How Deep Should a French Drain Be?

You are here: KB HomeMoistureHow Deep Should a French Drain Be?< Back The deeper you go the more expensive it gets. But generally speaking, keeping top of French drain 6 inches below grade is often adequate.

How Do You Control Moisture in a Bedroom?

In isolated rooms like bedrooms, the best way to control moisture is by improving ventilation. For example, installing passive air vents in the walls or doors is often all that you need. If there is a bathroom attached with an exhaust fan setting the fan on a time to autorun works well.

How Important Is It in Identifying the Source of Moisture Intrusion in Your Home?

Very! Moisture drives all biological processes in a built environment and the way moisture moves through a home can help explain what is going on. Take older / historic homes, the moisture issues can be very complex.

How Much Does a Drainage System Cost?

From $35/LF to $75/LF depending on site conditions, mechanics and access.

How Much Does a French Drain Cost?

From $35/LF to $75/LF depending on site conditions, mechanics and access.

How Much Is It Going to Cost?

Not as much as you think. Depending on the scope of work and if demolition is involved it can be affordable if you catch the issue early enough. But long going prolonged moisture issues almost always cost more than you would think.

How to Build a Sump Pump Drainage System?

Simply sink a large sturdy plastic bucket in the ground that has a lot of small 1/2 inch holes in it. Pack the area around the bucket with gravel and line the area to keep fine dirt out. Water will collect in the bucket where a mechanical pump will sit. As the water level rises, the pump will engage and remove the water. The bigger the bucket, the less your pump has to engage thus extending the life of your pump.

How to Install a French Drain?

French Drains are installed by digging a trench deep enough to burry your pipe at least 4 inches below grade. The slope of the trench should be 2% (or 1/4 inch per foot) to be able to move solids that collect in the pipe. You will want a clean-out and good area to discharge to along with good draining material to pack in around your pipe so water can get into the pipe easily.

Every Time I Enter This Room in My Home I Get Itchy, My Throat Constricts and I Can’t Breathe.

Many folks have (or develop) sensitivity to molds and chemicals that are immediately noticeable. Other times it takes longer as we age and our immune systems start to decline. Everyone is different. But when one room in your home gives you such immediate discomfort there is almost always a hidden microorganism to blame. Better bring in a mold specialist.

How Does One Get Rid of the “Musty” Smell in 100-Year Old Houses or Apartments?

A musty smell is often a sign of a larger moisture challenge. Manage the moisture and the odor often dissipates as well.

How to Remove Odors from Home?

Best way to remove odors is to remove the source. But odors are often absorbed by surrounding building materials and can be difficult to address. To address those areas can use a deodorizing treatment such as a biocide, hydroxylation, ozone, etc. It just depends on the type of odor and how long it has been around.

I Smell a Damp Musty Aroma When I Enter My Basement.

Actively growing molds have a distinctive musty aroma associated with their life cycle. Picture walking into a basement and what aroma is typically associated with that environment. If you smell smoke, there’s almost always fire. A pro would help you determine what is going on with that aroma.

I’ve Lived Here for 40 Years and I Don’t Smell Anything!

It’s not unusual to have become so de-sensitized to the aromas associated with your home after living there for decades. Many times folks new to your home will notice the unusual aroma and mention it to you. You should hire a professional and investigate this further as things are not as they always seem to you.

Are There Any Special Considerations When Dealing with Mold in a Remodeled Homes?

Remodeled homes often wind up concealing a lot of the clues we look for when we assess for mold making the issues often difficult to find. Take for instance an older 1940’s home recently renovated where the attic was converted to a master bedroom (now we can’t see the underside of the roof) and the rear porch was enclosed (has an inaccessible crawl space and enclosed cathedral ceiling with failing ridge vent). More time and some invasive investigating / sampling are often necessary.

Can I Use Bleach to Clean Mold?

Scrubbing molded areas with a detergent and water and then drying the area thoroughly often works for small areas of mold. Using bleach is not recommended as it may cause more harm than good. But there are instances where using a Biocide may be called for.

How Can I Remove Rust Colored Mold from My Walls?

Rust-colored mold on your walls might not be mold at all. There is a type of micro-organism called Iron Bacteria that often gives the appearance of a rust-colored mold.

How Do I Get an Estimate for Mold Removal Services?

Just give us a call and we can help with the numbers. Of course, it’s best to have a formal mold assessment/inspection done first delineating mold impacts. But if it appears to be a small issue, we can usually figure it out pretty quickly. There’s no fee to prepare a quote if you own your home. For Home Buyers, we have a small fee that we credit back when you engage us.

How Do I Know the Contractor Did a Good Job with the Mold Remediation?

First, was the moisture intrusion source(s) corrected? If moisture is under control, a Clearance Test should be performed which is a combination of factors that include a visual inspection, review of remediation protocol, sampling, etc. Only then can you get a good idea if the area was properly brought back to normal fungal ecology.

How Long Does It Take?

Simple cleanses and spot remediation can be completed in a few hours where more elaborate remediations and restoration might take weeks. It depends on the impacts on the home and the occupants.

How Much Does a Mold Inspection Cost?

A Limited Mold Inspection (LMI) costs around $495 and includes three samples.

How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost per Square Foot?

It depends on a few factors like access, basement vs attic, finished areas vs. non-finished areas and organisms type (toxic vs. non-toxic). So looks at a range of from $5.00/SF to as much as $25.00/SF (or more).

Do Home Inspections Check for Asbestos?

The Home Inspection process often does not address asbestos. You have to be a licensed asbestos building inspector to perform this type of work.

Do I Have to Leave My House?

Depending on the extent and location of the infestation and the potential health risks, it’s often advisable to stay away while the work is being performed.

How Can You Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Best Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) are through improving ventilation, air filtration, using low VOC paints and materials and managing moisture levels.

How Do I Keep Mold from Growing on My HVAC Blower Motor and Cooling Coil?

Not an ideal environment for mold HVAC Fan blades don’t typically present a hospitable environment for mold growth as air flow typically prevents it. The cooling coil is more suited for mold, bacteria and yeast growth due to the presence of condensation. However, if your fan assembly (ducts, AC coils, etc.) haven’t been cleaned in years you could build up dust and other food sources for mold on the interior of the HVAC system that permit mold growth as moisture becomes available. In summer months conditioned air passing through an HVAC system located in a humid crawl space might be prone to condensation when warm moist air contacts the colder (conditioned) metal surfaces of the HVAC system. If the HVAC components are dirty the added water may allow mold to grow. We normally find the mold growth taking place in or on the ducts or in the drain pan of the evaporator coil. I’ve also found mold growing on dust buildup on the evaporator coil fins.

How Much Does an Asbestos Inspection Cost?

It depends on the type of property, it’s condition / final use and how fast you need the results. For example, a 2ksf residential home slated for demolition typically runs around $695 + $Hrly Rate after 2 hrs + cost of samples. Larger homes and smaller commercial buildings typically range from $1,500 to $1,800. Larger buildings, industrial sites, etc usually require a quote.

How to Test Air Quality in Your Home?

There is no one air quality test to cover it all. If it’s a newer home we would lean towards a chemical test for VOC’s. If is an older home with a musty aroma we would test for biologicals.

I Always Feel Better When I Leave the House

Many times we can’t put our finger on exactly what is causing our ill health. But we come to realize that we actually “Feel Better” when we leave our homes for any length of time. This is often the case when hidden biological issues are degrading the home's overall air quality. An environmental air quality professional will be needed.