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A crew excavating a foundation drainage trench alongside a house.

Perimeter drain replacement across Greater Victoria

When the original drains around your foundation fail, water finds the basement. We excavate, replace the pipe, and re-grade so your home stays dry, with the scope and price in writing before we dig.

An excavator lifting soil away to expose a home foundation footing.
New perforated drain pipe being laid in an open trench at a work site.

Foundation water is all we do

Most Greater Victoria homes built between the 1950s and the 1990s still carry their original perimeter drains. After 40 to 70 years in our clay soil, that pipe collapses, silts up, or gets choked by roots, and the water it used to carry away goes into the basement instead.

We replace failing drains from the outside, down to the footing, so the fix is permanent.

How a drain replacement goes

Perimeter drain replacement is an excavation job.

  1. 01

    Site assessment

    We look at your grade, downspouts, soil, and where water is showing up.

  2. 02

    Written scope and price

    You get the plan and the cost in writing before any excavation starts.

  3. 03

    Excavation and new drainage

    We dig to the footing, remove the failed pipe, and install new pipe on slope with clean rock.

  4. 04

    Backfill, restore, warranty

    We backfill, re-grade so water runs away from the house, tidy up, and stand behind the work.

New perforated drain pipe being laid in an open trench at a work site.

What is happening at your place?

Tell us the basics and we will follow up to book a free on-site assessment.

No obligation. Every message comes straight to our team.

Why homeowners hand us the job

An $18k foundation-water fix is worth choosing carefully.

Victoria drainage specialists

We work with our clay soil, 1950s to 90s housing stock, and coastal rain every day. Your fix is designed for Victoria conditions.

We do the work ourselves

Our own licensed, insured crews handle the excavation and the install, start to finish.

We quote the fix you need

If a French drain or crawl-space system is all your house needs, we will say so instead of quoting a full replacement.

It is all in writing

Scope, price, and timeline come to you in writing after the assessment.

Serving Greater Victoria

From the heritage homes of Oak Bay and Fairfield to the West Shore hillsides and the Peninsula, we know how water moves across the region.

Drainage guides for Victoria homeowners

Plain-English answers on cost, lifespan, and how the work is done.

All guides

Frequently asked questions

How much does perimeter drain replacement cost in Victoria?

Your site sets the price, so we do not publish a flat number. The main cost drivers are how much of the perimeter needs digging, excavation depth, access, soil and water conditions, and whether you add waterproofing. We give you a firm price in writing after a site assessment.

How do I know if my perimeter drains are failing?

The common signs are water pooling against the foundation, a musty basement or crawl space, white or dark staining on basement walls, foundation cracks that weep in the rain, and a drain-scope report that flags collapsed or root-filled pipe. If you see more than one, it is worth having us look.

How long do perimeter drains last?

A properly installed modern perimeter drain lasts 30 to 50 years or more. The original clay tile or early perforated pipe on many Greater Victoria homes is now well past that, which is why replacement rather than repair is usually the right call once it fails.

What is the difference between a French drain and a perimeter drain?

A perimeter drain is the pipe buried around the base of your foundation footing that carries groundwater away from the basement. A French drain is a separate gravel-and-pipe trench, usually out in the yard or along a slope, that intercepts surface and ground water before it reaches the house. Many properties benefit from both.

Why do Victoria homes have so many drainage problems?

Two reasons. Much of Greater Victoria sits on dense marine clay that holds water instead of draining it, and our wet coastal winters put months of steady water load against the foundation. Original clay tile and early perforated pipe were never built to handle that combination for 50-plus years.

Do you replace the whole drain or just the failed section?

Whatever your foundation needs. If only one or two sides have failed, we replace just those runs. If the whole system is at end of life, we replace it all. We confirm the scope at the site assessment so you only pay to dig what needs digging.

Will replacing my perimeter drains fix a wet basement?

If the water is getting in because the pipe around your foundation has collapsed or silted up, then yes, replacing it is the fix. If the water is coming from surface runoff or a wet crawl space, the answer may be a French drain or interior drainage instead. We diagnose the real cause before recommending the work.

Does home insurance cover perimeter drain replacement?

Usually not. Most home insurance treats failed perimeter drains and the resulting seepage as maintenance and wear, not a sudden covered event, so replacement typically comes out of pocket. Check your own policy wording, since coverage varies by insurer and add-ons.

Can you work in the rainy season?

Yes. Winter is when most drainage problems show up, and we work right through the Victoria wet season. Individual excavation days depend on weather, but the season does not stop the job.

How do I get started?

Send us a message through the form on this site with a bit about what you are seeing. We reply to arrange a site assessment, then put the scope and price in writing. The form is the fastest way to reach us and every message comes straight to our team.

Tell us what your home is doing

Wet basement, pooling water, a drain-scope report before a sale? Send us the details and we will arrange a site assessment.

  • No phone tag and no obligation
  • A real plan for your specific property
  • A written price before we dig
Request a free assessment