In need of foundation repair? Our foundation repair specialists are ready to help.
Another company said that our foundation was too far gone and needed to be replaced. That’s when we found Regional Foundation Repair. They helped save us thousands! Great service, will recommend!
Andrew Y. | May 26, 2023
We’ve had water in our basement countless times since we moved in. This service sent a contractor who spent a few days installing a waterproofing system and bam - no issues since! Thank you so much!
Eddie W. | May 23, 2023
Finally a foundation company that responds, helps gets the job done, and offers a warranty for the work! Will use again, and recommending to friends and family.
Jessica B. | May 20, 2023
Another company said that our foundation was too far gone and needed to be replaced. That’s when we found Regional Foundation Repair. They helped save us thousands! Great service, will recommend!
Andrew Y. | May 26, 2023
We’ve had water in our basement countless times since we moved in. This service sent a contractor who spent a few days installing a waterproofing system and bam - no issues since! Thank you so much!
Eddie W. | May 23, 2023
Finally a foundation company that responds, helps gets the job done, and offers a warranty for the work! Will use again, and recommending to friends and family.
Jessica B. | May 20, 2023
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Nashville, Tennessee is a desirable city to live in, primarily because of its rich musical history, an abundance of entertainment, and exciting nightlife.
However, owning property in the city and the surrounding area can come with some frustration and headaches. Home foundations in Nashville are at high risk of damage due to several factors related to the soil and climate.
Regional Foundation Repair is one of the nation’s largest provider of foundation repair service. We have 1,000s of expert technicians ready right now in Nashville. Our pros have years of experience and are familiar with the nuances of Nashville soil conditions so you can be sure your foundation gets fixed the right way the first time. Gone are the days of worrying about shoddy craftsmanship, overpriced service, and unqualified pros.
During the job, our technicians are trained to explain their progress throughout the day and clean up properly before leaving the jobsite.
Depending on the availability of our technicians, we can generally get your job scheduled within 2 days. To start the process just submit your information in our form and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours with a pricing quote! In some cases we may need more detail to properly quote your project, so we will reach out via phone to schedule a free onsite inspection. Depending on your location we also offer virtual quotes!
For your benefit, we’ll be discussing the underlying causes of foundation damage in Nashville, the symptoms it can bring about on your property, and how you can limit both the repair costs and the damage done to your house. We’ll also offer some average pricing for typical foundation repair services in northern Tennessee.
Pier Foundations
Concrete Slab
Basement Foundations
Crawl Space Foundation
Wood Foundation
- Erica J.
- Suja K.
- Dan T.
What Causes Bowing Foundation Walls & How It Can Be Corrected?
Foundation Crack Repair: Costs & Repair Options
Foundation Cracks
Foundation Installation Costs
Foundation Leak Repair
What Are The Common Signs Of Foundation Problems And When Should You Be Concerned?
Foundation Repair Methods
What Is Foundation Spalling & When Should You Be Concerned?
How Does Foundation Waterproofing Protect Your Home?
Date of Request: 05/28/2023
Location: Nashville, TN
Description: This is a condo community with 42 units. We have one of our end units that appears to have a foundation issue with cracked stucco and concrete step separation. We are looking for a free estimate please.
Date of Request: 05/27/2023
Location: Nashville, TN
Description: I have a bit of collapsed concrete against my house that water pools. I'd like to know the cost of repair
Date of Request: 05/27/2023
Location: Nashville, TN
Description: I am building an addition to my property and I would like to do most of the work myself but I would like to hire an expert to do the work with me for the foundation
Date of Request: 05/24/2023
Location: Franklin, TN
Description: the main concern is we have a floor joist that has rotten a little bit and looking to repair that in some way. second question would be a quote to overall get a better leveling on the house. Thanks!
Date of Request: 05/21/2023
Location: Nashville, TN
Description: Hi, I just sent a request for a parking and sidewalk quote and realized you also do foundations. I need a foundation quote for 2 - 20 x 20 Quonset Huts that will be used for residential purposes. I do not have architectural plans at this point but I do have profile view diagrams as provided by the Metal Building Supplier. Thanks
Date of Request: 05/19/2023
Location: Nashville, TN
Description: Hello, My home is located in a 100 year flood plane zone AE. In order to lessen my flood insurance (from what I have gathered) it is a required 4ft above the bfe. I have a flood elevation certificate from 2005 that lists my bfe at 414.8 and the top of the bottom floor is at 412.15. I believe this means that my house needs to be lifted 6.5ft. I'm looking to get an estimate on this type of project, and happy to hear any information/knowledge you may have in regards to this issue. Thank you!
Does Foundation Movement Affect Nashville, Tennessee?
Unfortunately, foundation movement is a frequent occurrence in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, Knoxville, Lebanon, Pleasant View, and many other nearby cities. Property owners in the Nashville area experience associated damages and necessary repairs on a regular basis.
What Causes Foundation Problems In Nashville, Tennessee?
There are numerous factors in Nashville that contribute to foundation problems. We’ll discuss each of these in-depth below, as well as how they adversely affect the concrete under your home.
The soil in Nashville is considered sandy and silty loam, meaning it has a high presence of sand and silt and a relatively low concentration of clay. Clay particles retain water and slow drainage, and the lack of these absorbent soil constituents in Nashville leads to excessively fast drainage and overall loose soil. This type of earth is problematic for foundations for two primary reasons.
The first is that it’s prone to erosion. Without the clumping effect of clay particles, the ground in northern Tennessee is easily washed away by runoff. This regularly occurs at the surface, but it’s significantly more dangerous when precipitation causes erosion underground.
The rapidly-draining soil can easily be shifted by runoff under or around your home, potentially leaving sections of concrete without the foundation they need to hold up your house. If the concrete loses support from eroding soil, the unsupported portions can crack away from your home and sink more rapidly into the earth. This process, called differential settling, can quickly cause structural damage.
The second reason Nashville’s loose soil is problematic for homes is that underground erosion can occur against your home’s foundation, leaving voids next to the concrete over time. These voids can fill with water during precipitation, leaving your foundation at severe risk of water intrusion. As such, water problems and moisture build-up are prevalent issues for Nashville homeowners.
Sandy and silty soils are prone to erosion, which means that runoff is particularly hazardous for home foundations built on them. Unfortunately, Nashville residents not only have to contend with the problematic soil, but they also experience an above-average annual rainfall.
The city gets approximately 50 inches of rain each year, which is about 50% higher than the national average. It rains, on average, about twice per week throughout the year in Nashville.
The frequent and heavy rainfall in Nashville makes the issues with the rapidly-draining soils significantly more dangerous. More rain means more runoff, which means a higher chance of the ground around your house eroding and causing differential settling.
It also contributes to problems with voids forming against your concrete, filling with water, and leading to water intrusion in your house.
Tennessee is considered to be at moderate risk of drought, experiencing abnormally dry conditions about 15% of the year. A lack of rainfall can cause the soil to lose volume as it dries out, contributing to differential settling.
The intermittent periods of drought that are punctuated by heavy rainfall lend themselves to cycles of swelling and shrinking. Even though the ground movement is relatively minimal due to a low concentration of expansive clay in the soil, even small ground movement can create severe settling issues for homes in Nashville.
Nashville experiences hot summers and cold winters, with temperatures regularly dipping below freezing in the colder months. The moderately temperate climate results in a very shallow frost depth throughout much of the city, sometimes as shallow as 12 inches.
Frost depth can significantly impact foundations because it determines how deep the water in the soil freezes. Shallow frost depths like those found in Nashville mean that only a small portion of the earth will freeze over during the winter months.
Water expands when it freezes, which means only a very shallow section of the ground will freeze and expand during the Nashville winter. This places uneven stress on the concrete under your home, similar to the hydrostatic pressure that can occur from water pooling outside your foundation walls. It can cause cracking and the loss of structural integrity over time.
Lastly, the bedrock in Nashville is comprised mostly of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. These minerals can provide adequate stability, but they are prone to erosion when exposed to water.
The bedrock in Nashville erodes at relatively high rates because of the above-average rainfall in the area. When erosion occurs, the soil above the bedrock loses stability, which in turn can cause ground movement below or around your home.
This is a phenomenon called karst, which forms caves underground and sinkholes on the earth’s surface. Karst can potentially leave your foundation without the support it requires to hold up the structure above.
What Are The Signs of Basement Foundation Damage In Nashville, Tennessee?
There are numerous symptoms that you may notice in your foundation and throughout your home that can help identify foundation problems. We’ll discuss the most common warning signs in Nashville below.
Cracks in your foundation can appear for various reasons, sometimes indicating typical concrete settling and other times signifying dangerous structural damage. The severity of the fissure is most easily identified by the location and the width.
Thin gaps that develop in a vertical position on your concrete wall or those that spread along parts of your crawlspace or basement floor are usually settling cracks. They form on nearly all foundations during the first few years after new construction, and they rarely mean your home is suffering from structural problems.
The best solution is typically to have them sealed by a concrete repair specialist.
If either of these gaps widens to ⅛” or more, a foundation contractor should inspect it to assess the underlying cause.
Cracks that form on your foundation wall in a horizontal position are of greater concern, as they are a result of hydrostatic pressure from the soil outside. As the stress mounts against your foundation, it eventually forces the upper portion of your wall inward. These cracks require immediate structural repair.
Stair-step cracks on your concrete block wall are the most problematic and almost always signify structural issues. They are a common occurrence in Nashville because they form in response to karst or differential settling of the silty and sandy soil. When portions of your foundation lose support from underneath, they collapse into the ground and leave a step-shaped fissure in your crawlspace or basement walls.
The rapidly-draining soil and risk of karst both make foundation sinking a high risk in western Tennessee. The soil and high frost line also make frost heave a common occurrence.
The symptoms of both of these types of foundation movement can be challenging to differentiate. Most homeowners find cracks in their crawlspace or basement floor that widen over time or become unlevel from one side to the other. Floor cracks that form in a circular pattern are generally associated with the soil’s upward movement rather than downward settling.
Stair-step cracks are also signs of a sinking foundation, so seeing these in combination with the above issues typically means your home is falling victim to differential settling rather than heaving.
Lastly, water intrusion and moisture build-up under Nashville homes is a prevalent problem, the symptoms of which can all help identify foundation issues.
Liquid water entering your concrete is usually indicated by wet spots on your concrete floor or walls, water pooling under your home, water trickling through foundation cracks, and water damage to building materials, including framing and insulation.
Water vapor is another threat to under-home areas in Nashville, commonly occurring when water pools against your foundation and seeps in through pores in the concrete.
Most homeowners suffering from moisture accumulation notice damp air in their crawlspace or basement, musty odors, mold growth, pest infestations, and white, powdery staining on their concrete walls, which is called efflorescence.
The conditions under your home can affect your living space because the air regularly mixes. If mold spores make their way into your upper floors, you may notice unexpected allergy symptoms. Humidity seeping upstairs can cause temperatures to feel more extreme, and you or your family may compensate by demanding more from your heating or cooling systems. As such, above-average energy bills can indicate moisture build-up.
How to Find Signs of Foundation Damage In Nashville, Tennessee?
Identifying foundation damage can be challenging, but locating issues early and getting them repaired is often the best way to prevent them from worsening and causing structural damage to your home.
Scheduling a simple, DIY foundation and home inspection can help you find early signs of damage under your house. We’ll offer some tips on completing your quarterly assessment below.
Begin your inspection by examining the concrete outside your home. Depending on the type of foundation you have, several inches or feet of your foundation will be visible above the ground. Look for cracking, crumbling, and signs of sinking.
Continue your foundation check inside if you have a crawlspace or basement. We recommend keeping a detailed written log of any cracks you find in the concrete, including the measurements of the length and width. Report new gaps or those that are widening or lengthening to a foundation repair specialist immediately.
You should also keep an eye out for mold growth, efflorescence, signs of insects or rodents, pooling water, moldy or musty odors, wet concrete, and noticeably damp air.
Your home relies on its foundation for structure and stability, so issues with the concrete regularly show symptoms inside your house. Look for drywall damage, including cracks and bulging nails, as shifts in your framing can cause these damages. Check for bowing walls or cabinets pulling away from the walls in your kitchen or bathroom.
Similarly, your floor joists are only as level as your foundation, so look for buckling, uneven, or sloping flooring throughout your home.
Take the time during your dedicated inspection to check your utility bill for unexplained increases, especially during the summer or winter.
Complete your home inspection by looking at the exterior and landscaping. Cracks in the siding, sagging roofing, and leaning chimneys all suggest that your foundation has suffered some type of movement.
Additionally, pots in your lawn and gaps between the earth and your foundation can indicate underground erosion that could damage your foundation if left untreated.
Cost of Basement Foundation Repair In Nashville, Tennessee?
Most homeowners in Nashville pay approximately $5,000 for foundation repair services. The cost to fix your problems can range from around $250 to over $20,000, depending on the cause of the problem and how serious the damage is. We’ll break down the typical costs of specific repair projects below.
Hairline foundation cracks are usually the easiest form of foundation damage to repair. They usually only require sealing to prevent water from getting in. A handyman might be able to seal a crack for as little as $250, but most foundation experts charge an average of $450. Larger gaps can be as expensive as $750.
Horizontal cracks in your concrete walls are best repaired with earth anchors, also called foundation tiebacks. These anchors pull your wall outward to its original position and help resist future bowing. Earth anchors cost $1,000 on average, and the total repair cost usually falls between $3,000 and $5,000.
Sinking foundations are often the most expensive kinds of damage to fix. Whether your home is exhibiting stair-step cracks or uneven floor cracks, most foundation repair experts will use underpinning to stabilize your home. The process involves installing push piers underneath your home to help distribute weight.
Steel piers are cheaper at around $5,000 on average, but they can be problematic in Nashville, given that they sit on bedrock. Helical piers average approximately $20,000, but they provide support from a much shallower position.
Some foundation repair companies use mud jacking or another concrete leveling method to raise sunken portions of concrete slabs.
This type of basement or crawlspace repair is more affordable, averaging around $2,000 for moderately-sized areas that need raising. However, the solution isn’t permanent and typically doesn’t include a warranty.
Basement waterproofing systems are the best solution for fixing frequent or heavy water intrusion as well as moisture build-up under your home. The basement system can include any number of methods for keeping water out, including French drains, vapor barriers, crawlspace encapsulation, sump pumps, dehumidifiers, and more.
Most basement or crawlspace waterproofing systems cost around $5,500, but they can be as expensive as $10,000 for the most comprehensive solution.
