Drainage Stone Cost
Clean 3/4" clear crushed stone is the standard bedding material for weeping tile and French drain systems, chosen specifically because it has no fines to clog the pipe's perforations over time. Using dirty gravel or stone with too much fine material is a common shortcut that causes drains to silt up and fail within a few years.
Pricing typically runs comparable to standard clear stone delivery, with total volume depending on trench length and depth.
Get a direct quote from Natural Stone Source Ontario for drainage stone. Need the trenching done too? See Drainage System Installation Cost on Pro Operator Network.
Choosing the Right Drainage Stone
Drainage stone works by having voids between the particles for water to move through, which means it must be clean and washed. Any fines, whether dust, sand or crusher residue, fill those voids and turn a drainage layer into a barrier. Washed, single-sized angular stone is the standard for perimeter drains, French drains, and stone behind retaining walls.
Wrap the stone in geotextile wherever it meets soil. Without separation fabric, fine soil migrates into the voids over a few seasons and the drain silts up. This is the single most common reason a drain that worked on installation stops working later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size stone is used for drainage?
Clean, washed, angular stone in a single size range is standard, commonly around three quarters of an inch for perimeter and French drains. The important characteristic is that it is washed and free of fines, so the voids stay open.
Why does drainage stone need to be washed?
Because fines block the voids that the water moves through. Unwashed stone carries dust and sand that migrate down and seal the layer. A drainage trench built with unwashed material can stop draining within a season.
Do I need fabric around a French drain?
Yes, in almost every case. Geotextile between the stone and the surrounding soil stops fine particles migrating into the voids. Drains built without it silt up over a few years and have to be dug out and rebuilt.
How much drainage stone do I need for a trench?
Multiply trench length by width by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then convert to tons using the supplier figure for that stone. Add a margin for trench walls that are never as neat as the drawing.