An interior French drain is the Pocono standard because it treats water after it enters the basement, which is cheaper and more reliable than trying to seal 50-year-old foundation walls on the exterior. We cut the slab 10 to 14 inches off the foundation wall down to the footer, lay 4-inch rigid perforated pipe in 3/4 inch washed stone, wrap the stone bed in filter fabric so silt does not clog the system, then tie the pipe into a new 24-gallon sump basin with a cast iron pump. The slab gets poured back smooth over the trench. Linear footage drives the cost. Most 1,200 to 1,800 square foot Pocono basements run 90 to 160 linear feet of drain.
Pipe choice matters more than most homeowners realize. We only use rigid 4-inch perforated SDR 35 or similar schedule, never the flexible corrugated black junk sold at big-box stores. Flexible corrugated pipe collapses under slab load within 10 years and silt packs the ribs so the pipe cannot be jet-cleaned later. Rigid pipe stays round, holds grade, and can be jet-cleaned with a sewer rodder in year 15 if the stone bed ever silts up. On homes along the Delaware River floodplain near Shawnee on Delaware and Bushkill we also install observation ports at each corner so you can see the water level and check for silt buildup without demo.
The sump basin is the heart of the system and most leaks in a French drain install come back to a bad sump setup. We spec a 24-gallon basin minimum, cast iron primary pump at 1/3 HP for small basements and 1/2 HP for anything over 1,500 square feet, a vertical float switch instead of the tethered type that hangs up on the basin wall, a check valve above the pump on the discharge line, and a freeze-proof termination 4 feet out from the house. Battery backup is non-negotiable in Monroe County because the 4-day power outages we get in winter storms will flood an unprotected basement in 6 hours during spring snowmelt.
Exterior French drains along a driveway, yard, or buried downspout line are a different job. Those run outdoors from a high point to a low point by gravity, usually terminating at daylight on a hillside or in a dry well 20 feet from the house. Grade matters more than depth. A 1 percent fall minimum, 4-inch rigid pipe, 3/4 inch washed stone, filter fabric sock, and a cleanout tee at the high end. On a typical 80-foot run along a driveway in Mount Pocono or Tannersville we trench 24 to 30 inches deep, which puts us below the frost line so the system does not heave through the winter.
What we handle
Interior Perimeter French Drain
4-inch rigid perforated pipe in washed stone around the full interior basement perimeter, tied to a new 24-gallon sump basin and cast iron pump.
Exterior Footer French Drain
New footer drain installed after excavation during an exterior waterproofing job, terminating at daylight or in a dry well 20 feet from the house.
Yard and Surface French Drain
Linear trench drain for wet yards, driveway runoff, or a buried downspout tie-in that is dumping water against the foundation. Trenched 24 to 30 inches deep, below frost line.
Emergency Drain Line Replacement
Same-day call for a collapsed or clogged existing drain line. We camera the line, locate the break, and replace the bad section with rigid pipe, usually the same visit.
Sump Basin and Pump Install
24-gallon basin cut into an existing slab, cast iron pump, vertical float, check valve, and freeze-proof exterior discharge termination.
Battery Backup Sump Unit
Deep-cycle AGM battery backup pump that runs 6 to 10 hours on a full charge, sized for the 4-day power outages Monroe County gets in winter and spring storms.
Drain Line Jetting and Camera Inspection
Sewer-rodder jetting of silted older drain lines plus push-camera inspection to verify the line is clear end to end. Avoids a full rebuild when the pipe is still good.
How the job goes
1. Measure and Scope
We measure linear footage, mark the drain path with chalk, locate the planned sump basin, and verify exterior discharge path. Measure visit runs 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Slab Cutting and Spoil Haul
Day one of the install. Wet-cut the slab with dust extraction, break out the trench, haul the concrete and dirt. Plastic sheeting covers every surface above grade.
3. Pipe, Stone, and Sump Set
Day two. Lay the washed stone bed, drop the 4-inch rigid perforated pipe, cut in and set the sump basin, run the discharge line to the exterior, backfill with more stone and filter fabric.
4. Concrete Pour
Day three. Pour fresh concrete back over the trench, trowel smooth, 48-hour cure before reoccupying the basement. We match the existing slab finish.
5. Flood Test and Walkthrough
Day four. We pour 50 gallons of water around the perimeter and prove the system pumps it out. You get a walkthrough, the warranty in writing, and photos of the install under the slab.
What's included
- Full linear footage measure and chalk layout before any cut
- Wet-cut slab removal with dust extraction, not dry grinding
- 4-inch rigid perforated pipe, SDR 35 schedule, never flexible corrugated
- 3/4 inch washed stone bed wrapped in filter fabric
- 24-gallon sump basin with sealed lid
- Cast iron primary pump, 1/3 or 1/2 HP sized to basement square footage
- Vertical float switch and check valve above the pump
- Freeze-proof exterior discharge termination 4 feet out from the house
- Fresh concrete pour matched to existing slab finish
- Pumped flood test on completion
What it costs
Interior French drain systems run $6,000 to $18,000 in East Stroudsburg, driven by linear footage. Exterior yard drains run $45 to $75 per linear foot. Free on-site inspection.
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Perimeter French Drain | $6,000, $18,000 | 90 to 160 linear feet is typical, driven by basement perimeter and new sump basin cut-in. |
| Exterior Yard or Driveway French Drain | $45, $75 per foot | Deeper trenches, rock removal, and dry well termination push toward the high end. |
| Sump Basin and Cast Iron Pump Install | $1,200, $2,500 | 1/3 HP primary at the low end, 1/2 HP primary plus 24-gallon basin cut into existing slab at the top. |
| Battery Backup Sump Unit | $600, $1,400 | AGM battery, controller, and backup pump, run time 6 to 10 hours per charge. |
| Drain Line Camera and Jetting | $350, $900 | Clears silted older drains without full rebuild when the pipe is still structurally sound. |
| Free On-Site Measure and Written Quote | Free | Chalk layout, linear footage count, sump placement, and written scope on the spot. |
Ranges are typical for French Drain Installation jobs in East Stroudsburg and confirmed with an exact written quote before any work starts.