French Drain

Inspection, Assessment, Cleaning, Waterproofing, and Replacement

A problem with your foundation drain (also known as a french drain or perimeter drain) can quickly become a significant source of stress and cost, whether it’s water infiltration, sewer backup, concrete cracks, or musty basement odors. During heavy rainfall, these issues worsen, especially if drainage systems haven’t been inspected or maintained for a long time.

Can-Explore now combines its proven field expertise with 36 years of know-how from Laboratoire de Canalisations Souterraines (LCS) and its entity Drains Secours. This synergy allows us to offer homeowners in Quebec City and its surrounding areas a reliable, turnkey service for foundation drain inspection, cleaning, and repair, ensuring the long-term protection of their home’s foundation.

Our Specialized Services for Drains and Foundations

Drain Assessment and Access Chimneys

Can-Explore offers full drain expertise, a preliminary step that aims to confirm that there is no other solution than to intervene by excavation to allow inspection of the system. For some older properties, especially those built before 1985, it happens that there is no access point to the foundation drain.

Before proceeding with the camera inspection, it is essential to ensure that the foundation drain is accessible. Excavation always remains a last resort. We also intervene in the installation of access chimneys, a highly recommended step to facilitate future interventions without having to excavate again.

Drain Camera Inspection

When access to the foundation drain is possible, camera inspection is the first step to diagnose the system’s condition. Our specialized cameras allow us to navigate within the pipes and document the drain’s internal condition along its entire length.

This detailed inspection provides us with the necessary data to recommend appropriate interventions, whether it’s a simple cleaning, a localized repair, or a complete replacement of the drainage system.

French Drain Cleaning and Unclogging

For quick French drain cleaning or unclogging, Can-Explore deploys its high-pressure cleaning equipment, including its vacuum trucks (hydro-excavation trucks). Our experienced team eliminates all obstructions and ensures optimal water flow within 3 to 5 hours (performed only if required, following assessment and camera inspection).

If your property is affected by iron ochre, regular cleaning is essential, as this phenomenon cannot be completely stopped. We can install access chimneys to facilitate future interventions while minimizing excavation.

Foundation Waterproofing

Can-Explore offers comprehensive solutions to ensure the waterproofing of your foundation and prevent water infiltration. When a problem is identified following an inspection, we intervene to seal cracks and install appropriate protection systems.

Our services include:

  • Repair of exterior cracks in the concrete foundation;
  • Application of waterproofing membranes, such as Aqua-Bloc® 770-06 elastomeric membranes and Platon drainage membranes.
  • Addition of a geotextile membrane and a layer of gravel to enhance drainage.

These interventions create a durable barrier between your home and the surrounding soil, significantly reducing the risks of moisture infiltration and the appearance of fungi or mold.

French Drain Repair and Replacement

Localized Drain Repair

Camera inspection allows us to identify defective sections of the drain beforehand, enabling targeted intervention without excavating the entire perimeter. When a localized repair is possible, we only excavate the damaged portion.

The defective drain section is removed and then replaced. We perform a watertight connection (union) with the rest of the system, ensuring lasting flow.

Complete Drain Replacement

Completely replacing a French drain is a major undertaking that usually takes 3 to 5 days. The cost can range from $15,000 to $25,000 for a single-family home, including excavation, materials, waterproofing, backfilling, and labor.

  • Here’s how a complete residential foundation drain replacement unfolds:

    1. Meticulous excavation around the foundation;
    2. Removal of the old drain;
    3. Sealing cracks in the concrete;
    4. Addition of a geotextile membrane and a layer of gravel;
    5. Installation of the new drain (according to Bureau de normalisation du Québec – BNQ – standards);
    6. Backfilling the land. We protect your property with plywood and manage debris to leave your site clean.
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Note that french drain replacement costs vary depending on several factors such as the number of linear feet to replace, the complexity of the excavation, site accessibility, and the condition of the foundation.

Fill out our form for a free customized quote based on your property’s specific characteristics.

Sewer Backup Prevention and Municipal Connection

Can-Explore intervenes to prevent sewer backups, or self-backups, which occur when the municipal sewer system backs up into your residence. We diagnose the condition and connection of your French drain to the storm or sanitary sewer, and we proceed with:

  • Before any intervention, a drain assessment is performed to confirm the condition of the pipes and evaluate the best solutions.
  • Repair or replacement of damaged pipes, from the building to the municipal connection point;
  • Installation of backwater valves to block wastewater from backing up into your property.

If the problem falls outside our scope of intervention, we will refer you to the appropriate resources or services that will ensure comprehensive handling of your situation.

Buying or Selling a Home: The Importance of Pre-Purchase Inspection and the Risk of Hidden Defects

If you are considering selling or buying a property, the condition of the French drain is a crucial element. A camera drain inspection before purchase is highly recommended. A drain’s lifespan is estimated between 25 and 50 years, making it a major point of concern for older properties.

An undeclared defective drain can constitute a hidden defect, leading to significant legal and financial complications for both the seller and the buyer. For properties built before 1985, it is common to find stoneware drains, a type of drain now obsolete. These drains hold no value in the eyes of building inspectors or insurers and are systematically replaced during work.

 

Request a free quote to inspect your foundation drain today.

For questions related to floods (flood-prone areas), consult our flood risk management services.

Understanding Drainage Issues: Symptoms and Causes

It’s essential to recognize the signs of a faulty French drain to act quickly and prevent damage to your property.

  • Pay attention to the indicators that may signal a drainage or water infiltration problem:

    • Musty or earthy odors in the basement.
    • Excessive basement humidity (over 50%), water stains on materials, or standing water.
    • Presence of mold or fungi on walls and floors.
    • Efflorescence (whitish crystalline deposits) on the foundation concrete.
    • Ochre-colored deposits (iron ochre) in the drain or basin.
    • Visible cracks on walls or foundations.

    These signs are good indicators that your French drain is no longer functioning correctly, allowing water to accumulate along the foundation and infiltrate.

FAQ

Our experts compiled the most common questions you ask us about foundation drains:

  • The lifespan of a French drain is generally estimated between 25 and 50 years as an indication, but several factors can influence this reality: soil type, quality of the original installation, maintenance over the years, drain type (material), etc.

    Replacement becomes necessary only when camera inspection reveals major structural failures, obstructions, or significant sagging of the system. We perform targeted repairs whenever possible.

    When a drain is functional, we don’t replace it!

  • As an indication, for a standard-sized single-family home, the complete replacement of the French drain can range from $15,000 to $25,000, including excavation, materials, waterproofing, backfilling, and labor. Foundation drain replacement costs vary depending on several factors such as the number of linear feet to replace, the complexity of the excavation, site accessibility, or the condition of the foundation.

    We recommend contacting us for a precise evaluation that considers your property’s specificities.

  • The duration of the work varies depending on the nature of the required intervention. A simple French drain cleaning can generally be completed in 3 to 5 hours, including camera inspection and high-pressure cleaning.

    A complete foundation drain replacement generally requires between 2 and 5 business days, depending on the perimeter length to be treated and excavation conditions. Additional waterproofing work may extend this duration depending on the scope of interventions required.

  • Yes, camera inspection is the most effective and economical method to diagnose the condition of a French drain without costly excavation (when an access point exists). This technique provides visual documentation of the foundation drain’s condition that can be used for repair cost evaluation and future work planning.

  • All our drainage work is covered by a 5-year warranty. We are committed to performing every intervention with the same concern for quality as if it were for our own home. Our goal is not to revisit the same problem, but to offer you a lasting and definitive solution.

  • Iron ochre is a rust-colored gelatinous deposit that naturally forms in certain iron-rich Quebec soils. This substance can completely clog a French drain within a few years.

    Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent its formation: the best solution remains regular maintenance. With inspection and cleaning, Can-Explore can assess the accumulation rate after an initial follow-up of about two years. Good news: this rate generally remains stable, which allows for establishing a suitable cleaning cycle.

Certifications

Drains Secours, a subsidiary of Can-Explore, is a company recommended by CAA-Québec, APCHQ certified and holding an R.B.Q. license (#2731-0861-85).

Request a Quote: Drain and Foundation Services

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