Best French Drain Contractors in Montréal (2026)
In brief
- Installing or replacing a French drain costs between $15,000 and $40,000 in Greater Montréal
- We compared 10 French drain contractors active in the Montréal area
- Criteria: verified Google reviews, RBQ licence, specialization, service area
- Best season for the work: April to November
Whether for the installation or replacement of a French drain that is aging, or an urgent repair after water infiltration, choosing the right French drain contractor in Montréal makes all the difference. With dozens of companies active in this niche across Québec, we analyzed the most active French drain contractors in the metropolitan area based on their verified Google reviews, their specialization and their market presence.
Excavation Chanthier — Terrebonne (Lanaudière / Greater Montréal)
Excavation Chanthier is a contractor specialized in exterior and interior French drains, serving Greater Montréal, Laval, the North Shore and Lanaudière. The company stands out with a turnkey approach that includes foundation waterproofing, Delta-MS membrane installation, connection to the municipal sewer, and full restoration of the property.
Their team of 5 to 10 employees handles the entire process — from camera inspection to the final warranty — with no subcontracting. They also offer complementary excavation, demolition and sewer-repair services, which lets you bundle several jobs into a single project.
What sets them apart:
- Online price calculator — one of the only ones in the industry, gives an instant estimate
- No subcontracting — all work done by their own team
- Complementary services — excavation, demolition, sewers (one contractor for the whole project)
- Bilingual — service in French and English
- Extended service area — Montréal, Laval, North Shore, Lanaudière, Laurentians and more than 50 municipalities
2. Fondaco — French Drains and Crack Repair
Fondaco specializes in installing French drains and repairing foundation cracks. With a 4.9/5 rating, it is one of the most active French drain contractors in the Montréal area’s advertising campaigns.
🌐 fondaco.ca3. Groupe Durasec — Terrebonne
Groupe Durasec offers French drain, waterproofing and camera-inspection services. Based in Terrebonne, the company is present in both main advertising markets for French drains in Montréal.
🌐 groupedurasec.com4. Solex Expert (drain-francais.ca) — Sainte-Catherine
Solex Expert, owner of the drain-francais.ca domain, offers French drain installation and replacement services on the South Shore. Founded in 2007, this French drain contractor also covers excavation and concrete work.
🌐 drain-francais.ca5. Systèmes Sous-sol Québec — Laval
Systèmes Sous-sol Québec is the biggest player on this list in terms of Google review volume (1,051). Specialized in basement waterproofing, the company also offers French drain installation as a complement to its drainage solutions.
🌐 systemessoussolsquebec.ca6. Sous-Sol Sécure — Montréal
Sous-Sol Sécure offers waterproofing and French drain services in the Montréal area. With a 4.9/5 rating across 57 reviews, the company is an active competitor in the French drain advertising market.
🌐 soussolsecure.ca7. MJO Excavation — Mont-Saint-Hilaire
MJO Excavation is a French drain contractor based on Montréal’s South Shore. Despite a smaller number of reviews (34), the company has a very aggressive advertising presence with one of the highest top-position rates in the market.
🌐 mjoexcavation.ca8. Excavation Rive-Sud — Richelieu
Excavation Rive-Sud offers excavation and French drain services in the Richelieu area and Montréal’s South Shore. The contractor is available 24 hours and covers residential drainage work.
🌐 excavationrive-sud.com9. JLK Companies — Lorraine
JLK Companies offers excavation and foundation services including French drain installation in the Laurentians and Montréal’s North Shore.
🌐 jlkexcavationfondation.com10. Drain-Spartiate — Anjou, Montréal
Drain-Spartiate is the only French drain contractor on this list with a perfect 5.0/5 rating across 190 Google reviews. Specialized in cleaning, camera inspection and drain unclogging, the company is based in Anjou and covers the metropolitan area.
🌐 drain-spartiate.comFrench Drain Contractors — Comparison Table
| Contractor | Google Rating | Reviews | Region | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation Chanthier | 4.9/5 | 76 | Terrebonne, Lanaudière | Turnkey French drain, excavation, demolition |
| Fondaco | 4.9/5 | 61 | Greater Montréal | French drains, foundation cracks |
| Groupe Durasec | 4.3/5 | 64 | Terrebonne | Drainage, waterproofing, inspection |
| Solex Expert | 4.8/5 | 51 | Sainte-Catherine | French drains, excavation, concrete |
| Systèmes Sous-sol Québec | 4.8/5 | 1,051 | Laval | Waterproofing, French drains |
| Sous-Sol Sécure | 4.9/5 | 57 | Montréal | Waterproofing, French drains |
| MJO Excavation | 4.9/5 | 34 | Mont-Saint-Hilaire | Drainage, excavation |
| Excavation Rive-Sud | 4.8/5 | 40 | Richelieu | Excavation, French drains |
| JLK Companies | 4.1/5 | 26 | Lorraine | Excavation, foundation |
| Drain-Spartiate | 5.0/5 | 190 | Anjou, Montréal | Cleaning, inspection, unclogging |
How to Choose Your French Drain Contractor
Essential checks before signing
- Valid RBQ licence — Check the RBQ register. Every French drain contractor must hold an active licence
- Liability insurance — Minimum $2M in civil liability insurance. Ask for written proof
- Verified Google reviews — See the comparison table above. Favor a 4.5+ rating with at least 50 reviews
- Detailed quote — It must include: drain length, material type, membrane, connection, property restoration and warranty
- Municipal permits — Confirm the contractor handles the permits for you
- Camera inspection — Favor a French drain contractor who offers an inspection before the work for an accurate diagnosis
Red flags to watch for
- Abnormally low price — a well-installed French drain lasts 30+ years, beware of shortcuts
- No RBQ licence shown, or a refusal to provide it
- Request for full payment before the work begins
- No written contract or a vague quote
How much does a French drain cost in Montréal?
A French drain costs between $15,000 and $40,000 in the Montréal area. The price depends on the foundation length (measured in linear feet), the soil type, site accessibility and any complementary work required (waterproofing, sewer connection, membrane replacement). Always request at least 3 detailed quotes to compare.
How is a French drain installed?
Installing a French drain involves several steps: excavation around the foundation down to the footing, cleaning and inspecting the foundation, applying a waterproofing membrane (such as Delta-MS), installing the perforated pipe (minimum 100 mm in diameter) on a bed of clean stone, covering with clean stone (minimum 150 mm), laying a geotextile membrane, connecting to the drainage system (storm sewer or sump pit), then backfilling and restoring the property. The work usually takes between 3 and 7 business days.
What is a French drain cleanout chimney?
A French drain cleanout chimney (also called an access chimney) is a vertical pipe installed at the corners of the foundation that gives access to the drain for camera inspection and pressure cleaning without having to excavate. The BNQ 3661-500 standard recommends installing cleanout chimneys, particularly in areas at risk of iron ochre. The cost of installing a chimney is generally included in the French drain price.
How much does it cost to clean a French drain?
Cleaning a French drain costs between $300 and $800 depending on accessibility (via a cleanout chimney or not) and the degree of clogging. Preventive cleaning every 3 to 5 years is recommended to extend the system’s lifespan, which averages 25 to 40 years. Cleaning is especially important in areas prone to iron ochre.
How much does a French drain camera inspection cost?
A camera inspection of a French drain costs between $200 and $500 in the Montréal area. This diagnosis checks the drain’s condition without excavation: debris buildup, the presence of iron ochre, sagging or disconnected pipes. Several French drain contractors on this list, including Excavation Chanthier and Groupe Durasec, offer this service.
What is the difference between an interior and exterior French drain?
The exterior French drain is installed around the outer perimeter of the foundation — it is the standard and most effective solution for capturing water before it reaches the foundation. The interior French drain is installed inside the basement, along the perimeter of the concrete slab — it redirects water that has already penetrated toward a sump pit. The exterior drain generally costs between $15,000 and $40,000 (excavation required), while the interior drain costs between $5,000 and $15,000.