Drain Bros

What Drain Bros does

Drain Bros Excavating Ltd is a privately held, vertically integrated construction and aggregates company founded in 1971 by brothers Darrell and John Drain in Norwood, Ontario. The company operates 20+ quarries and pits across the Kawarthas region, producing limestone, sand and gravel, traprock, and rose granite aggregate products. These raw materials feed a state-of-the-art asphalt plant in Norwood and a cut stone production facility in Havelock, Ontario, supporting both internal consumption and direct-to-customer sales of finished stone products (sawn, guillotined, and natural armour stone with multiple finishes including saw cut, polished, flamed, and bushhammer).

The company delivers site construction services spanning road construction on Canadian Shield terrain, residential and commercial paving, demolition, septic bed installation, land development, shoreline construction, landscaping, tennis and pickleball court construction (via partnership with Tennex Systems), barge services for Stoney Lake island properties, and waste bin rentals. Its asset base includes 85+ dump trucks and 175+ pieces of heavy machinery, deployed across the regional operation by 400+ employees.

Drain Bros operates a sales-led, quote-based direct distribution model with no resellers or intermediaries. Customers — including homeowners, cottage owners, commercial developers (Costco, Home Depot, Canadian Tire), and municipal clients (City of Peterborough, Peterborough Regional Health Centre) — contact the company directly via phone or website to request quotes. Marketing relies almost entirely on word-of-mouth referrals and a content-driven website; no digital advertising or formal sales channels are documented. Revenue streams are diversified across aggregate product sales, asphalt and paving services, site construction contracts, specialty stone products, and waste management rentals.

Name

Drain Bros

Legal name

Drain Bros Excavating Ltd

Website

https://drainbros.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drain Bros Excavating Ltd is a vertically integrated Ontario construction and aggregates firm serving residential, commercial, and municipal customers across the Kawarthas region with quarried aggregates, asphalt, paving, and full-service site construction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Construction & Aggregate Supply

NAICS

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (2123), Stone Mining and Quarrying (21231), Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying (212312), Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying (212311), Construction Sand and Gravel Mining (212321)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950), Cut Stone & Stone Products (3281)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Aggregates Mining & Processing (Sand, Gravel, Crushed Stone) (IMADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aggregate Processing & Value-Added Products (Washing, Screening, Asphalt/Concrete Aggregates) (IMAKAHAH), Other Dimension Stone (Slate, Sandstone, Quartzite, Travertine) Quarrying & Fabrication (IMAKAHAF), Specialty Aggregates (Rail Ballast, Riprap/Armor Stone, Gabion Stone) (IMAKAHAJ), Limestone Quarrying (Industrial & Construction Grade) (IMAKAHAC)

Keywords

• Construction aggregate supply
• Asphalt paving services
• Civil construction services
• Quarry operations
• Land development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwood

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Aggregates Sales: Sale of limestone, sand, gravel, traprock, rose granite, and other aggregate products from strategically located pits and quarries throughout the Kawarthas region
2. Asphalt and Paving Services: Residential and commercial asphalt paving services using locally produced asphalt from company's Norwood plant
3. Construction Services: Comprehensive site construction services including road construction, demolition, land development, shoreline construction, septic bed installation, landscaping, tennis court construction, and barge services
4. Waste Bin Rental: Rental of 20 and 30 yard waste bins for construction waste, household waste, and yard waste with delivery and pickup services
5. Cut Stone Products: Custom sawn, guillotined and natural armour stone products including window sills, curbing, steps, pier caps, patio stones, building stone, and specialty stone finishes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Drain Bros Excavating Ltd produces and supplies construction aggregates — limestone, sand and gravel, traprock, and rose granite — extracted from over 20 quarries and pits across the Kawartha region, and operates a state-of-the-art asphalt plant in Norwood, Ontario. The company also delivers end-to-end site construction services including residential and commercial paving, road construction on Canadian Shield terrain, demolition, septic bed installation, land development, shoreline construction, landscaping, tennis and pickleball court construction, barge services on Stoney Lake, and waste bin rental. A Havelock-based cut stone plant produces sawn, guillotined, and natural armour stone products in custom finishes.

Product overview

Drain Bros Excavating Ltd is a construction services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for the Kawarthas region. The core offering centers on aggregates (limestone, sand and gravel, traprock, rose granite products) extracted from over 20 quarries and pits, combined with a state-of-the-art asphalt plant in Norwood, Ontario. Key services include commercial and residential paving, road construction, demolition, septic bed installation, land development, landscaping, shoreline construction, barge services for Stoney Lake islands, tennis/pickleball court construction, and waste bin rentals. The company also produces specialty stone products (sawn, guillotined, and natural armour stone) from its Havelock cut stone production plant. These products and services function as an integrated one-stop solution for civil construction, land development, and infrastructure projects across residential, commercial, and cottage markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aggregates High-quality aggregate products including limestone (HL3, HL4, HL8 stone, rip-rap, clear limestone, crusher run, screenings), sand and gravel (round natural stone, river stone, washed stone, granular materials), traprock products, rose granite products, and other materials (clay, peat moss, topsoil, triple mix, mulch, cold mix, QPR mix, crushed recycled asphalt). Delivered from strategically located pits and quarries in the Kawarthas region to construction customers.
• Commercial and Residential Paving Asphalt and paving services using 100% locally manufactured asphalt from the company's plant in Norwood, Ontario. Services include asphalt repairs and new road construction for residential driveways and commercial properties.
• Sawn, Guillotined & Natural Armour Stone Cut stone products from the Havelock, Ontario plant including window sills, sawn curbing, rock-pitched sawn steps, pier caps, patio stones, edging stones, guillotine armour, garden cubes, building stone, 7x8 wallstone sawn, jumbo flag, natural armour, and custom work. Stone finishes include saw cut polished limestone, sandblast, polished Belmont rose, polished basalt, custom polish, limestone bushhammer, and flamed finish.
• Demolition Full-service demolition services with equipment and experienced staff, including assistance with permits, safe and effective project completion, and recycling practices with expert guidance on processes and permits.
• Road Construction Private road construction services in the Kawarthas region, including expertise in building roads on challenging Canadian Shield terrain for rural cottage properties.
• Septic Bed Installation Septic system installation services with a dedicated team of skilled machine operators and truck drivers. Includes expert guidance on procedures and permits for residential properties.
• Barge Services - Stoney Lake Professional barge services for island projects on Stoney Lake and surrounding area, with over 30 years of experience. Services include rates and scheduling information for construction materials delivery.
• Shoreline Construction Shoreline enhancement services that transform shorelines into functional masterworks, addressing erosion, access, and docking concerns while enhancing property appeal and resale value for cottagers and rural homeowners.
• Land Development Comprehensive, start-to-finish land development services on a large scale with skilled team and advanced equipment handling every aspect of the development process for residential, commercial, and municipal clients.
• Landscaping Custom landscape design and implementation for residential and commercial properties, including stone patios, walkways, gardens, and water features.
• Tennis and Pickleball Courts Professional grade tennis and pickleball court construction services, working alongside Tennex Systems Inc. to provide courts for residential and cottage properties.
• Waste Bin Rental Waste management solutions providing 20 and 30 yard waste bins for construction waste, broken asphalt and concrete, household waste, and yard waste. Includes delivery and pickup services to customer locations.

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Peterborough HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrain Bros Excavating partnered with Peterborough Homes for Norwood Park Estates development, a residential community 20 minutes east of Peterborough featuring 50' lots with nature surroundings, proximity to Wakefield Conservation and Birdsall Wildlife areas.
• Kawartha EthanolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrain Bros has been working on development and completion of the food grade expansion project at Kawartha Ethanol over the past several years.
• PinevistaminorOthersAssociated company listed on Drain Bros website - nature/tourism related business in the Kawartha region.
• Presidentair CharterminorOthersAssociated company listed on Drain Bros website - charter air service in the Kawartha region.
• BAlterre ContractingminorOthersAssociated company listed on Drain Bros website - contracting business in the Kawartha region.
• Kawartha Premium AlcoholsminorOthersAssociated company listed on Drain Bros website - premium alcohol producer in the Kawartha region.
• St. Lawrence GrainminorOthersAssociated company listed on Drain Bros website - agricultural/grain business.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coco Paving Inc. Ontario-based paving and construction company operating asphalt plants and aggregate supply operations across the Greater Toronto Area - directly comparable in asphalt production plus road construction service offering.
• Walker Industries: Niagara Region aggregate producer, asphalt, and construction services company operating multiple pits, quarries, and plants - a near-twin to Drain Bros in business model combining aggregate extraction with paving and civil construction in Ontario.
• Nelson Aggregate Co. Central Ontario supplier of crushed stone, sand, and gravel with active quarry operations serving construction and infrastructure customers - directly comparable to Drain Bros' limestone, sand, gravel, and traprock aggregate line.
• Vicdom Sand and Gravel Limited: Ontario regional aggregate producer and trucking operator supplying sand, gravel, and crushed stone products - comparable regional aggregate producer serving construction customers in Ontario.
• R.W. Tomlinson Group: Ottawa-based integrated aggregates, construction, and environmental services company operating quarries, asphalt plants, and heavy civil construction across Eastern Ontario - directly comparable to Drain Bros' vertically integrated model and regional Ontario footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Dufferin Aggregates (CRH Canada): Division of CRH plc operating aggregate quarries and asphalt plants across Ontario - a large-scale competitor in the same aggregate and paving markets where Drain Bros operates.
• Heidelberg Materials Canada (St. Marys Cement): National cement, aggregate, and concrete producer with Ontario operations including limestone quarries and construction materials supply - a broader incumbent competing for large-scale construction projects.
• Holcim Canada (formerly Lafarge Canada): National construction materials producer operating cement plants, aggregate quarries, ready-mix concrete, and asphalt facilities across Canada - competes with Drain Bros on large aggregate and paving tenders but operates at a much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drain-brothers-construction-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drain Bros