Mamba Drainage Services
French Drain Installation Vancouver
Wet basement walls in November. A yard that turns to mud every winter. Water standing against the retaining wall. A properly built French drain moves that water before it reaches the foundation.
Excavation, perforated pipe, drain rock, filter sock and a tie in that actually has fall on it. Permits included.
What a French drain does and when a Vancouver property needs one
A French drain is a trench filled with drain rock with a perforated pipe at the bottom of it. Surface water and groundwater seep into the voids between the rock, run along the pipe to a tie in point, and end up in the storm sewer or at a daylight outflow instead of in your basement. It is the same idea as perimeter drain tile, aimed at surface and slope water rather than at the water sitting against the footing.
Exterior foundation French drain. Adds capacity where the original perimeter system is undersized or worn out. Common on pre-1970 East Vancouver and Burnaby houses built for less rainfall load than they now carry. The trench follows the foundation line at footing depth and ties into the existing sump or a new outflow.
Yard slope drainage. A lot with real fall where surface water runs toward the house or collects in a low spot. The drain runs across the slope above the house and intercepts that water before it ever reaches the foundation.
Retaining wall back drainage. A new retaining wall needs drainage behind it or hydrostatic pressure eventually pushes it over. Failing walls being rebuilt usually need one installed as part of the rebuild.
Driveway and patio sub drainage. Below grade drains that manage groundwater under a paved surface, working alongside surface trench drains and catch basins.
Every installation includes the permit where one is required, excavation, the perforated pipe, drain rock backfill, filter fabric or sock so silt cannot migrate in, and surface restoration. On properties with high end landscaping we coordinate with the owner’s landscape contractor for the final finish.
Signs a French drain is what the property needs
Water going the wrong way across a lot leaves the same set of marks every time.
- Basement walls damp on one side of the house only
- Efflorescence, the white chalky bloom, on the inside of a foundation wall
- A yard that turns to mud and stays that way through the winter
- Water standing against a retaining wall after rain
- A slope above the house that sheds straight toward the foundation
- A paved surface that heaves or holds water in the low corner
- A sump that runs constantly through a wet week
24/7 emergency dispatch
Move the water before it reaches the wall
Wet basement walls every November? Yard turning to mud? A French drain built with filter fabric, clear rock and real fall is a thirty year fix. One built without them is a trench that silts closed and takes the money with it.
Drain tile or French drain
Drain tile is the answer when
- Water is getting through the foundation wall itself
- The existing perimeter loop is collapsed, offset or root broken
- The problem shows up as a wet basement rather than a wet yard
- The camera shows the failure sitting at the footing
A French drain is the answer when
- Surface water is running toward the house from higher ground
- The yard holds water in a low spot well away from the wall
- A retaining wall needs drainage behind it
- The foundation loop is sound but is being asked to carry surface water too
Anatomy of a French drain that lasts
What Vancouver customers say
Ryan was great! My landlord called him to fix my blocked kitchen sink. He showed up the same day (on a Sunday) and fixed the problem. He even cleaned the sink and dried up all the water that had leaked before he got there. And he was very careful coming in and out of the house so my cat wouldn’t get out. I’d definitely recommend him.
Ryan is INCREDIBLE. He has been responding to all of us (four houses and families!) affected by a sewage back up. This is all on Boxing Day and beyond, in terrible weather full of ice, cold and rain. He is so knowledgeable, and knew what was needed right away. Just the top of his field I am sure. As well as that, he is incredibly calm, respectful, kind and fair. I am truly amazed by this person's capacity and competence in combination with his noble, calm presence in the face of a real mess. Thank you Ryan, so very much!
I had very positive experience with Mamba Services, Ryan was amazing to work with and took care of my drain issues in no time. He arrived on time, was very professional and efficient in carrying out the work. What impressed me was how honest he was in recommending needed repair. He was very patient in explaining the different options. I will certainly call them for future projects.
Had an excellent experience. Ryan was fantastic, it was an after hours call late in the evening and he showed up exactly in the time frame he gave. Took care of the kitchen sink issue within minutes all systems were running like new. Pricing was extremely reasonable, Ryan was patient and explained everything to me while fixing my problem. I would highly recommend this company for any plumbing work.
Ryan was efficient, experienced, and knowledgeable. He was able to squeeze me into his schedule with short notice and wasted no time with my appointment. He arrived on site inspected the issue, and was quickly at work with resolving the problem. I am very pleased with his service and honesty. He provided recommendations that will help assist me in future occurrences.
French drain FAQ, Vancouver
Same construction, different job. Drain tile sits at the foundation footing and catches groundwater before it can push through the wall. A French drain handles surface and slope water above that. Both are perforated pipe in drain rock inside filter fabric.
Yes for any storm sewer tie in, and yes for work near or under a public sidewalk. No for a daylight outflow on private property inside the setback requirements. We confirm which one applies during the site assessment rather than after the machine arrives.
Lawn and shrubs along the trench line get excavated. We restore with sod, or seed if you prefer, replant shrubs where the root systems allow it, and put back patio block and hardscape edging. Mature trees within a few metres may need root pruning, and we walk that with you before the job starts rather than after.
Thirty to fifty years with the right materials and a proper install, meaning filter fabric, clear angular rock, rigid PVC and real fall. The premature failures we dig up around East Vancouver are almost always missing filter fabric or short on drain rock.
Yes, and it is usually the right call. It is the same excavation, so quoting them together costs less than two separate projects and only wrecks the yard once. See our drain tile repair page.
The drain goes to a daylight outflow set well clear of the foundation with a riprap dispersion bed. It is common on older East Vancouver properties. We design the dispersion area so the discharge spreads out instead of cutting a channel across the lot.
Yes. Without back drainage, water builds hydrostatic pressure behind the wall through every wet spell. Even a well built wall cracks or rotates forward eventually. It is essential on new construction and it is usually the missing piece on a wall that has already failed.
Often. We camera the existing drain first. It is nearly always one of three things: silted because there was no filter fabric, short on drain rock, or laid without enough fall. Silt can sometimes be jetted out and the drain put back into service. The other two mean rebuilding it properly. The scope decides, not the guess.
24/7 EMERGENCY DISPATCH
Water where it should not be?
Ryan picks up. Live dispatch, and you get a real arrival window on the call.