Maryville sits south of Knoxville in Blount County, closer to the foothills of the
Great Smoky Mountains. It is an established town with a long history and a good deal of
newer growth around it, so the housing runs from genuinely old to built last year.
What the ground is doing in Maryville
Being nearer the foothills means more relief in the terrain and more water moving
across the ground during heavy rain. Blount County shares the clay heavy soils and the
limestone bedrock that run through this part of the state, and the same swell and shrink
cycle applies. On the steeper lots, controlling where surface water goes matters as much
as anything we can do to the foundation itself.
The homes we see here
Older Maryville homes are often on block foundations with crawl spaces, and many have
had additions built on over the years. Additions are worth a specific mention, because
an addition is frequently built on a shallower or newer footing than the original house.
When the two settle at different rates, the crack shows up right where they join.
What to watch for
The early signs are the same wherever you live in East Tennessee. Doors and windows that
stick or will not latch the way they used to. Cracks above door frames. Floors that feel
uneven underfoot. Gaps opening where the trim meets the wall. Stair-step cracks outside
that climb through the mortar joints of brick or block. A crawl space that smells musty in
July. Any one of those alone may be nothing. Two or three together usually mean the house
has moved.
What we do in Maryville
The full range: foundation repair with push piers and under footing bracket systems,
basement wall repair with carbon fiber, i-beams and tie-back anchors, interior and exterior
waterproofing, crawl space repair, drainage and encapsulation, and water management with
french drains, grate drains, downspout leaders and re-grading.
We are based at 1058 Lovell Road in Knoxville, so Maryville is a short drive rather than a
road trip. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the evening,
and available for emergency service after hours. The inspection and the written estimate
are both free, with no obligation.
Common Questions
Why is there a crack where my addition meets the house?
Because they are two structures on two footings, and they rarely settle at the same rate. The original house has had decades to find its level while the addition is still finding its own. A separation crack at the joint is one of the most common things we are called out to look at.
Do you serve Blount County?
Yes. Maryville and Alcoa are both within our regular service area, and we are based on Lovell Road in Knoxville. The inspection and estimate are free.
Call us at (865) 675-4177 and we will talk through what you are seeing. The inspection and the estimate are both free.