French Drain & Perimeter Drain Installation in Vancouver & Burnaby

What Is a French Drain?

A French drain (also called a perimeter drain or weeping tile) is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that redirects groundwater away from your foundation. In Vancouver and Burnaby, where annual rainfall exceeds 1,100mm, French drains are essential for preventing water from accumulating around your home's foundation and causing basement flooding, mold growth, and structural damage.

When Do You Need a French Drain?

• Water pooling near your foundation after rain or snow melt
• Wet or damp basement — even minor moisture indicates water pressure against foundation walls
• Soggy yard areas that don't drain properly, especially near the house
• Downhill slope toward your home directing surface water at your foundation
• Old or clogged perimeter drains — many older Vancouver and Burnaby homes have clay tile drains that have collapsed or filled with roots
• New construction or renovations requiring proper drainage per BC Building Code

Types of French Drains We Install

Exterior Perimeter Drains

Installed around the outside of your foundation at the footing level. This is the most effective approach because it intercepts water before it reaches your foundation walls. We excavate to the footing, install a perforated Big-O pipe on a gravel bed, wrap it in filter fabric to prevent clogging, and backfill with clean drainage rock. The system connects to the city storm drain or a sump pump.

Interior French Drains

When exterior access is limited — such as homes with attached garages, patios, or limited yard space — interior French drains collect water inside the basement and direct it to a sump pit and pump. We cut a channel along the interior perimeter of the foundation, install the drain system, and patch the concrete floor.

Yard Drainage French Drains

For properties with low-lying areas, poor soil drainage, or surface water problems away from the foundation. These shallow drains redirect surface and subsurface water to a suitable outlet, solving soggy lawn and standing water issues.

Our Installation Process

1. Site assessment — We evaluate your drainage situation, water table level, soil type, and foundation condition
2. Excavation — Careful digging to the required depth (at or below the foundation footing for perimeter drains)
3. Gravel bed — Minimum 4 inches of clean, washed drainage rock laid at proper slope
4. Perforated pipe — High-quality corrugated or rigid perforated pipe installed with holes facing down on the gravel bed
5. Filter fabric — Geotextile wrapping to prevent fine soil particles from clogging the system
6. Backfill — Additional drainage rock topped with soil or landscape restoration
7. Connection — Proper tie-in to storm drain, dry well, or sump pump system

French Drain Maintenance

A properly installed French drain requires minimal maintenance but benefits from annual inspection. We recommend checking cleanout access points, flushing the system every few years, keeping tree roots at bay, and ensuring discharge points remain clear. Neglected drains can clog with sediment, roots, or debris — our maintenance service ensures long-term performance.

See our completed French drain projects in the project gallery.