Dig Work · Nanaimo
Drainage & French Drains in Nanaimo
A French drain moves groundwater away from a foundation through a perforated pipe set in gravel and laid on at least a 1% grade, a system Nanaimo Excavators installs across Lantzville, Cedar and South Wellington.
We dig the trench to grade, lay perforated pipe wrapped in fabric, bed it in drain rock, and run the outlet somewhere it can drain downhill on its own. On a property with a high water table or heavy clay, we go deeper and add more gravel so the system actually keeps up in a wet winter.
How does a French drain work?
A perforated pipe sits in a gravel-filled trench sloped away from your foundation. Water finds its way into the gravel, drops into the pipe, and travels by gravity to an outlet that drains downhill on its own — no pump needed on most lots.
Does your property need one?
If water pools against your foundation, a crawl space stays damp, or your yard holds water for days after rain, a French drain is usually the fix. We walk the property, check the slope and the soil, and tell you straight whether drainage — or something else — is the actual problem.
How it works
Site walk — We walk the site and check slope, soil and where the water is actually coming from.
Trenching — We cut the trench to the depth and grade the water needs to move.
Pipe & gravel — We lay fabric-wrapped perforated pipe and bed it in drain rock.
Outlet & restore — We run the outlet somewhere it drains downhill on its own, backfill, and restore the surface.
Dig work in nearby communities
Keep exploring
- What excavation costsTypical machine rates and price ranges.
- Site Prep & GradingClearing, stripping and grading to get a building pad ready for forms or gravel, with locates filed before anything moves.
- Footings & Foundation WorkFoundation and footing excavation cut to your drawings, shored or benched past 1.2 metres under WorkSafeBC rules.
- Nanaimo Excavators home
Ready for a quote on excavation in Nanaimo?
We walk your property and quote it free, anywhere in the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Text or call (778) 762-2194