How Much Does It Cost To Install Basement Drainage Channels?
Last Updated: January 12, 2022
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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.
Basement Drainage System Prices #
The most cost-effective way for this system to be installed is during construction. Nevertheless, it can also be installed at a later date for a reasonable cost. If you plan on having basement drainage channels installed in your home while it is being constructed, the entire process can be completed for around $1,000 (for an average sized basement).
Aftermarket drainage systems are more expensive due to the higher installation costs. Concrete or finished floor systems may have to be removed in order to dig a perimeter ditch to install the drainage channel. A hole will have to be dug in your basement floor (down underneath the foundation) at the low point of your basement. Expect to pay anywhere from $20 per linear foot up to $30 per foot for this work to be completed. Those cost figures do not include refinishing costs, however. Whatever was dug up to install the drainage system will have to be put back. This can cost anywhere from $500 up to $3,000 depending on the size of the area disturbed and whether or not it was a finished basement.
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.
