Residential Foundation Installation
in Middle Tennessee
New foundations for new homes and additions. Full basements, crawlspace foundations, slab-on-grade, and footing-and-stem-wall systems. Excavation, footing, wall, and slab work delivered ready for the framer.
Tell Us About Your SiteNew Foundations Built to the Plan
The foundation is the part of the house everything else stands on. Forty years from now, when the kitchen has been remodeled twice and the roof has been replaced, the foundation will still be there carrying every floor, every wall, every load above it. Building it right the first time costs the same as building it carelessly and saves the homeowner from problems that compound year over year. S and S Excavation and Hauling installs new residential foundations for owner-builders, custom home builders, and addition projects across Manchester, Tullahoma, Shelbyville, and the surrounding region.
Residential foundation installation covers the four common system types in Middle Tennessee: full basement, crawlspace, monolithic slab-on-grade, and conventional footing with stem wall. Each has its own scope. Basements need deep excavation, footing and wall pours, waterproofing, drainage, backfill, and a basement floor slab. Crawlspaces need shallower excavation, footing and stem wall, vapor barrier, and ventilation or encapsulation. Slabs-on-grade need site preparation, perimeter footings or thickened edges, vapor barrier, and the slab pour. Footing-and-stem-wall systems combine elements of all three.
Because we own both the excavation and the concrete, we deliver the entire foundation under one contract, site excavation through finished slab, without the coordination gap that creates schedule slip and finger-pointing on multi-sub jobs. We work from architectural and structural drawings, follow the local code requirements (Tennessee residential building code, frost depth, drainage), schedule and walk the required inspections, and turn over a completed foundation that the framer can start on the day after we leave.
Foundation Systems We Install
Full Basement Foundations
Excavated basements with poured concrete or block walls, footings, basement floor slab, exterior waterproofing membrane, perimeter drainage, drain tile, and properly compacted backfill. Sized to the architectural plan, framed for stair openings and window wells, and turned over with the basement floor poured and ready for framing or finish.
Crawlspace Foundations
Footing and stem wall crawlspace foundations sized for the structural load. Crawl height adequate for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC routing. Vapor barrier installation, perimeter access, and either traditional ventilated crawlspace or sealed and encapsulated crawlspace per the design choice.
Slab-on-Grade Foundations
Monolithic slab-on-grade foundations with thickened edges, perimeter footings, or grade beams as designed. Vapor barrier, reinforcement (welded wire, rebar, or post-tensioned cables per spec), and finished concrete floor. Common on additions, garage slabs, and homes built without basements or crawlspaces.
Footing and Stem Wall Systems
Conventional footing-and-stem-wall foundations for porches, additions, accessory dwelling units, and homes where the design calls for a vented crawlspace with a separate floor slab or wood-framed floor system. Footings sized to bearing capacity, stem walls poured to design height, and dampproofing applied where the wall is in contact with backfill soil.
Waterproofing and Drainage
Membrane waterproofing on basement walls, perforated footing drains in washed gravel, drain tile to daylight or sump, and properly compacted backfill that does not bridge the wall waterproofing. Surface grading sloped away from the foundation to keep stormwater moving in the right direction. Coordinated with broader site grading.
Inspection and Builder Coordination
Footing inspections, rebar inspections, and slab inspections scheduled with the local code authority. Coordination with the builder’s framing, plumbing, and electrical sub on rough-in embeds, anchor bolts, hold-downs, and sleeves. Foundation is delivered to the framer with all embeds correctly placed and inspections signed off.
Our Foundation Process
Plan Review and Quote
We review the architectural and structural drawings, walk the lot, check soil conditions, and identify access for trucks and equipment. The quote covers excavation, footings, walls, slab, waterproofing, drainage, backfill, and inspection coordination, the complete foundation, no surprise add-ons.
Excavation and Footings
We excavate to footing depth, verify subgrade bearing, set footing forms to dimension, place reinforcement, schedule the inspection, and pour the footings after sign-off. Footing elevation and dimension are verified against the structural plan before pouring.
Walls, Waterproofing, Drainage
Foundation walls are formed (poured concrete) or laid (block), reinforced and grouted as required, and topped with anchor bolts and hold-downs per the structural drawings. Exterior waterproofing membrane is applied, footing drain is installed in washed gravel, and backfill is placed and compacted in lifts.
Slab, Inspection, Turnover
Subbase under slab is placed and compacted, vapor barrier is laid, reinforcement is positioned, slab is poured and finished. Final inspection is scheduled, signed off, and documented. The foundation is turned over to the framer ready for sill plates, with all embeds in their correct locations.
Foundation Installation Projects
Why Choose S and S for Foundation Installation
Excavation and Concrete Together
Foundations require excavation, concrete, drainage, and backfill: historically four different sub trades. We deliver all of it under one contract. No coordination gap, no schedule misalignment, no finger-pointing if something is not where it needs to be.
Plans-and-Spec Discipline
Footing depths, reinforcement schedules, anchor bolt placement, and concrete mix designs come from the architectural and structural drawings. We follow them. Field improvisation only happens with the engineer of record’s written sign-off.
Frost-Depth and Local-Code Aware
Tennessee residential code requires footing depths below local frost line, drainage configured for soil and rainfall conditions, and specific embed and tie placements. We know what passes inspection in our region and we build to it from day one, not as an after-the-fact correction.
Inspection-Ready Sequencing
We schedule footing, rebar, and slab inspections in sequence with the work. Inspector walks the formwork before pouring; sign-off precedes concrete placement. Re-work is avoided because the work is correct the first time.
Builder-Friendly Turnover
The framer takes possession of a foundation with anchor bolts in the right places, the slab at the right elevation, the hold-downs where they belong, and the inspection signed off. Our turnover starts the framer’s work, it does not delay it.
Honest About Soil and Water
If your lot has soil conditions or drainage challenges that should change the foundation design (bearing capacity issues, springs, wet weather table, expansive soils) we say so during the quote conversation, not after concrete is in the ground. The right design upfront is cheaper than fixing it later.
Foundation Installation FAQs
What foundation type should I build?
The right foundation depends on the lot, the budget, the climate, and the home design. Basements add usable square footage at moderate cost per square foot but require more excavation and drainage attention. Crawlspaces are the Middle Tennessee default for moderately sloped lots and provide easy access to plumbing and HVAC. Slab-on-grade is the most economical and best suited to flat lots without basements. We discuss the trade-offs during the design walk.
How long does foundation installation take?
From excavation start to slab pour and inspection sign-off, a typical residential foundation runs three to six weeks depending on type, size, and weather. Basements are at the longer end because of the volume of excavation, the wall pour, the waterproofing, and the backfill. Slab-on-grade is at the shorter end. Weather can extend the schedule because pours need to happen in the right conditions.
Do you coordinate with my framer?
Yes. We confirm anchor bolt placement, hold-down locations, sleeve and embed positions, and slab elevations with your framer before the relevant pour. If the framer has specific preferences for where embeds land relative to studs, we accommodate them. The handoff is smooth because we have built the relationship before pour day. Call (931) 636-7713 to discuss your build.
Do you handle waterproofing on basement walls?
Yes. Membrane waterproofing on the exterior of basement walls, perforated footing drains in washed gravel, and proper backfill that does not bridge the membrane are part of our basement foundation scope. We also slope the surface grade away from the foundation as part of final cleanup. Combined, these elements are what keep a basement dry over decades.
What happens if you find bad soil during excavation?
Soil conditions discovered during excavation that differ from the design assumption (soft spots, organic deposits, springs) are flagged immediately. We pause the work, document the conditions with photos, and discuss the options with you and the engineer if needed. Common remediation includes over-excavation and import of suitable fill, or upsizing the footing to spread the load over more soil. We do not bury problems.
Do you handle additions onto existing homes?
Yes. Foundation installation for additions has its own challenges: tying new footings to existing footings without compromising either, matching elevations, threading equipment access through tight side yards, and minimizing disruption to the occupied house. We have done this work many times and we plan the staging and protection up front so the existing home stays livable.
Building New or Adding On
From basements and crawlspaces to slab-on-grade and addition footings, S and S Excavation installs residential foundations across Middle Tennessee. Excavation and concrete under one contract. Inspection-ready. Builder-friendly turnover.