Foundation repair in Rockvale, TN

Built on cave country

Snail Shell Cave in Rockvale has more than 9 miles of surveyed passages, which makes it the longest continuous cave in the Central Basin. Its entrance is a sinkhole about 125 feet across and 60 feet deep. You do not need a cave under your lot to feel the effect. The ground around here is limestone with soil draped over it, and water moves down through cracks in the rock instead of running off in creeks.

The USDA maps the center of Rockvale as a Bradyville and rock outcrop complex. About half of that unit is Bradyville soil, a deep, clay-heavy soil with a high shrink-swell rating, and close to a third is bare rock. A single subdivision can have a house on four feet of clay next to a house sitting almost on ledge. Builders handle that with cut and fill, and fill that was not compacted well is one of the more common reasons a young house settles.

Ask about the builder warranty first

Many homes built in the last ten years came with a structural warranty from the builder or a third party. If yours did, call that company before you hire a repair crew. Most warranty programs want to inspect before any repair, and work done first can complicate a claim.

What to tell a contractor about your Rockvale home

Rockvale is about 11 miles from central Murfreesboro. Ask whether the contractor works this far out often and whether the inspection is still free at that distance. Half the homes here were built in 2006 or later, so most sit on a slab. If yours is less than about ten years old, check the builder's structural warranty before you pay for anything.

USDA soil maps show Bradyville and rock outcrop complex at the center of Rockvale. Soil maps describe typical ground, not your lot, so ask whether the contractor wants a soil test or an engineer's report before quoting piers. Because this is Rutherford County, ask for the contractor's home improvement license number on any job from $3,000 to $24,999.