Cost guide
Interior drain tile cost in the Metro East
Real bid bands for Metro East Illinois, plus the line items that make two quotes comparable instead of confusing.
Interior drain tile is the workhorse fix for Metro East basements. Below is the price band we see on real bids, what a complete scope contains, and the three numbers to compare when two contractors are $4,000 apart.
| Scope | Typical Metro East bid range |
|---|---|
| Partial run, one wall (about 20-35 linear ft) | $3,200 - $5,800 |
| Two walls (about 50-70 linear ft) | $4,900 - $8,400 |
| Full perimeter, 1,200-1,800 sq ft footprint | $6,000 - $12,000 |
| Add: new sump pit, basin and primary pump | $1,400 - $2,600 |
| Add: egress-side or under-stair rerouting | $600 - $1,500 |
| Add: full-wall vapor barrier | $3 - $7 per sq ft |
How much does interior drain tile cost in the Metro East?
Short answerA full-perimeter interior drain tile system in the Metro East typically runs $6,000 to $12,000 installed, including the trench, washed stone, pipe, vapor barrier and concrete patch. A partial run along one or two walls usually lands between $3,200 and $5,800.
What is actually included in that price?
Short answerA complete bid covers breaking the perimeter slab, excavating the footing trench, laying perforated pipe in washed stone, tying it into a sump pit, a wall vapor barrier, and re-pouring the concrete. If any of those five lines is missing, the bid is not comparable.
Why is the second bid half the price of the first?
Short answerAlmost always because it is a partial run, a shallower trench, or a system set on top of the footing instead of beside it. Ask each contractor for linear feet, trench depth relative to the footing, and stone volume, then compare those three numbers rather than the totals.
Does interior drain tile need a new sump pit?
Short answerUsually yes. Existing pits in older Metro East homes are often too shallow or too small to accept a full perimeter tie-in, and reusing one is the most common reason a new system still leaves standing water on the floor.
How long does the install take and can we stay in the house?
Short answerTwo to four days for a typical Metro East basement, and yes, you stay. The loud work is the concrete saw on day one. Expect concrete dust everywhere within about 30 feet of the cut, which is why plastic containment should be a line item on the bid.
Does it come with a warranty that survives selling the house?
Short answerGood Metro East installers write a transferable warranty on the drain tile system itself, often lifetime on the trench and one to five years on the pump. Pump warranties and system warranties are separate documents, and buyers' inspectors will ask for both.
Get the scope in writing
Ask for linear feet, trench depth and stone volume. A licensed local contractor can put all three on the page before you commit to anything.
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