Concrete Lifting & Leveling in Murfreesboro, TN

Why concrete settles in Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro sits in the Central Basin of Middle Tennessee, on Ordovician limestone. A U.S. Geological Survey study done with the City of Murfreesboro (Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5281) mapped and tracked flooding in 78 sinkholes east, north and northwest of the city, mostly on the Ridley Limestone with some outcrops of the Pierce Limestone below it. Limestone like this dissolves slowly along joints and fractures, which is how sinkholes and hidden voids form. Above the rock, soils are usually thin and clay-rich. Clay swells when it is wet and shrinks when it dries, so a slab that sits on clay rises and drops a little every year. Where the rock is close to the surface, builders often bring in fill to level a lot, and fill that was not fully compacted keeps settling for years. Put those three things together and you get the patterns we see around town: driveway aprons that drop where they meet the garage, patios that tip back toward the house, and sidewalk panels that sink at a joint and leave a lip.

Rutherford County publishes a soils layer on its public GIS map, so you can look up the mapped soil type under your lot before an inspection.

Blackman

Blackman covers the west side of Murfreesboro around Manson Pike, Blackman Road, Puckett Road and Veterans Parkway. It is mostly newer construction. Subdivisions here include Blackman Farm, Blackman Oaks, Puckett Station, Shelton Square, Marymont Springs, Brighton Park, Hampton Park, Nature Walk, Springhouse, Smith Farms, Victory Pointe, Stovers Glen and Southern Harmony at Del Webb. On newer homes, the slabs most likely to move are the ones poured over backfill next to the foundation: the driveway apron at the garage door, the front stoop and the back patio.

Siegel

The Siegel area on the north side of town is centered on the Siegel school zone and runs roughly along Thompson Lane, Memorial Boulevard and Sulphur Springs Road. Subdivisions include Siegel Cove and Laurelwood, where lots are larger. Many homes here are now 20 or more years old, which is when settled backfill, downspout washout and tree roots start to show up as tipped walks and cracked aprons.

Barfield

Barfield is on the south side of Murfreesboro around Barfield Crescent Park, Barfield Crescent Road and Rucker Lane. The terrain rolls more than the west side, so many lots were cut and filled during development. On a cut-and-fill lot, the side of the slab that sits on fill can drop while the side on native ground stays put, which is why a driveway or patio can crack and tip in one direction.

Salem and Gateway

Salem covers the southwest side along Salem Pike, with subdivisions such as Salem Landing, Salem Creek and Salem Cove. Gateway is the commercial and medical district along Medical Center Parkway and Old Fort Parkway, where sidewalks, entry walks and parking-area slabs at offices and stores see steady foot traffic. A sunken panel at a business entrance is a trip hazard, so it is worth fixing early.

Sidewalk rules in Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro City Code section 28-43 says that when a sidewalk falls out of repair, the owner of the lot next to it must repair it after notice from the City Manager. Under section 28-45, if the owner does not finish the repair within 60 days of that notice, the City may do the work or hire it out, and the cost becomes a lien on the property. Repairs have to meet the city's material and design standards in section 28-42. Work inside the public right-of-way may also need a right-of-way permit from the City Engineering Department. If you have received a notice, call us early so the lift fits inside the 60-day window.

HOA rules

Many Murfreesboro subdivisions, including most of the newer ones in Blackman and Salem, have a homeowners association. HOA covenants often require architectural approval for exterior changes, and some HOAs handle common-area sidewalks themselves. Check your covenants or ask your management company whether a slab is yours or the HOA's before you schedule work.

Pricing

Concrete lifting in Murfreesboro runs $5–$8 per square foot. Your final price depends on slab size and how far it has settled, confirmed at the free inspection.

Services we provide in Murfreesboro