
Discover basement drain installation cost, key price factors, and ways to save. Get expert tips to plan your basement drain project with confidence.
An excavator can really get into the trenches of drainage
Trench drain installation costs range from $30 to $100 per linear foot, so planning your drainage area helps you budget for your project.
Your trench drain needs proper placement to avoid utility lines, electrical wires, and tree roots that can complicate the installation process.
Professional excavation pros assess your drainage needs, dig the trench safely, and install the drain system with proper grading to prevent water pooling.
Hiring a local excavation company provides reliable help with trenching equipment, permit navigation, and drainage installation while protecting your landscape and underground utilities.
If your yard is in dire need of some water flow management, you’ve probably looked into a trench drain. But who installs trench drains? Excavation companies are the go-to for all things trench related, but you have a few viable options. We'll show you which local pros to consider if you need to install a trench drain.
Excavation companies are trenching masters, so they’re perfectly equipped to dig a trench and add a drain to your property. Here’s why you should hire these pros.
A local excavation pro specializes in digging trenches and ensures the job is done safely and according to your needs. They know how to use heavy trenching machinery needed for trenching and can get the trench to the perfect length and depth for your drain. Plus, their experience means they’re experts at avoiding utility lines and minimizing damage to your landscape.
The pros have plenty of experience navigating excavation and plumbing permits. They’ll know when a permit is needed, where to get it, and how much it costs.
If you try to DIY, it’ll take you a lot more time than it would an excavation pro. You have to learn how to use heavy machinery, to start. Then, you have to figure out exactly how the drain installation process works.
Landscapers handle all types of outdoor work, including controlling water flows. Because beautifying yards and other outdoor areas is their forte, landscape contractors can also make a trench drain blend into your yard so that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb (and not the green kind). Not only will you have a functional trench drain, but you can also have a magazine-worthy garden.
Plumbers are experts at installing drains and can also assess your entire outdoor plumbing infrastructure. They’re no stranger to digging a trench for plumbing needs. They are a solid option if excavation pros are unavailable.

The excavation pro will assess the drainage area, checking for risk factors like pipeworks, electrical wires, and tree roots. This helps them find a suitable area to install the trench drain so that they don’t run into any utility lines. (You can also call the 811 Call-Before-You-Dig hotline ahead of the project to save them some work.)
Next, they’ll mark the area where they’ll be installing the drain and begin trenching. They can use any number of excavation tools, including a mini excavator, depending on how big the drain will be. They’ll work slowly yet efficiently through the soil until the trench is fully dug. After they’ve finished the trench, they’ll follow these steps to install the drain:
Create and level a base for the drain using gravel, rocks, or other suitable materials.
Secure the drainpipe, followed by the trench drain.
Pour gravel into the trench to prevent pooling.
Place the grate over the trench.
Test the trench drain for leaks and seal them.
Install the cover.
Hiring a pro to install a trench drain costs $30 to $100 per linear foot, or around $3,000 to $10,000 depending on size and complexity of the drain. Local rates vary, but hiring an excavation pro, plumber, or landscape contractor costs $45 to $200 per hour.
Digging a trench for a drain can be risky, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. Unless you’re 100% confident in your skills, you shouldn’t operate a trencher alone. Call a pro for help digging the drain’s trench. Some DIYers do feel confident in their ability to install a trench drain after an excavation pro has dug the trench for them, though.
There will be some soil disruption after this project, so unless you want to spend two days cleaning up dirt and straining your back, consider hiring a landscaping pro after you or your chosen expert installs the trench drain.
Amazing job. Efficient and quick without compromising quality. Basement feels brand new. Would use them again in a heartbeat.
This company is my go to resource for all my post renovation clean ups. They get the place spotless! All we have to do after is stage the place and sell, sell, sell! They are super professional and have some amazing scent that is left in every property. I highly recommend!
Custom Paint Jobs LLC took our exterior from drab to fab! We couldnt be happier.
We had our houses windows and back door replace this summer by Window Depot USA of Central. He gave us grate advise and saved my family lots money. The team did a fantastic job with installation. If you need help, they sure get job done right!
Beginning with the estimate, Larry and Peyton were super helpful in getting my new condo's interior re-painted. Not only was the job well done, but also done in a super timely manner as promised.
Great job...edging and pre clean up went well with a great job with seal coat. Friendly, efficient and professional.
Did an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Very knowledgable, very respectful and did a great job. They take pride in their work and it shows. I would highly recommend Dad's Home Repair and Excavation.
They do good work, were quick to respond, and their prices were as reasonable as plumbing work can be. They were fairly good with the sewer cleaning, and I have no complaints with their work, but I had to go beyond what they could do and get some excavation work done.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

Discover basement drain installation cost, key price factors, and ways to save. Get expert tips to plan your basement drain project with confidence.

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