2026-08-28 — Ottawa-Gatineau
New dryer in the basement, a range hood to vent outside, a heat pump going in? You need a clean hole through the foundation. Short answer: a 4 to 6-inch core-drilled hole in a concrete wall costs $150 to $350 in Ottawa-Gatineau — but the mobilization minimum ($300–$400) means bundling several holes into one visit changes everything.
2026 price grid by hole type
- Dryer vent (4 in): $150 – $250 when bundled, otherwise the mobilization minimum applies
- Range hood (6–8 in): $200 – $350
- Heat pump / furnace (3–4 in): $150 – $250
- Electrical conduit or plumbing (2–4 in): $150 – $250
- Additional holes same day: often $75 – $150 each — the equipment is already set up
The takeaway: the first hole pays for the trip. One hole at $350 or three holes at $500 — same trip, same setup. Take the opportunity to drill everything your other projects need (bathroom vent, generator conduit, irrigation line).
Why core drill instead of hammering it out?
- A perfectly round hole. The vent sleeve seals cleanly — no gap to stuff with foam that eventually leaks.
- No cracking. Diamond coring doesn't vibrate. A rotary hammer in a foundation is a recipe for micro-cracks around the hole — and water always finds the cracks.
- Through rebar without drama. A steel bar in the way? The diamond core bit slices it cleanly, without tearing out the concrete around it.
- Clean indoors. We core wet with water recovery: no dust in your finished basement.
What moves the price
- Wall thickness and type. An 8-inch poured concrete foundation cores fast. Filled cinder block, or the stone foundations of older downtown homes, take longer.
- Exterior access. A hole 2 feet off the ground in a clear yard versus one 6 feet up behind a cedar hedge — setup time isn't the same.
- Height and angle. A hole needs a slight slope toward the outside so condensation drains out, not in. We drill it with the angle built in.
Diamond coring: a clean hole, no cracks
Ready for the vent sleeve, sealed watertightTypical range for a 4 to 6-inch cored hole through a foundation in Ottawa-Gatineau. Bundled holes: from $75 each on top of the first.
Classic mistakes to avoid
- Drilling through a mortar joint "to go faster." The hole is never round, the seal never holds, and you've just opened a water path straight into your wall.
- Poor dryer vent placement. Too close to the ground = blocked by snow in winter. Too close to a window or air intake = moisture finds its way back in. The rule: at least 12 inches above finished grade, clear of openings.
- Forgetting the damper. A vent without a backdraft damper is an invitation to mice and cold air. A few dollars well spent.
- DIY with a standard masonry bit. For a 4-inch diameter through 8 inches of reinforced concrete, the hardware-store drill dies before the halfway mark — and the hole comes out oval.
Want the full coring picture, all diameters? We published the 2026 coring price grid and the complete concrete coring guide. For a quote, tell us how many holes, the diameters, and send a photo of the wall. See our coring service → — free quote within 24 hours.