Q: Can you make your basement deeper?

• <div><p>If you don&rsquo;t have a crawl space but have a partial basement you want to make deeper, you can expect to spend a little less&mdash;between <b>$40,000 and $90,000</b> on average. However, if you&rsquo;re not adding new finished square footage, you won&rsquo;t see much in the way of ROI.</p></div>

Question 1

Should I install an above-ground or underground wine cellar?

Accepted Answer

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Almost any kind of home can have a wine cellar or cabinet installed. You’ll need an area where a concrete floor can be put in, along with the necessary insulation, climate control, and ventilation systems. If you think of yourself as an aspiring sommelier, an underground wine cellar may be ideal, but it will cost significantly more.

What you choose to install really depends on your budget and how many bottles you’re looking to store.

Question 2

Can a metal detector find a septic tank?

Accepted Answer

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Yes. A metal detector is one of the quickest and easiest ways to find your septic tank. However, metal detectors can be too expensive (costing upward of $300 in some cases), and not everyone has a metal detector just lying around. If that’s the case for you, you can also take a long metal rod and poke it into the ground at regular intervals until you hit something—likely your septic tank lid.

Question 3

Can you make your basement deeper?

Accepted Answer

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If you don’t have a crawl space but have a partial basement you want to make deeper, you can expect to spend a little less—between $40,000 and $90,000 on average. However, if you’re not adding new finished square footage, you won’t see much in the way of ROI.

Question 4

How deep are septic tanks buried?

Accepted Answer

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There is no standard depth for burying a septic tank; they are typically buried anywhere from 4 inches to 4 feet underground. The final depth depends on several factors, including the depth of your main sewer line, the height of the bedrock, soil type, local regulations, and the property's landscape. If you plan to grow grass or plants over the tank, a depth of at least 4 to 6 inches is recommended. Deeper tanks can be more difficult to locate, but a septic professional can help find it for you.

Question 5

Can you install a trench drain in existing concrete?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, you can install a trench drain if you already have concrete in your yard or garden. While it can complicate some aspects of the job and slightly run up the cost, it is doable. Residential trench drains can be easily retrofitted to outdoor areas with concrete without having to remove excessive amounts of your patio, pool area, or decorative walkways.