Most people never think about what happens under the sink until something leaks, rattles or smells. Yet the drain and trap are the parts most likely to need service over the life of a bathroom or kitchen. OS&B, short for Oakville Stamping and Bending, is an Ontario manufacturer that built its name on exactly this unglamorous hardware: tubular brass drains, P-traps, bath wastes and the fittings that tie them together. This guide covers where OS&B sink drains and traps sit in the lineup, how they are built, how they compare with other brands we carry, and who they suit.
If you just want to browse, the full range lives in our sink drains and traps collection. For everyone else, here is the longer answer.
Where drains and traps sit in the OS&B lineup
OS&B is best known in the Canadian trade for bath wastes and overflows, but sink drainage is the other half of the catalogue, and the half a homeowner is more likely to buy on its own. The range covers the whole path from basin to wall:
- Lavatory drains: grid drains, pop-up assemblies and push-button styles, in versions with and without overflow to suit the basin you own
- P-traps and trap assemblies in tubular brass, including decorative options meant to be left in view
- Extension tubes, tailpieces, reducers, escutcheons and trap adapters, the connective tissue that makes a tidy installation possible
- Kitchen and bar sink drainage components for larger waste lines
That breadth matters. Most drain problems are not about the drain itself but about the last few centimetres between the trap and the wall, and a brand that sells the awkward in-between parts in matching finishes saves you from cobbling together mismatched pieces.
How they are built: tubular brass done properly
The construction story is old-fashioned in the best way. OS&B works primarily in tubular brass, the traditional material for exposed sink drainage, rather than the thin plated steel or all-plastic assemblies common at the low end of the market. Tubular brass is favoured for a few reasons:
- It takes plating well, so chrome and specialty finishes look crisp and stay that way
- It resists the dents and ovalling that make slip joints weep on thin-wall tube
- It can be cut, deburred and reassembled on site, which installers appreciate
- Worn washers and nuts can be replaced individually instead of scrapping the whole trap
Within the tubular world, heavier gauge brass costs more and lasts longer, and OS&B publishes proper spec sheets so you can see what you are getting before you buy. That transparency is a quiet advantage: plenty of drain hardware online arrives with no documentation at all, which becomes a problem the moment an inspector or plumber asks questions.
One honest caveat: brass is not automatically the right answer. Hidden inside a vanity cabinet, an ABS assembly is cheaper and completely serviceable, and many plumbers default to it. Brass earns its premium where the trap is visible, longevity matters, or every exposed part needs to match.
Finish and sizing logic
Sizing is mercifully standardized in this category. Bathroom lavatory drains and traps are typically 1-1/4 inch, kitchen and laundry drainage typically 1-1/2 inch, and adapters bridge the gap where an older home's rough-in does not cooperate. The two decisions that actually require thought are:
- Overflow or not. The drain must match the basin. A basin with an overflow hole needs a drain that accommodates it; most vessel basins have no overflow and need a drain without one. Get this wrong and the drain either cannot seal or quietly defeats the overflow. Our vessel sink collection is where this rule comes up most often.
- Exposed or hidden. Wall-mount basins, console sinks and open wall-mount vanities leave the trap in plain sight. That is where a well-finished brass trap stops being plumbing and becomes part of the room.
On finishes, OS&B runs deeper than the average drain brand, with options beyond standard chrome to coordinate with today's faucet colours. One fair warning that applies to every brand in this category: finish names are not standardized, so one maker's brushed nickel can sit a shade warmer or cooler than another's. If an exact match matters, compare in person or accept a deliberate near-match.
How OS&B compares with other brands we carry
At a category level, our drain and trap options break into a few camps. Faucet makers such as Kohler, Riobel and Kalia offer drains as accessories, and their strength is a guaranteed finish match to their own faucets. Mountain Plumbing treats drains as decorative jewellery, with a wide finish palette and premium pricing to match. Kitchen sink brands like Blanco and Franke supply strainers tailored to their own bowls. OS&B is the plumbing-first specialist of the group: the widest spread of functional parts, trade-grade documentation and Canadian manufacturing heritage. If your priority is a flawless colour match to a specific faucet, buy the faucet brand's drain. If it is a complete, serviceable, properly documented assembly, OS&B is usually the stronger call.
Availability and parts support across Canada
This is where a Canadian manufacturer quietly earns its keep. OS&B product is made in Oakville, Ontario and distributed through the Canadian wholesale channel from Vancouver to Halifax, which means the replacement washer, nut or tailpiece you need in five years is far more likely to exist at a local supply house than it is for an imported no-name assembly. Documentation is written with Canadian installations in mind, though you should still confirm requirements locally, since the National Plumbing Code is adopted and amended province by province. For cottages and seasonal properties, remember that any trap holding water can freeze and split over winter; that is a winterizing task, not a brand flaw, but a serviceable brass trap is easier to drain and rebuild than a glued assembly.
We ship OS&B across Canada, and because the range is sold as individual components you can order precisely the parts your rough-in needs rather than a kit with leftovers.
Who this range genuinely suits
Choose OS&B if you are outfitting a wall-mount or vessel basin where the trap will show, if you want Canadian-made hardware with real spec sheets, or if you value parts availability a decade out. Look elsewhere if you need a specialty finish matched exactly to a boutique faucet, or if the trap will live unseen inside a cabinet and budget plastic will do. For the wider picture, our buying guides hub covers sinks, faucets and the rest of the rough-in decisions that surround this one.
Frequently asked questions
What size drain and trap does my sink need?
Bathroom lavatories typically use 1-1/4 inch drains and traps, while kitchen, bar and laundry sinks typically use 1-1/2 inch. Older homes sometimes mix sizes at the wall, which is what trap adapters and reducers are for. Measure your existing tailpiece and wall connection before ordering.
Are brass traps really better than plastic ones?
For exposed installations, yes: brass looks better, takes finishes properly and can be rebuilt part by part. Hidden inside a cabinet, a plastic trap is cheaper and works fine. Material should follow visibility and service expectations, not habit.
Do I need a drain with or without an overflow?
Match the basin, not the drain. If your basin has an overflow hole, buy a drain designed for overflow; if it does not, most vessel sinks included, buy a non-overflow drain. Using the wrong type either prevents a proper seal or leaves the overflow doing nothing.
Will OS&B drains work with sinks from other brands?
Generally yes. Basin drain openings follow standard dimensions, so OS&B components fit sinks from most manufacturers we carry. The main checks are overflow versus non-overflow and finish coordination with your faucet. When in doubt, check the sink's spec sheet or ask us before ordering.
