French Drain Installation in Burlington — Stop Basement Water
OCM Excavation & Construction installs exterior and interior french drains across Burlington — from older Aldershot bungalows and Roseland centre-hall homes to ravine-adjacent lots in Tyandaga and the downtown core near Lake Ontario. If your basement floods every spring, your sump pump cycles non-stop, or you can smell damp concrete after rain, water is finding its way in and a french drain is usually the fix. Call 416-317-3090 for a free Burlington site visit and a written scope.
Why Burlington Basements Take On Water
Burlington sits between Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, and the soils tell that story. South-end neighbourhoods like Roseland and downtown have a high water table within walking distance of the lake. Aldershot lots near Grindstone Creek and Tyandaga homes near the ravine system deal with surface runoff and saturated clay. Older 1940s–1970s housing stock across Burlington was built with weeping tile that has long since collapsed, clogged with silt, or rusted out where steel was used.
A french drain — a perforated pipe in a gravel-wrapped trench — gives groundwater a path of least resistance away from the foundation. Done right, it ends the cycle of repainting drywall and replacing rec-room carpet every other spring.
Exterior vs Interior French Drain
Two systems, two different jobs. We assess which one your Burlington home needs before quoting.
- Exterior french drain (weeping tile replacement) — We excavate around the foundation down to the footing, install new perforated PVC in clear stone wrapped in filter fabric, and connect to a discharge point. This is the gold standard for chronic foundation leaks and pairs naturally with foundation waterproofing in Burlington.
- Interior french drain — A perimeter trench cut inside the basement slab, with pipe and stone routed to a sump pit. We use this when exterior access is blocked by an attached garage, mature trees, an interlock driveway, or a tight Burlington downtown lot line.
- Yard french drain — A shallow trench across the lawn to capture surface water before it reaches the house. Common on Tyandaga slopes and Aldershot lots that drain toward the foundation.
Our Burlington French Drain Process
- Site assessment — We walk the lot, check grading, inspect the sump (if present), and identify the water source. Free in Burlington and across the GTA.
- Locates and permits — Ontario One Call for utility locates is mandatory and we handle it. Burlington Site Alteration By-law 064-2014 may apply for larger grading changes, and lots near Grindstone Creek or the escarpment may fall under Conservation Halton Regulation 41/24 or the Niagara Escarpment Commission. We flag this early.
- Excavation — Trench to the footing for exterior work, or saw-cut and remove a 12-inch strip of slab for interior. We protect landscaping and walkways where possible.
- Drain install — 4-inch perforated PVC, washed 3/4-inch clear stone, non-woven filter fabric to keep silt out. Tie-in to sump pit or daylight discharge.
- Waterproofing membrane — On exterior jobs we apply a rubberized membrane and dimple board to the foundation wall before backfill.
- Backfill, restore, test — Compacted backfill, re-graded surface sloping away from the house, and a hose test before we leave the Burlington site.
Burlington Neighbourhoods We Cover
We work across every Burlington postal code: Aldershot (older bungalows, high water table near Grindstone Creek), downtown Burlington (tight lots near Brant Street, century homes with stone foundations), Roseland (mature 1950s lots south of New Street), Tyandaga (ravine-adjacent slopes with surface runoff issues), Headon Forest, Millcroft, and Alton. For other municipalities see our full GTA service areas page.
Why Burlington Homeowners Call OCM
- We dig — we don’t sub the excavation out. Our crew runs the machines.
- Written scope before the first shovel hits the ground in Burlington.
- We handle the Site Alteration screening, Conservation Halton review, and NEC paperwork when ravine or escarpment lots are involved.
- Restoration included: backfill compacted, sod or seed at the surface, walkways reset.
- We pair french drains with sump pump install, foundation crack injection, and full exterior waterproofing on the same mobilization to keep your Burlington project cost down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a french drain installation take in Burlington?
Most Burlington homes are a 3 to 7 day project. Interior perimeter systems run faster — 3 to 5 days — because we don’t have to manage weather and backfill. Exterior weeping tile replacement on a full perimeter is 5 to 10 days depending on lot access, depth to footing, and whether we’re tying into an existing storm connection or a new sump discharge.
Do I need a permit for a french drain in Burlington?
Interior french drains generally don’t trigger a building permit. Exterior work that changes grading at the property line may fall under Burlington Site Alteration By-law 064-2014, and lots near Grindstone Creek, Bronte Creek, or the escarpment may need Conservation Halton or Niagara Escarpment Commission approval. We confirm what’s required before we mobilize.
Will the french drain damage my landscaping?
Exterior excavation disturbs the strip directly around the foundation — usually 4 to 6 feet wide. We protect what we can, lift interlock for re-laying, and replace sod or topsoil where we trench. Mature trees inside Burlington’s Urban Planning Area Boundary are protected under Private Tree By-law 040-2022 once they hit 20 cm trunk diameter, so we route trenches to avoid critical root zones.
Exterior or interior — which is better for my Burlington home?
Exterior is the more permanent fix because it stops water at the wall. Interior is the right call when the foundation can’t be safely exposed — attached garages, zero-lot-line homes near downtown Burlington, or mature trees you don’t want to lose. We give you both quotes and let you decide.
Do you also fix the foundation cracks?
Yes. When we have the foundation exposed we inspect for cracks, parge failures, and missing dampproofing, then apply a fresh waterproofing membrane and dimple board. If you only need crack work without a full drain, see our Burlington foundation waterproofing page.
What does a french drain cost in Burlington?
Cost depends on linear footage, depth to footing, soil type, restoration scope, and whether we’re going exterior or interior. Burlington lots in Aldershot and Roseland tend to be heavier clay which slows excavation. We quote a written, line-item price after the site visit — no phone estimates and no surprise extras.
Get a Free Burlington French Drain Quote
If water is coming into your Burlington basement, every freeze-thaw cycle makes the problem worse. Call OCM at 416-317-3090 or request a free quote online. We respond same-day across Burlington, Aldershot, Tyandaga, Roseland, and the surrounding Halton Region.
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in Burlington? Let’s talk.