradie point of view, this is where they’re strong.

• Cut to size on site (for if walls aren’t perfectly square or measurements shift during the build)
• Join lengths together (perfect for big showers – full wall-to-wall installs)
• No waiting around for custom orders

That takes a lot of stress out of a job. Especially when things never go perfectly to plan, which is basically every reno you can plan (story of my actual life)

Won’t Rust or Fade

They’re made from anodised aluminium, so they hold up pretty well over time.

Especially with states that have hard water like WA or South Australia, that actually matters. I’ve seen cheaper drains start to go pretty quick have little bits or rust or warping.

They Look Good In Person

This is why people want strip drains. It always comes down to the look at least at first.

Where they particularly shine is USING BIG TILES with minimal cuts

If you’re chasing that clean, modern finish, they deliver.

Easier to Clean Than Some Others

Key word here is easier.

You can remove them and clean them without too much drama. Some other strip drains are an absolute nightmare. Which I find Lauxes grates dont swell like drains which you can’t take out.

But… this leads into the other side of it.

The Downsides

What that actually means in real life is you’ve got a long channel instead of a single point where everything goes. So hair, soap and general grime don’t just disappear; they sit along the length of it.

Compared to a standard floor waste, there’s just more area for stuff to build up.

That doesn’t make it a bad product; it just means you’re signing up for a bit more cleaning. That’s the trade-off with strip drains, and it applies to all of them, not just Lauxes.

Cleaning Is the Biggest Complaint

As mentioned above, with a strip drain, the buildup isn’t just in one spot. It runs the full length of the channel. Hair catches along the edges, soap scum settles in the bottom, and over time, it all starts to sit there instead of flushing straight through.

I’ve been back to jobs where it looks great on day one, then a few months later you pull the grate up, and there’s a fair bit sitting in there already.

It’s not a fault with the product; it just needs regular cleaning to stay on top of it.

If it gets left too long, that’s when you start to notice smells. And that’s usually when I get the call about something not being right.

Install Matters More Than the Product

You can buy the best grate on the market, but if the fall isn’t right, it won’t perform.

With strip drains, everything relies on getting a consistent fall towards the channel. If the screed is even slightly off, or if there are low spots along the run, water won’t move properly.

What that leads to is:

• Water is sitting in sections instead of flowing
• Slower drainage overall
• More buildup because nothing is properly flushing through

Unlike a centre waste where everything falls into one point, a strip drain needs the whole length to work properly.

If that’s not done right during install, no grate is going to fix it.

More Expensive Than a Standard Waste

No surprises here, they cost more.

You’re paying for the grate itself, a bit more labour to get the falls right, and really just the overall look of it.

In real terms, a standard floor waste might only be between $100 to $200 bucks supplied and installed as part of the job. A strip drain setup like Lauxes can easily add another $800–$1500+, sometimes more, depending on length and layout.

I’ve had jobs where it absolutely makes sense and finishes the space off properly. And I’ve had others where, once it’s all done, it doesn’t really add anything except cost it comes down to how you use your bathroom.

Lauxes vs Other Strip Drains

Lauxes does a few things better than most:

• More flexible to install
• Easier to get into Australia
• Good range of finishes
• Designed with tradies in mind

When I Recommend Strip Drains

My big three reasons to use strip drains in modern bathrooms are below.

• Walk-in showers
• Big tile bathrooms (300 x 600, 600 x 600 or 1200 x 600)
• Higher-end renovations

When I’d Avoid Strip Drains

Looking to avoid strip drains, below are three main reasons to avoid strip drains.

• Clients who are avoiding extra cleaning
• Budget jobs where everything comes down to the cost
• Rentals where you are looking for the tenants to do the least amount as possible

That’s where a simple centre waste just does the job better for modern bathrooms

My Honest Review

When I first started using strip drains about 15 years ago, I was using the Mondella ones from Bunnings. They were cheap, easy to get, and back then, most of your options were steel.

They did the job, but over time, you’d start to see the issues, mainly rust and wear.

About five years later, when I started using Lauxes, it was a noticeable step up. Better quality, no rust issues, and just a more reliable product overall.

From a renovator’s point of view, they’re a really good option if you can get the finish you’re after. And in 2026, with how many different colours and styles are out there, that’s not always as straightforward as it sounds.

Strip drains do come with a bit more cleaning; there’s no way around that. But if you’re doing an open shower or using larger tiles, they play a pretty important role in making the whole thing work properly.

It’s one of those decisions that seems small at the start, but it has a big impact on how the bathroom looks and functions long term, so it’s worth putting a bit of thought into.

Disclaimer: The advice on this website is for general information only. I draw on years of experience in bathroom renovations and tiling, but every home and project is different. Always consult a licensed tradesperson, plumber, or builder before starting any renovations, installations, or repairs.

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