Quick Answer
A French drain in Belmont prices at $45–75 per linear foot all-in (materials + labor), with foundation-perimeter jobs (15–80 lin-ft) averaging $60/lin-ft and yard-interior runs averaging $50/lin-ft. Material cost runs $22–28/lin-ft for ¾" stone, fabric, and 4" perforated PVC. Labor at 4–6 lin-ft per crew-hour. This worksheet shows the bid math for a typical 50-foot Belmont foundation drain at $3,000.
Why Belmont French Drain Pricing Differs
Belmont's older neighborhoods — Cushing Square, Belmont Hill, the Waverley side — have mature shade trees, root-intrusion in old drains, and tight property lines that complicate trenching. Material delivery routing into Belmont adds 10–15% on freight versus Watertown or Waltham. Most Belmont jobs end up in the $50–65/lin-ft range all-in.
This worksheet covers the bidding math contractors need for the standard Belmont foundation drain and the variations.
Standard Spec for the Worksheet
A typical Belmont French drain:
- Trench: 12" wide × 18" deep
- Fabric: non-woven geotextile, full envelope (under stone + folded over top)
- Stone: ¾" washed stone, 4 cubic yards per 50 linear feet
- Pipe: 4" perforated PVC, holes-down configuration
- Daylight: 4–8 ft of solid PVC at low end to discharge into swale or pop-up emitter
Browse French drain & drainage for current per-yard pricing.
Material Cost Per Linear Foot
For a 50-foot job:
| Item | Quantity | Unit Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¾" washed stone | 4 cu yd | ~$65/yd | $260 |
| 4" perforated PVC pipe | 50 ft | ~$2.50/ft | $125 |
| 4" solid PVC (daylight) | 8 ft | ~$3.00/ft | $24 |
| Couplings + caps | 4 ea | ~$8 ea | $32 |
| Non-woven geotextile fabric | 80 sq ft | ~$0.40/sq ft | $32 |
| Pop-up emitter | 1 | $15 | $15 |
| Material subtotal (50 ft) | $488 | ||
| Per linear foot | ~$10/lin-ft |
Add 10% waste/contingency: ~$11/lin-ft material cost.
(Pricing approximate; check current Ottr per-yard rates.)
Labor Cost Per Linear Foot
Labor breakdown for a 2-person crew on a typical Belmont foundation drain:
- Trench: Hand-dig in tight foundation work; mini-excavator in open yard. Belmont jobs split 60/40 hand/mini.
- Hand: 1.5 lin-ft per labor-hour
- Mini-excavator: 8 lin-ft per labor-hour
- Blended: 4 lin-ft per crew-hour (2 people)
- Pipe lay + stone fill: 6 lin-ft per crew-hour
- Fabric + backfill + cleanup: 10 lin-ft per crew-hour
- Blended overall labor rate: ~3.5 lin-ft per crew-hour
For 50 lin-ft = 14 crew-hours, or 7 hours for a 2-person crew.
At $80/hour billed rate per crew-hour: $1,120 labor for 50 ft = $22/lin-ft.
(Belmont billed rates run $70–90/hr depending on crew loading; adjust accordingly.)
Mini-Excavator Add-On
Belmont yards big enough to back a mini in cut hand-trenching costs by 50%. Mini-excavator rental: $300/day. Saves 4 crew-hours = $320 labor. Net savings on a 50-ft job: ~$0–80, but schedule speed is the real win — finish in 1 day instead of 2.
Use a mini if: - Trench length exceeds 40 lin-ft - Backyard access is at least 6 ft wide gate - No utilities directly in the trench line (call DigSafe 811)
Total Bid for 50-ft Foundation Drain
| Cost Category | Per Lin-Ft | 50-ft Total |
|---|---|---|
| Materials (with waste) | $11 | $550 |
| Labor (2-person crew) | $22 | $1,100 |
| Equipment (mini if used, prorated) | $4 | $200 |
| Overhead + profit (25%) | $9 | $463 |
| TOTAL BID | $46/lin-ft | $2,313 |
Most Belmont contractors land bids at $50–65/lin-ft including markup variability and difficulty factors.
Belmont-Specific Add-Ons
| Add-On | Reason | Add per Lin-Ft |
|---|---|---|
| Tree-root cutting | Belmont mature trees | +$8 |
| Tight access (single-axle dumper only) | Cushing Square row houses | +$6 |
| Hardscape removal (existing patio cut) | Some Belmont Hill yards | +$15 |
| Drywell at discharge | No daylight option | +$400 flat |
| Permit + DigSafe coordination | Belmont requires | +$150 flat |
A complex Belmont job with all add-ons can hit $80/lin-ft. A simple flat-yard job runs $42/lin-ft.
Crew Logistics
A 2-person crew can do a 50-ft Belmont French drain in 1.5 days:
- Day 1 morning: Mark, trench, lay fabric.
- Day 1 afternoon: Lay pipe, partial stone fill.
- Day 2 morning: Top stone, fold fabric, backfill, clean up.
Schedule deliveries: stone arrives day 1 morning, not earlier (Belmont street parking complicates pile staging). Order from French drain & drainage with 24-hour lead time.
For the construction technique, see How to Trench a French Drain in a Boston Backyard — Belmont method is identical.
What You'll Need from Ottr
Per 50-ft job:
- ¾" washed stone: 4 cubic yards
- Topsoil Loam ½" Screened: 1 cubic yard for backfill top + grass restoration
Browse Belmont landscape supply for delivery scheduling, crushed stone for the bulk material, and the French drain collection for everything else.
For the universal pricing logic with adjustments by town, see Pricing French Drain Jobs in Any MA: Lin-Ft Worksheet. For the broader drainage menu, see Top 5 Drainage Solutions for Newton Properties.
The short version: Belmont French drain prices at $50–65/lin-ft for most jobs. Materials run $11/ft, labor $22/ft, overhead/profit on top. Mini-excavator changes the math.
For the EPA Stormwater Management framework Belmont uses for drainage compliance, the federal program covers municipal-scale standards that flow down to residential best practice.
