Straight answers Frequently asked questions

Wet soil pushes against a foundation wall, and enough hydrostatic pressure forces water through hairline cracks, cold joints and porous concrete. A perimeter drain gives that groundwater a path away from the footing before it builds up, so the water leaves through the pipe instead of through the wall.

There is no single answer. How long a perimeter drain lasts depends on its material, the soil around it, how well it was installed and how it has been looked after, so two drains of the same age can be in very different shape. A camera run through the line shows how much working life a particular system has left.

Sometimes. The camera footage has to show how far the damage runs before we recommend either one. One collapsed or offset section in an otherwise clear pipe can point to a localized repair, while damage in several places points to replacing the run. We diagnose before we excavate, so you can see the problem before we recommend the repair.

Yes. Roots are drawn to the moisture inside a drain line and can work their way into older clay or concrete pipe through the joints and small cracks. Once inside, they trap sediment and eventually block or crack the pipe. Modern smooth-walled PVC is far more resistant to root intrusion than the older materials it usually replaces.

Perimeter drains carry the real load once the rainy season starts, and a marginal system that got through a dry summer often fails once heavy, sustained rain arrives in the fall. That's when hydrostatic pressure against the foundation is at its highest, and any weak point in old pipe tends to get found for you. We crew for winter work, so a problem that shows up in November doesn't have to wait until spring for a repair.

Yes. An addition or a partial repair can join new pipe to an older run, so one house can have two materials underground. A camera shows where one material meets the next.

No. A basement leak can come from failed perimeter drains, but it can just as easily be a foundation crack, a plumbing leak, poor grading around the house, blocked gutters, an overflowing window well, or surface water with nowhere to go. A drainage inspection identifies which of these is actually happening before anyone recommends a repair.

Yes. Even a minor leak can lead to mould, damaged finishes, and structural deterioration over time, and those problems tend to cost more the longer they're left. Addressing it early is almost always cheaper than waiting for it to get worse.

Yes. Ongoing moisture can lead to mould, structural deterioration, indoor air quality problems, and repairs that a buyer's inspector will flag. Fixing the source protects both your home and what it's worth, rather than masking the symptom and leaving the cause for the next owner to find.

Yes. Your roof drainage is the first line of defence against water reaching your foundation. When gutters overflow or a downspout empties right beside the house, that water saturates the soil next to the foundation and adds to the hydrostatic pressure pushing against your walls, which can overwhelm even a properly working perimeter drain. Keeping gutters clear, extending downspouts away from the house, and grading the ground to slope away from the foundation all help protect the system you already have.

A camera travels through the existing line and records its condition in real time, so we can see root intrusion, cracked or collapsed sections, offset joints, sediment buildup, and standing water directly, rather than guessing from symptoms at the surface. A locator marks the exact position and depth of anything we find, and you get the footage along with a written summary and recommendations.

Book directly or through your realtor. We need the address, your subject-removal deadline and how to get on site; anything already disclosed about water or drainage helps but is optional.

Yes. The camera goes through perimeter drains, sewer lines and storm lines, and we record what it finds in each, so you can see the condition of every run we checked. Which lines we inspect depends on what you need checked and what access allows.

A written report with camera footage and photos, a condition rating for the drainage system, and budget guidance for any repairs we'd recommend. Depending on the scope, it can also include a foundation evaluation, a surface grading assessment, and a check of the sump pump and catch basins where the property has them. We walk through the findings with you before you have to make any decisions.

Yes. We inspect and rate the condition of a building's drainage system and give council a written report with prioritized recommendations and budget ranges.

Because what's actually wrong underground drives the price, and there's no reliable way to know that without seeing it. A camera inspection tells us the pipe material, where it has failed, and how much excavation the repair actually needs. Pricing before that step means guessing, and guessing usually means a bigger number later, not a smaller one now.

Yes. Once we know what a job involves, from a camera inspection or an on-site assessment, you get the scope and the price in writing before any excavation starts. If something changes once the ground is open, that change gets approved by you first, not assumed and added to the invoice afterward.

Yes. We offer a 10-year workmanship warranty on full replacements, a 5-year warranty on sectional replacements and a 2-year warranty on spot repairs. It is provided in writing, and the exact terms are in your contract. Read that section before you sign and ask us about anything that is unclear.

Often the interior damage, almost never the drainage. Most policies cover sudden water damage to drywall, flooring and contents, but exclude seepage and a worn-out drain as gradual deterioration. The drain repair is on you. Check your policy for sewer backup and overland water, which are optional add-ons.

We work for you, not your insurer. We determine the cause: a camera inspection and site assessment tell us where the water came from and why, and you get a written report with photos and footage for your adjuster. Your insurer decides coverage; we make sure they decide it on accurate findings, and we advocate for you if they don't.

Yes. We tell you what to expect, make sure the adjuster has the documentation they need, explain the coverage decision in plain terms, and walk the adjuster through our findings if they have questions. You stay in charge of your claim.

Photograph everything before you clean up, then call us to find the cause. Finding water doesn't automatically mean opening a claim: if the cause is seepage or a failed drain, the repair likely isn't covered and a claim on your record can raise your premiums. Once you know the cause, you can decide whether a claim makes sense. If it does, report it promptly and don't start permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage.

No. The camera inspection and causation report is a paid service, and it is often the most useful document in your claim. Some insurers reimburse it; ask your adjuster.

In most cases, you do. Fixing the cause falls outside the claim. Where part of the damage is covered, the insurer pays its share of the covered work and you pay for the drainage or foundation repair.

Yes. They usually handle the dry-out and covered interior work; we handle the cause. We coordinate so nothing overlaps or gets missed. We can also quote interior reinstatement separately if you'd rather have one contractor.

Ask for their reasoning in writing and send it to us. We'll review it against our footage. If we still disagree, you can request a second adjuster or an independent review through your insurer.

Yes. Full perimeter drainage replacements with exterior foundation waterproofing carry our Built Better warranty for up to 10 years. Other work carries a workmanship warranty; terms are in your Work Authorization.

Usually only if your policy has a sewer backup or sump endorsement, and even then the pump itself is rarely covered. Pumps last about 8 to 12 years. If yours is past that, replacing it is a service call; waiting for it to fail is a claim. On a single-pump system we recommend scheduling the replacement once the pump is in that renewal window, even if it still passes a load test.

The cleanup and interior damage, if you carry sewer backup coverage. The sewer line itself is not: clearing roots or a blockage, replacing a failed section, or replacing the full line is on the homeowner. We camera the line first so you know which of the three you're dealing with before anyone quotes it.

Yes. You choose who works on your home, and a second quote is normal. Many homeowners bring us in to confirm the cause independently or to price the drainage repair the insurer's contractor isn't doing.

It comes off the covered portion of the claim only. The drainage or foundation repair sits outside the claim, so the deductible has nothing to do with it. If the covered damage is close to your deductible, it may not be worth filing at all.

Yes. Insurers ask about water history and the age of your drainage at renewal. A documented, photographed replacement shows the cause has been fixed, which helps with those questions and makes a repeat claim far less likely.

We prioritize active water problems. The diagnostic and written report usually follow within days of the site visit, so your claim isn't waiting on us.

Where the problem is in a line, a camera goes in first and you see the footage. You get the findings, scope and price in writing before work starts. Where a permit and inspection are required, we arrange them. Where we dig, we repair or replace what we found, waterproof any exposed wall that needs it, then backfill in compacted lifts and reinstate the ground. One crew handles the whole sequence.

Yes, where a permit is required. Requirements vary by municipality and by the scope of the work, so we check what applies to your project and arrange the permit and inspections.

A Drainage Pro crew. We work as one crew, start to finish, with one contract and one point of contact. Nothing gets subbed out to a crew you didn't hire.

Yes. Drainage and waterproofing work happens year-round here, and wet weather can actually help. Active rain makes it easier to see exactly where water is entering, which leads to a more accurate diagnosis and a repair that addresses the real cause instead of a guess made in dry weather.

If water is coming in now, call or text (604) 210-3892. Tell us what you are seeing, such as a flooded basement, a backed-up floor drain, a sump pump that has stopped or a sewer line that will not clear, and we will work out the right next step with you. The camera goes in before anything gets dug.

Call or text (604) 210-3892, or book online through our website. Tell us what you're seeing, and if it isn't urgent we'll confirm your appointment by phone within one business day. If you already have a diagnosis and just need pricing, ask for a quote instead of an inspection.

We're based in North Vancouver and work across North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver and Burnaby. Those four cities are our core service area, and the North Shore's terrain and rain patterns are what we know best.

Outside North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver and Burnaby? Ask us about your address. Tell us where the property is and what you are seeing, and we will tell you whether it is a fit.

Both. We work on older homes, newer builds and strata properties across North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver and Burnaby.