Crawl Space Drainage Systems in Metro Atlanta
A crawl space drainage system is the network of perforated pipe, washed stone, sump basin and discharge line that collects water arriving at or under the crawl space floor and moves it to a discharge point away from the foundation before it can pond.
- Typical range
- $2,800 – $11,000
- Unit pricing
- $45–$95 per linear foot of drain installed
- Time on site
- 2 to 4 days on site
- Permit
- Required
What drainage costs
An interior perimeter drain with a sealed sump and pump on a typical Metro Atlanta crawl space runs $5,500 to $9,000, while exterior grading and downspout correction alone can run $600 to $2,500.
| Line item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior perimeter drain in washed stone with filter fabric | $45 | $95 | linear ft |
| Exterior footing drain, excavated | $60 | $150 | linear ft |
| Sealed sump basin, pump and check valve | $1,200 | $2,600 | each |
| Discharge line to daylight | $18 | $42 | linear ft |
| Gutter and downspout correction | $120 | $400 | per downspout |
| Land disturbance permit where required | $150 | $600 | per project |
What drives the number
- Interior perimeter versus exterior footing drain approach
- Linear footage and trenching difficulty in Cecil clay
- Depth to bedrock, which can make exterior drainage impossible
- Sump pump horsepower, battery backup, and discharge run length
- Whether a septic drain field constrains the discharge route
These ranges are a planning model built for this site, not a survey of what other contractors charge. It has three inputs. Material quantities are taken off a reference 1,400 square foot crawl space with 150 linear feet of foundation wall, priced at Metro Atlanta supplier list rates. Labour hours are costed against Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the Atlanta metropolitan area, where the mean hourly wage was $34.57 in May 2025. Permit fees come from the published schedules of the jurisdictions listed on this site. .
Signs you need drainage
- Water entering at a predictable spot on the same wall every storm
- A sump pump that cannot keep up or short-cycles
- Soft, saturated soil in one section of an otherwise dry crawl space
- Erosion rills or channels in the crawl space dirt
- A discharge line that ends within a few feet of the foundation
Terms you will hear
perforated pipe, washed stone, filter fabric, sump basin, check valve, daylight discharge. These come up in every honest quote for this work. A quote that avoids all of them is describing a product rather than a repair.
When drainage is the wrong purchase
If the water is roof water from a clogged gutter or a downspout dumping at the foundation, that is a few hundred dollars of correction and does not need a drainage system.
Transparent pricing, published first
Every service page shows line-item ranges and the local factors that move them, before you call. If a quote you receive falls outside them, you have something concrete to ask about.
A written scope before any work starts
Written scope and price before any work starts. Quotes are honored for 30 days.
Response time we hold ourselves to
A crawl space specialist calls back within 60 minutes during posted hours, and by 9:00 AM the next morning for after-hours calls.
Licensing you can verify yourself
Georgia requires contractor licensing above $2,500 in project value. Ask for the number, then check it against the state register yourself. Georgia Secretary of State licence lookup
How drainage is done
- 1Determine whether the water is surface runoff, roof water, or groundwater, because each has a different fix
- 2Exhaust the low-cost exterior corrections first: gutter cleaning, downspout extensions, regrading
- 3Design the interior drain path around the foundation perimeter and any interior piers
- 4Excavate, bed perforated pipe in washed stone, and wrap in filter fabric
- 5Install the sealed sump basin at the low point with a check valve
- 6Route the discharge to daylight at least ten feet from the foundation or to an approved storm connection
- 7Test the system with introduced water and document the pump cycle
Crawl Space Drainage Systems by city
We also cover drainage in these cities. Each city hub carries its local conditions and permit path:
Crawl Space Drainage Systems: common questions
What is crawl space drainage systems?
A crawl space drainage system is the network of perforated pipe, washed stone, sump basin and discharge line that collects water arriving at or under the crawl space floor and moves it to a discharge point away from the foundation before it can pond.
How much does drainage cost in Metro Atlanta?
An interior perimeter drain with a sealed sump and pump on a typical Metro Atlanta crawl space runs $5,500 to $9,000, while exterior grading and downspout correction alone can run $600 to $2,500. These ranges are a planning model built for this site, not a survey of what other contractors charge.
How long does drainage take?
2 to 4 days on site. The schedule extends when a permit and inspection are involved, or when water has to be intercepted before the main work can start.
Do I need a permit for drainage in Georgia?
Electrical permit for the sump pump circuit. Exterior excavation may trigger a land disturbance permit depending on jurisdiction and disturbed area.
When is drainage the wrong purchase?
If the water is roof water from a clogged gutter or a downspout dumping at the foundation, that is a few hundred dollars of correction and does not need a drainage system.
More reading: Crawl Space Encapsulation Problems · Crawl Space Smells Like Cat Pee (And You Have No Cat) · Crawl Space Vents: Open or Closed in Georgia?