How Much Do French Drains Cost

Overview Of Exterior French Drains

Installing a french drain around the foundation outside of your home is an affordable and effective way to divert water away from the house, and ensure that your basement or crawl space stays dry, especially if you dont have gutters installed on your home. The concept of a french drain is simple: instead of water soaking into the ground up against your foundation or leaking into the egress window wells, you divert the water away from the home using a perforated pipe under the soil, surrounded by drainage rocks which act as a leach field. One of the most common causes of a leaky basement is rain water that soaks into the soil and moisture seeps through basement walls and even up through the floor. This can be avoided with an exterior french drain, which is much simpler and cheaper to install than an interior french drain. A french drain is also great if your yard collects a lot of moisture, or if you see areas that tend to puddle up after rain.

Ensuring The Professional Is The Right Fit

Its always a good idea to ask a specialist questions about their work and experience. It will give you a better idea as to whether you feel they are up to the job.

Write your questions down on a piece of paper so you dont forget them. Ask the same questions to each tradesperson who comes to give you a quote so the quotes are easier to compare.

We recommend asking the below questions:

A French drain is an affordable solution to reduce the risk of flooding and damp getting into your home. You can build a French drain in your garden or on your land anywhere you dont have other pipes and cables.

We dont recommend attempting to DIY a French drain installation. Instead, get a professional to do the job.

HouseholdQuotes can find you the plumber you need for your French drains installation.

Comparing Quotes Could Save You Up To 40%:

Cost Factors To Install Home Drainage System

Residential drainage systems vary in cost depending on the type, materials, labor, permits, equipment required, volume of water that needs draining, and if the drainage work is combined with other landscaping projects. Other pricing factors to fix drainage problems in a yard include:

• Drain depth and distance

*Pipe materials only. Trench excavation, dewatering, backfill, and compaction fees not included.

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Using Our Tool As A French Drain Cost Calculator

How much your French drain costs depends on the size and length of your trench and the choice of materials you are going to use. With our tool, you can also find how much your French drain costs by entering either the price per weight or price per volume of gravel, the price per piece of pipe, and the price per unit area of filter fabric in the cost section of our French drain calculator.

Cost Of French Drain Installation

The cost of a french drain installation varies due to time-consuming obstacles that impact prices. With this in mind, the biggest expense for a french drain installation is labor. In addition, the proposed price for the french drain cost may increase if your property also needs a catch basins drain or a pop-up emitter installation. Indeed, our team trusted landscape drainage specialist will consider these factors when inspecting the property. If your property has a gutter system, connecting it to another landscape drainage system can also increase the cost of a french drain. In some cases, concrete has to be cut or removed to install the french drain system, and it will require machinery. Guess what that is more labor-intensive that will add to the cost.

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How Do I Find And Hire A Drainage Specialist

When you are looking for a drains specialist, ask your family and friends first. They may have had work done recently.

If not, work colleagues might know of someone they can recommend.

You can also use HouseholdQuotes. Simply fill in the online form to tell us what you need.

Well then find you local drains specialists to give you no-obligation quotes for your French drain installation.

Comparing Quotes Could Save You Up To 40%:

Exterior Perimeter Weeping Tile Drain Cost

Exterior perimeter weeping tiles and French drains cost around $1,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the depth you dig to and the size of your homes footprint. In general, budget for $10 to $50 per linear foot.

A 4,000-square-foot single-story ranch-style home may need 200 linear feet, while a 2,000-square-foot three-story brick home may only need 120 linear feet or less. Perimeter drains sometimes run on both the exterior and interior of a house.

There are a few notes to remember about exterior perimeter drains:

• The international building code requires the installation of perimeter drains on all new homes where natural drainage doesnt occur.

• They run along the perimeter of the home at the level of the footings.

• Theyre easy to install during building but more difficult and costly after the fact.

• Theyre also known as deep French drains, footing drains, or weeping tile systems.

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Cost Of Installation Supplies

Once you have determined the linear distance you need to cover you can use the prices below to determine the overall cost to install a french drain. These prices may vary based on your local area but should give you a good overall indication of how much you will need to spend:

• $60 $70 per 100 feet | 4 perforated drain pipe Drainage pipe is laid in the trench on a bed of stone, at a slight drainage angle that diverts runoff water away from the area.
• $20 per cubic foot | Drainage gravel Gravel is used to fill the trench below and above your drain pipe. Youll use approximately 2 square feet of gravel per linear foot of trench.
• $20 $25 per 100 feet | Landscape fabric Landscape fabric is placed into the trench first and wrapped over your drain pipe to prevent clogging. You can also purchase perforated drain pipe that is pre-wrapped with the cloth, but at a higher cost. Regardless, you need the landscape cloth on top of the trench as well.
• $5-10 | Plastic couplers to connect pieces of drain pipe.
• $150 $200 per day | Trencher rental.

What Is A French Drain Anyway

A French drain which is also referred to as a rock drain is a type of water run off management system where a trench is filled with gravel and a pipe is layed on it to redirect rain water from a certain area to the right water channels such as the city sewers. This is common in business buildings, homes or even other commercial buildings water run off is a great challenge. This French drain system is the ideal solution when finding means to redirect rain water into other areas. It us not necessarily that you fill the trench with rocks if they are not available, you can make use of a perforated pipe to redirect the run off water.

With this kind of a system, you will be able to prevent your walls from damage and as well avoid diseases that could result from stagnant waters. If you are planning to install the French drain system in your home or even your business, you need to get a clear understanding of the entire process of making the installation and also the total costs required in this operation. This article is thus compiled to help get ideas on how to install the drain and also have an estimate of the total cost expected in installing the French drain.

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Questions To Ask Drainage Companies

The ideal contractor inspects your property, answers all your questions, and provides several solutions while addressing the underlying problem.

• Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
• Will you provide any references?
• May I see a portfolio of your past drainage jobs?
• Will you obtain the permits?
• What does your warranty policy include?
• How do you handle damages that happen on the job?
• Do you provide a free evaluation?
• What is causing this drainage problem?
• Why is this the best solution for my drainage problem?
• How long will it take to install?
• Will you provide a scaled drawing of the work plans, with utility lines marked out?
• How long will your drainage solution last?
• What will I need to do to maintain this drainage system?
• Do you provide yearly maintenance?
• Whats your payment schedule like?

Get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted landscape drainage companies:

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What Does A French Drain Cost To Install And Maintain

If youre a homeowner or landlord who has a property where water slowly leaks into the basement or you have a soggy yard with damaged bushes or flowers, you may want to get estimates for a French drain cost and install it to help dry things out. This is a very simple setup that will help drain the water away and redirect if from your basement or yard to somewhere harmless like into the street or sewer drain. Having one can benefit your property in several ways because water damage is one of the biggest issues you could have that can cause foundation problems, mildew or mold issues, and flooding.

Budgeting for your French drain cost and installing it can help alleviate all of these problems. If youre looking into this system, its either to prevent damage before it ever becomes an issue, or you want to prevent it from happening again. Either way, its important that you know the French drain cost for installation and maintenance before you tackle this project. Doing so will allow you to get the system in place to protect your home while protecting your budget.

No matter which drain system you end up choosing, were going to break down the French drain cost for you in this guide. The goal is to give you everything you need to map out your project price, form a working budget for it, and get a professional-grade installation to help dry out your yard and protect your home.

French Drain Cost Estimator By Size

French drains are perforated pipes placed in trenches that absorb and direct water flow away from areas susceptible to damage. Theyre great for homeowners who struggle with flooding or damage after heavy rain.

French drains can be placed in various places around your property, including in the basement, around your homes exterior perimeter, or behind a retaining wall, but the location needs to be sloped.

The size of your pipes affects the price as well, as the bigger the pipe is, the bigger the hole youll have to dig, meaning more workers and more time on the job.

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How Much Does It Cost To Have French Drains Installed

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The national average cost of French drain installation is $25-$50 per linear foot. Your total cost will depend on how many feet of pipes you need to lay, and whether you’re installing your drainage system in an easy to access location, or somewhere more difficultlike between your foundation and basement.

Additionally, how much does it cost to install a sump pump and French drain? Cost To Install New DrainageFor example, installing a floor drain costs between $100 and $500 on average. The cost for installing a sump pump in a typical home costs between $2,000 and $6,000, but can be as much as $10,000 to $15,000. Exterior French drains cost an average of $750 to $1,250.

Considering this, how much does it cost to install a channel drain?

Also, the channel material and grate type used can impact overall price. For these reasons, trench drains can range in cost between $30 per linear foot to $150 per linear foot.

Do plumbers install French drains?

Calling your plumber to install a french drain may be the best answer. At its most basic level a french drain is a trench covered with gravel that redirects groundwater and surface water away from a specific area.

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Cost To Install A French Drain Around House

This option can be expensive, running between $50 and $80 per linear foot. Prices can be affected by structures, utility lines, and landscaping that is likely to be around the outside of your home. If you have a small amount of water in your basement, you can install it around the perimeter of your home to help channel away any groundwater that seeps through your basement walls. If you need a French drain along more than two walls in your basement, this is the better option. It may need to be fairly deep, depending on the height of your basement walls.

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How Do I Know If I Need To Replace My French Drain

When you repeatedly find cracks in your foundation, theres a high level of humidity in your home during rainy seasons, or when there is rain water build up on your property. These are all tell-tale signs that it might be time to replace your French drain. They indicate that your French drain is most likely no longer working properly.

French Drain Cost Per Foot

The French drains cost per linear foot depends on whether the drain is installed in the interior of your home or the exterior. On average, for exterior installation, you can expect to pay anywhere between $10 and $100 with an average price of $25 per linear foot. A French drain for internal installation costs from $40 to $100 per linear foot or an average of $50 per foot. Below is a table showing the average cost of some of the most common sizes, including the cost of installation.

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When Is The Best Time To Install A Drainage System

The best time to install a drainage system is during dry and warm weather. Unless it’s an emergency, make sure the temperature is above 40°F at night when installing a French drain. This ensures water remains unfrozen and allows a contractor to inspect and repair the subgrade, asphalt, and concrete.

Cost To Replace A French Drain

The costs for French drain replacement vary widely, depending on what damage has occurred and what needs to be redone. If the pipe is damaged and needs to be replaced, you can expect the project to take between three to six hours. This French drain repair cost ranges from $1,000 to $2,500. If the whole area needs to be retrenched and replaced, it can take up to ten hours and cost almost the same as installing a new one. The price ranges from $2,000 to $8,000.

If there is standing water in the drainage ditch or water flowing over the drainpipe even after the pipe has been inspected for clogs, then your system is no longer working properly and may need to be replaced. Even well-maintained systems become damaged over time, and broken pipes may become clogged with silt and debris, making it more difficult for the water to move through. You may find that the depth is no longer effective for the water table level and needs to be adjusted.

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The Difference Between Drain Tile And A French Drain

The term French drain can describe pipes placed under your basement, outside your foundation walls, or under your yard. Experts call French drains placed near your foundation drain tile. Interior drain tile systems are placed directly underneath your basement floor. These pipes collect rising groundwater thats trying to seep through your floor and cove joints .

Exterior drain tile systems are placed right outside your foundation walls near your concrete footer. These pipes help collect water that builds up outside your foundation walls, helping prevent hydrostatic pressure.

French Drain Diy Cost

The average cost of a DIY French drain is $4 to $8 per linear foot or between $200 and $800 for the tools and materials or home and yard drainage kit. DIY underground drainage projects take 1 to 2 days, are labor-intensive, and require expertise.

To ensure the French drain lasts, you’ll need to use the following materials:

DIY drainage work is typically not advisable and depends on the severity of the problem and specific needs of the property. Hiring a professional saves time, guarantees a long-lasting drainage solution, and they will determine:

• Where utility lines are located.
• Which permits and inspections are needed.
• Trench depth and width needed.
• Correct pipe size and slope required.
• The final destination of the drain water.
• The type and amount of gravel needed.
• Where to place landscaping fabric.

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