Cost Guide | Control Moisture Damage With Interior Drainage Systems

Water problems in your basement can be a nightmare. This is especially true if your basement is finished.

Water can lead to mold and mildew problems.

It can also cause thousands of dollars in destroyed property and repairs.

Preventative maintenance is vital to keeping water from ever getting into your basement. Installing a sump pump in a finished basement can be a huge project.

Once installed, you must then decide what to do with the water. Thirty, forty, and sometimes as much as one hundred feet of hose must be run outside to dispense the water away from the house.

Most types of basement drainage channel systems control the problem of basement flooding. They are installed around the exterior perimeter of your basement walls. Next, concrete is poured over the channels, allowing for them to be covered up again.

Then, when it rains, water seeps around the perimeter of your basement via two ways; a drain system or directly under your subfloor returning to the soil underneath.

The drain channels are porous, allowing water to seep back into the water table wherever it can. The water is drained and you are left with a dry basement.

A basement drainage system must be able to keep your basement dry and, at the same time, remain inconspicuous.

A lot of basement water problems occur when basement walls that have cracks or have not were sealed properly. Water comes from the soil underneath the basement foundation and can quickly saturate the earth.

How Much Does Adding Basement Drainage Channels Cost? #

The average cost to install drainage channels in a finished basement runs $6,500 to $15,000. French drainage systems installed around the perimeter of a basement cost $8,000 to $12,000 on average.

Drainage Channel Cost Factors

• Basement size & accessibility
• Soil composition
• Single vs double channels
• Sump pump needed

Perimeter French Drain Cost

• 400 sq ft basement: $5,000 - $8,000
• 1,000 sq ft basement: $8,000 - $15,000

Interior Channel Drain

• 100 linear ft system: $2,500 - $4,000
• 200 linear ft system: $4,500 - $7,500

Sump Pump Install

• 1/3 HP pump system: $1,200 - $1,800

Always get 3+ estimates before choosing drainage installers.

Real-World Basement Drainage Channel Costs #

Here are some real-world quotes from homeowners on how much they paid to install drainage channels or French drains:

• "I had an interior channel drain system added that was about 85 linear feet total. Cost was $3,100 including the sump pump." - James T., Ohio

• "Paid a foundation contractor $9,800 to install an interior and exterior perimeter French drain system in my 1,200 sq ft finished basement." - Anne B., Texas

• "Had a company add a basic perimeter drain inside the concrete foundation walls of my small basement. It was $4,200 altogether." - Kevin R., Pennsylvania

• "I upgraded my drainage by encapsulating my crawlspace instead of using a French drain. Cost more at $19,800 but worth it for storage space." - Olivia S., Maryland

• "Only needed about 65 linear feet of interior channel drains added to manage seepage. Paid $2,800 with a new sump pump." - Noah P., Arizona

• "Fully waterproofed my basement including extensive French drain system inside & out, all new concrete sealer. $21,300 total." - Emma C., Nevada

As shown, costs to add interior or exterior drainage systems run $3,000 to $20,000+ depending on exact scope. Perimeter waterproofing with French drains often runs $8,000 to $15,000+.

Basement Drainage Repair #

Over time, basement drainage systems may become clogged or damaged due to frost heaves and dramatic temperature changes.

This can be a rather large expense if you are unprepared for it. Sometimes you can get away with using chemicals that deal with clogs to help the situation.

But, if this does not work then you may need to hire a professional.

Some clogs can be handled for as little as $100 if they can unclog it using traditional methods, such as a plumbers snake.

If a clog cannot be taken care of, or your drainage pipes need to be repaired or replaced, you will have to dig up the part of the system that is the problem.

A company will charge between $45 and $65 per hour for repairs of this sort.

Resources:

• How Much Does an Interior Basement Drainage System Cost?
• How Much Does Basement Waterproofing Cost?

Use Our Free Service & Find Basement Drainage Pros Near You #