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Should I be able to see the white shower drain below the metal cover?

8 years ago

We're having a bath redone and the shower floor has been completed.
However we can see the white drain under the square metal cover. It is
very noticeable.

We had another bath redone about ten years ago and it does not show at all.

Is there some paint or something to cover the top of the drain or will water just wash the paint off?

I'm
really not super-picky but this bothers me. It is not just from a
certain angle, you can see it easily whether at an angle or straight
from above.

(There are two shadows that showed up at the top and left of the photo; they are nothing)

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

badgergal
8 years ago
My white drain pipe is visible but I don't have the same white tpo part that you have. Enjoy it while its white because it won't look so pristine after awhile unless you continuously remove the metal cover so you can wipe it down with whatever cleaner you use.
palimpsest
8 years ago
It's pretty typical, particularly with the larger drain holes in newer drain covers.
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bjb817
8 years ago
Totally normal. You're seeing the white PVC body of a standard clamping style shower drain.
chispa
8 years ago
Mine is black, which visually disappears and just looks like a black hole in the ground. I am starting three bathrooms soon and have most of the fixtures, etc in the garage ... now I'm thinking I should go check the boxes to make sure the new drains were ordered in black, because I don't remember specifying a color this time around. The pretty chrome drains also stand out more when the background is black.
kudzu9
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Consider replacing the drain cover you have with a decorative drain cover that doesn't have such a large holes, or use something like this that would minimize the white show through:

Decorative drain cover
kudzu9
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You could also consider using fine sandpaper to slightly rough up the surface of the white PVC you're seeing. Then mask the floor and use a can of flat black or matte spray paint on it; a couple of light coats should do it. Rustoleum sells a spray paint suitable for plastic. I can't guarantee it if this is a permanent solution but it may be worth a try. I've use this paint on some white PVC piping in my garden and it hasn't flaked yet after three years out in the rain. It's faded a bit but it's still uniformly blackish.

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