French Drain Cost

Primarily French drains are constructed when your neighbor's land is at a higher level and elevation as compared to yours, leading to excessive moisture problem on your property. Are you having drainage issues as a result of water running down the neighbor's slope on your property? Then you might have to install a French drain. Let's find out what it is, and also how much it costs to have it installed.

What is a French Drain?

Let's get the hang of what a French drain means. Also termed as land drain, rock drain or perimeter drain, it is a fundamentally a trench which is covered with gravel or rock. This gravel or rock does the work of redirecting the surface and groundwater away from an area. There can be perforated hollow pipes to this drain, along the bottom for venting the water quickly which seeps down through the rock or gravel which lies on top. These are commonly used as a full-fledged drainage system for curbing the ground and surface water from seeping through and damaging foundations of buildings. It's also used in septic tank sewage treatment systems as a drainage solution.

Cost of Installing French Drains

While many people choose to install the drain themselves, many of them get it done professionally too. Once you pick up a suitable spot for the water to drain into, more than half your job is done.

Professional Installation
If you hire a professional for installing the drain, expect to pay the most for labor. The material is not of much concern. Gravel and the like is not very expensive, you will need to calculate the distance from your home to the spot where you want to lead the water. Then you can decide how much material you will require and how much will it cost. If you consider an 18 foot-system accompanied by an additional 15 foot extension till the curb, the approximate cost as of 2010 is between $800 to $1,000. For basement drains, expect to pay around $14,000 for exterior basement water proofing. On the contrary, the cost of interior drains is less, around $6,000.

You can easily estimate the cost by checking out these things -

• The extent of digging
• Total material required
• Types of pipes needed

In addition to these, you will have to consider some miscellaneous and minor expenses and building permit charges, if required. Some cities have specific building laws.

Other Options
If the $1,000 scares you, then the best way would be to install the drain yourself. It is not too tough, but as mentioned earlier you will have to be well acquainted with the nitty gritties of a French drain. Moreover, it will also save you a lot of money. You will have to spend for the material - pipes, gravel and stuff if you do not have any of the requisite tools.

If you are going to get the installation done professionally, it will be a good idea to ask around in 3 or 4 shops and then decide. It will help you get the best value! Good luck!