I recently purchased a house with outdoor basement stairs that lead down from the backyard. There's a water drain in that area, but it seems to be clogged with tree roots, which causes flooding whenever it rains heavily. I had a contractor come out to give me an estimate, and he quoted me between $8,000 to $12,000 for building a cover, depending on whether a permit would be necessary. The situation is similar to this example I found online: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/611926668089178645/. Is this estimate reasonable? Also, does anyone have suggestions for a more economical solution? I'm tired of dealing with water and leaves all the time. Thanks!
2 Answers
You might want to look into fixing or replacing the floor drain first before investing in a cover. Sometimes, tackling the root of the problem can save you money in the long run!
Consider reaching out to a metal fabrication shop with the measurements for your area. You might be able to get a lightweight aluminum cover that’s much cheaper than what the contractor quoted. Getting a quote for the drain replacement first could also help you make a more informed decision!
Thanks for the tip! If I get a quote for the aluminum cover, should I use that for DIY work or just keep it as a reference?
I actually called someone to fix it, but they said the tree roots are really bad and they couldn't even use their snake tool to unclog it.