You’ve got water pooling in your yard or creeping into your crawl space, and now you’re hearing that a French drain might be the fix. But before you start digging—or calling someone who will—you want the real question answered:
How much is this going to cost me?
We get it. Most contractors dodge this question like it’s hot lava. But we’re not most contractors. Here’s a no-fluff, local breakdown of French drain pricing, what drives the cost up (or down), and what you can expect when hiring a professional in the Greenville area.
Typical French Drain Costs in Greenville
For most single-family homes in the Upstate, a basic French drain installation will run between $1,000 and $4,000. That range covers standard jobs like:
- Redirecting water from soggy yards
- Solving minor erosion or puddling problems
- Installing 20 to 50 feet of drainpipe
Larger or more complex jobs—like foundation perimeter drains, long runs across sloped property, or situations requiring concrete cutting—can push into the $5,000 to $9,000 range.
Still with us? Good. Let’s break down where those numbers come from.
What Affects the Cost?
1. Length of the Drain
The longer the trench, the more labor, pipe, and gravel required. A small 20-foot drain near a flowerbed costs far less than a 100-foot system running along the back of your property.
2. Soil Type and Accessibility
Greenville has a lot of clay, which can be tougher to dig and slower to drain—both of which can increase labor costs. Plus, if your yard is tight, steep, or blocked by landscaping, that can affect how we work.
3. Drain Depth and Complexity
Are we skimming the surface to fix a soggy lawn? Or trenching deep around a crawl space to keep your house dry? Deeper means more material, more safety considerations, and more cost.
4. Drainage Outlet
Where the water goes matters. Sometimes we can redirect it to a storm drain or sloped section of your yard. Other times, we need to install a dry well or pump system, which adds cost.
5. DIY vs. Professional Install
Could you do it yourself? Maybe. But a failed DIY French drain is one of the most common things we’re called to redo. Getting the slope wrong, using the wrong gravel, or failing to route the water properly will turn your “savings” into a redo bill.
What You Get With a Pro Install
When you work with Greenville French Drains, you’re not just paying for labor. You’re paying for:
- A properly designed drainage solution tailored to your yard
- High-quality pipe and gravel (no shortcuts, no junk)
- Clean work that respects your lawn and landscaping
- Long-term peace of mind that the water’s gone for good
We keep it simple. We explain everything. And we won’t talk you into something you don’t need.
Okay, But Can You Give Me a Quote?
Absolutely. We’ll come out, take a look, and give you a clear price. No obligation, no pressure, no salesy nonsense.
Call or text 578-393-4937 to set up a walk-through, or fill out the quick form on our website. We’ll shoot straight, tell you what it’ll take, and get your yard back on solid (and dry) ground.
