Catch Basin Installation in Markham, ON | OCM Excavation
OCM Excavation installs precast concrete catch basins across Markham to stop backyard pooling, driveway puddles, and patio runoff. We excavate the pit, set a 24″x24″ or 30″x30″ basin on a Granular A base, and tie it to the storm sewer or a dry well with sloped PVC. Most Markham installs run $2,500-6,500 depending on depth and tie-in distance. Cornell and Berczy retrofits are a frequent call — builder-grade drainage often fails 5-10 years after move-in. Call 416-317-3090.
How a Catch Basin Works
A catch basin is a concrete chamber set in the ground with a cast-iron grate at the top. Surface water flows through the grate, drops into a sump well at the base that captures sediment and debris, then exits horizontally through a PVC discharge pipe to your storm sewer or a dry well. The sump well protects the discharge line from clogging. On Markham retrofits where the original lot drainage relied on shallow swales, the catch basin gives you a single concentrated point where the water actually leaves the property.
Four Common Markham Applications
- Driveway low spot. Pooling in front of the garage on flat Markham driveways, common on the older Unionville and Milliken builds. Grate set flush in asphalt or concrete, tied to the street storm sewer.
- Backyard pooling. The big Markham call — Cornell and Berczy flat lots where builder swales fail after 5-10 years. Basin set at the lawn low point, tied to the street or a rear-yard dry well.
- Patio and walkway drainage. Trench drains across paths and patios to intercept sheet flow before it reaches the back of the house.
- Window well overflow. Catch basin set in the lawn upstream of the window well to capture runoff before it pools against the foundation.
Our Markham Install Process
- Locate utilities through Ontario One Call and pull a City of Markham permit if we’re tying into the municipal storm sewer.
- Excavate the basin pit and discharge trench with our Yanmar SV40 mini-excavator. Typical depth is 4-5 ft at the basin, 3 ft along the trench for frost protection.
- Set the precast basin on compacted Granular A and connect the PVC discharge with at least 1% slope to the outlet.
- Backfill with 3/4 clear stone around the basin, soil along the trench, compact in lifts, restore grade, and install the grate flush with the finished surface.
Markham Cost Drivers
Three things move the Markham price. First, distance from the basin to the discharge — every 10 ft of trench adds roughly $300-500. Second, discharge type: a municipal storm sewer tie-in is the most expensive because it needs a Markham permit and inspection, a dry well on private property is mid-range, and a daylight swale is cheapest but only works if the lot already pitches away. Third, surface restoration — asphalt patch $800-1,500, concrete patch $1,200-2,500, lawn restoration $300-800. We quote each line so you can decide where to spend.
Why Markham Homeowners Call OCM
We know the failure pattern in Cornell, Berczy, Wismer, and Greensborough — flat builder-graded lots that drain on paper and pond in practice once the original sod and topsoil settle. We size the basin to the actual catchment area, route the discharge to the cheapest legal outlet, and finish the grade so the trench line disappears. Most Markham installs wrap in 2-4 days. We often pair the catch basin with a French drain across the upstream lawn or with a sump pump discharge. Call 416-317-3090.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Cornell builder swale stopped working — can a catch basin fix it?
Yes. The typical fix is a catch basin at the original swale low point, tied to either the street or a dry well, with a short regrading pass to direct sheet flow toward the new grate. Most of these jobs wrap in 2-3 days.
Do I need a Markham permit?
A permit is typically required only when tying the discharge into the municipal storm sewer, since that connection sits on city property. Dry wells and swales contained on private land usually don’t need one. We confirm with the city before excavation begins.
Can the grate handle vehicle traffic?
Yes, when we spec the right grate. Driveway basins get a heavy-duty cast-iron grate rated for vehicle loading. Lawn basins use a lighter grate that’s still durable for foot traffic and mowers, at a lower cost.
How long until I see results after install?
The basin works the moment we set the grate. The next rainfall will tell you immediately — water concentrates at the grate, drops in, and exits the discharge. Lawn restoration takes one growing season to look fully blended.
Get a Free Markham Catch Basin Quote
Walking your Markham yard takes about 30 minutes and the quote is free. Call OCM Excavation at 416-317-3090 or fill out our free quote form. We also serve Richmond Hill and Vaughan. See the rest of our GTA service areas or our Markham excavation page.
in Markham? Let’s talk.