French Drain Pipe Cost Per Inch
Most French drains utilize a perforated pipe buried in the gravel of the trench to help direct water that is captured to another location where it can be absorbed into the ground. Pipes are most commonly made out of plastic, primarily for their durability and flexibility. These pipes come in a variety of diameters. The best width will be determined by how much water or how heavy the rains are in your area. Below is a table of some of the most common diameters and the cost of each per linear foot for materials only. The diameter does not significantly impact the overall cost of the installation compared to the pipe length.
Diameter |
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$2.30 – $3 |
Failing French Drains In Delaware And Maryland
A clogged French drain systems found installed around a home in Dover, DE.
French drain systems have been installed on the outside of homes since the 1920s, and if they were the best way to dry a basement, DryZone would be installing them, too.
Unfortunately, placing a French drain or exterior footing drain along the outside is a recipe for failure. When you put a drainage system several feet under the earth, even in a bed of gravel, it will eventually clog with dirt, roots, and debris.
Sometimes, a contractor will try to stop this by laying down a layer of filter fabric around the drain.
In this case, instead of the drain clogging, the filter fabric does and won’t let water into the pipe. Other problems such as freezing pipes and improperly sloped lines are also common. This type of exterior drainage commonly will not handle water that collects under your basement floor, in which case you’ll still need a sump pump inside your basement. Some contractors even connect the exterior drains to the sump pump inside. Now that’s sure to clog!
What happens when your drainage system clogs? It will need to be excavated and you’ll have to start over. Who wants to do that again?
For a FREE waterproofing quote, call or e-mail us today!
We service the Delaware and Maryland area, including Dover, Newark, Milford, and nearby.
Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.
French Drain In A Basement: What Is It
When installing a French drain, it is important to dig the trench no smaller than 12 inches wide and 1 foot deep to hold the drainage pipe and the gravel. Additionally, washed gravel and water-permeable landscape fabric are also necessary to allow water to pass through to help control weed growth. Surrounding the pipe with gravel helps keep anything out that can clog it in an unfinished basement. If a basement is built as finished, then walls are built on the inside of the drain so it cant be seen. There are two French drain systems- interior French drains and exterior drains.
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Reach Out To Innovative Basement Authority For A Free Basement Inspection
Theres no need for you to try and take on the challenge of waterproofing your basement on your own. If youre considering installing an interior drainage system, you can work with the Innovative Basement Authority professionals serving Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and eastern Montana. Together, you can best understand what kind of equipment you want to have installed inside your home and how best you can prevent unwanted moisture from compromising your homes structural integrity. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and repair estimate!
What Does A French Drain Cost

You usually install a sump pump in the basement with an interior French drain to prevent or fix flooding. These types of drains are deeper in the ground. When a contractor handles the installation process, it’s labor-intensive, requiring the digging of a large moat around the foundation of your building. You’re looking at paying around $50 to $60 per linear foot.
If you have a 20′ x 30′ basement, that’s a perimeter of 100 linear feet, meaning the entire installed cost could be around $5,000 to $6,000. If your basement perimeter is less than 130 to 150 linear feet and only requires a single sump pump, you may pay around $175 to $225. A bigger basement usually requires two sump pumps.
A professional can install an exterior French drain around two to three feet underground so it can move surface water away from your home and property. The drain length will depend on how far away you would like the water released. On average, an exterior “surface” French drain will cost between $10 to $15 per linear foot for all labor and parts, and therefore, you’re looking at paying approximately $1,000 to $1,500.
Also Check: Cost To Install Sump Pump And French Drain
Pros And Cons Of Interior And Exterior Drain Tile Systems
Water problems in the basement are inconvenient and frustrating. You need a solution to solve the issue once and for all! A drain tile system could be the answer to your troubles. Theres just one final decision to makewill you install an interior or exterior drain tile system? Compare the two to help you decide which option better suits your needs.
Interior Drain Tile
An interior drain tile system involves installing perforated pipes along the floor just inside the footing to redirect water to a sump pump. The pipes are surrounded by washed gravel and covered with filter paper and drain trip. Once the installation is complete, the crew re-pours the concrete and cleans the basement.
Pros of interior drain tile
- Complete solution: Interior drain tile captures rising groundwater, relieves hydrostatic pressure, and prevents concrete wall seepage. Therefore, no other waterproofing methods are needed in many cases.
- No exterior excavation required: The system is relatively quick and easy to install. With no need to dig up your yard, the installation can also take place any time of year.
- Low cost: Interior drain tile systems cost less than their exterior counterparts.
Cons of interior drain tile
Exterior Drain Tile
Pros of exterior drain tile
Cons of exterior drain tile
- Excavation is expensive and messy: The need to dig around your house increases the cost and length of the project. It also disrupts the exterior and may require you to redo your landscape.
Failing French Drains In Ontario
Exterior french drain systems can easily clog with dirt and other debris, as seen above.
French drain systems have been installed on the outside of homes since the 1920s, and if they were the best way to dry a basement, Atlantic Basement Systems would be installing them, too.
Unfortunately, placing a French drain or exterior footing drain along the outside is a recipe for failure. When you put a drainage system several feet under the earth, even in a bed of gravel, it will eventually clog with dirt, roots, and debris.
Sometimes, a contractor will try to stop this by laying down a layer of filter fabric around the drain. In this case, instead of the drain clogging, the filter fabric does and won’t let water into the pipe. Other problems such as freezing pipes and improperly sloped lines are also common. This type of exterior drainage commonly will not handle water that collects under your basement floor, in which case you’ll still need a sump pump inside your basement. Some contractors even connect the exterior drains to the sump pump inside. Now that’s sure to clog!
What happens when your drainage system clogs? It will need to be excavated and you’ll have to start over. Who wants to do that again?
For a FREE waterproofing quote, call or e-mail us today!
We service the Ontario area, including Nepean, Ottawa, Orleans, Gloucester, Renfrew, Brockville, Kanata, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Vanier, Stittsville, Perth, Arnprior, Rockland, Rockcliffe, Greely, Manotick and nearby.
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Cost To Install A Sump Pump And A French Drain
For homeowners with basements prone to water throughout the year, a combination sump pump and French drain may be the answer. The sump pump is a small device installed in a corner of the basement or lower-lying areas. They are designed to sit in sump pits with the sole purpose of removing water to keep your basement dry. When combined with a French drain, the water flows into the pit and is pumped out by the sump pump into the drain. Here, it will be carried away from the house. If you install a combination sump pump and French drain, it will cost around $65 to $75 per linear foot, depending on how many pumps the area requires. You may get a slightly cheaper drainage system cost when the installation is done at the same time as a sump pump. However, it depends on your installer and the complexity of your system.
Why It Is Important To Know About A French Drain In The Basement
If you are having water problems in your basement, you may need a French drain. What is this? It is a trench that has a perforated pipe that takes the groundwater and surface water and diverts them away from the home. It lies in the interior of the perimeter of the basement and is below ground level. They are necessary for homes to keep the water away and to keep mold from growing in the basement.
However, there are other alternatives as well.
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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.
Brief History Of French Drain
Henry Flagg French was a lawyer and assistant US Treasury Secretary from Concord, Massachusetts. A French drain was born when he made sections of ordinary roofing tile and added perforations to it. A modern version of French drain systems were made once the perforated pipe was bordered with sand landscaping textile. These landscaping textiles were used to prevent the relocation of the drainage material while the perforated pipe provides a minor underground storage volume. Subsurface drainage systems have been used for centuries.Vulcan Waterproofing employs a service, which is called a hydrostatic pressure relief system. It involves cutting a trench in the floor around the perimeter of the basement closed to the foundation walls. For info or a free estimate, please call 877 885-2268 or go to:
Read Also: How Much Do French Drains Cost
When To Install A French Drain
French drains are most useful when you have slow-moving or slow-collecting water. If you have sections of your yard that are always soggy, water that seeps slowly into your basement or crawl space, or water that collects in your driveway, these are signs that you need a drainage system. If this is the case, a it may be a good solution for you.
Other times to consider installing a French drain is if you have a retaining wall on a hillside. This could lead to more water by the foundation of your home. A drain could be necessary to pull it away. You also may want to consider them if your property is lower than the properties surrounding you or if your foundation is lower than the land surrounding it. Without a proper drainage system, you may find water is being directed toward your foundation.
Look For A Turkey Fryer With An Easy

. THE PROS AND CONS OF INTERIOR FRENCH DRAINS. Screw ledger boards to the studs at the height recommended by the manufacturer. Check the drain and replace any damaged parts.
Aluminum isnt the most durable cookware. Dont expect it to last forever. Make sure that the interior components are non-stick too so you can easily wipe them clean with soap.
This means that if the drain line is intended to be 100 feet long there should be a 2-foot drop in the elevation of the bottom of the trench from one end to the other. Project mangement tools Sequencing spaces Design software Digital presentation Sustainability guidelines standard dimensions tabels Codes and accessibility Contrast and color rules. It doesnt have a glass or plastic top knob to.
You can also use it deep fry smaller food items such as French fries onion rings and chicken wings. While most aluminum cookware is treated with a non-stick or stainless steel interior be cautious if yours isnt. Consult the manufacturers literature and measure to make sure the drain is in the correct location.
If you want something longer-lasting I recommend hard-anodized aluminum. Locate the access opening to your crawl space. You have a lot of standing water in your yard on a regular basis.
A French drain is used to channel groundwater and rainwater away from the foundation of your house preventing expensive leaks and damage. A 2 slope is needed to adequately move the water from one place to another. Its even safe to use over a campfire.
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Is A French Drain Worth It
French drains can bring good fortune to our land or home. There are several disadvantages. Effective drainage: French drain systems have significant advantages in removing water from the walls of the house and foundation. You may select where the water is going either with an external French Draining System.
Why You May Need A French Drain In The Basement
Buying a home with a basement is common in the Northwest. Sometimes they are a finished basement and sometimes they are not. When we buy a house, we arent expecting there to be a wet basement. If this is the case, do you need a French drain in the basement? The answer can be Yes if you need water to be rerouted away from the home. However, there are also other alternativeswith pros and cons.
Lets look at why you need to know about French drains, what they are, pros and cons of French drains and other types of drains, how a sump pump helps, how to prevent water in the basement, and when to call a professional.
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The French Drain Defined
Contrary to popular perception, the French drain was not actually created in France. It was invented by a man from Massachusetts named Henry Flagg French. French authored a book entitled Farm Drainage, and he went on to pioneer many practices that are still used today in agriculture and civil engineering to provide effective drainage.
A true French drain is very simple. It consists of a trench that is filled with gravel and then surrounded by some sort of landscaping fabric.
Most modern homes use a slightly variant form of the French drain called a curtain drain. This version consists of a perforated pipe that sits inside the gravel-filled trench. The curtain drain can be covered with soil, grass, landscaping, etc. Installed correctly, it is a subtle form of drainage that will blend right into your yard.
French Drain Vs Waterguard Interior Drainage System
Drag the arrows left and right to see a clogged drain tile vs the clog-free WaterGuard drainage pipe.
A French drain, also called a footing drain, is a pipe that carries water away from your house.
Installing an exterior French drain can be difficult and expensive. Landscaping, decks, and walkways might need to be ripped out to install the drain pipe.
An interior drainage system is an easier, more affordable option for waterproofing your basement.
The WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System is a non-clogging French drain alternative. Our interior drainage system captures water at the most common point of basement entry – the floor and the wall joint.
Schedule a free on-site estimate with your local Basement Systems waterproofing contractor.
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Interior Drainage Systems: Your Basement Waterproofing Solution
The good news is that should you find yourself contending with widespread basement damage, be it in the form of flooding or seepage, you can work with area professionals to invest in both repairs and basement waterproofing measures. Repairs will need to come first so that you can prevent additional damage from wreaking havoc on your home.
With those repairs out of your way you can further discuss with your local basement waterproofing experts what an interior drainage system can do for you.
When Is A French Drain Necessary
A French drain is used to channel groundwater and rainwater away from the foundation of your house, preventing expensive leaks and damage. Here are a few ways you can recognize that you need a French drain:
You have a lot of standing water in your yard on a regular basis.
Your yard sits lower than your neighbors yards.
You live in a rainy climate or a swampy area.
You live close to a water source such as a lake, river, pond, or ocean.
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Failing French Drains In Virginia
A clogged French drain system found installed around a home in Fort Belvoir, VA.
French drain systems have been installed on the outside of homes since the 1920s, and if they were the best way to dry a basement, 3 Pros Basement Systems would be installing them, too.
Unfortunately, placing a French drain or exterior footing drain along the outside is a recipe for failure. When you put a drainage system several feet under the earth, even in a bed of gravel, it will eventually clog with dirt, roots, and debris.
Sometimes, a contractor will try to stop this by laying down a layer of filter fabric around the drain. In this case, instead of the drain clogging, the filter fabric clogs and won’t let water into the pipe.
Other problems, such as freezing pipes and improperly sloped lines, are also common. This type of exterior drainage commonly will not handle water that collects under your basement floor, in which case you’ll still need a sump pump inside your basement.
Some contractors even connect the exterior drains to the sump pump inside. Now that’s sure to clog! And what happens when your drainage system clogs? It will need to be excavated and you’ll have to start over. Who wants to do that again?
At 3 Pros Basement Systems, we can help you find a permanent waterproofing solution for your home — one that includes a written, transferable warranty! For a FREE waterproofing quote, call or e-mail us today!