Home projects in Old Hickory

Old Hickory, in Davidson County's northeast corner, is shaped by water. The Cumberland River wraps around it, and Old Hickory Lake, the reservoir behind Old Hickory Dam, borders much of it. The community's older core grew up around the DuPont plant in the early 20th century, so it has a stock of modest frame and brick houses, many of them about a century old. Newer subdivisions and lakefront homes fill in around it. The projects here split along those lines: renovating older village houses, and building or maintaining on the lake.

If you own on the lake: the Corps comes first

The shoreline of Old Hickory Lake is federal property managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, even where it looks like part of your backyard. The Corps' Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan sets the rules, and private use of the shoreline is a privilege granted by permit, not a right.

Key points from the 2020 plan update:

• Docks: private boat docks must be floating. The plan says fixed docks are prohibited. Only encased flotation is approved. Roofs can protect a boat but can't be used as sun decks, and flat roofs that could serve as a patio aren't permitted.
• Where docks are allowed: the shoreline is allocated into categories. Docks and mowing are only possible in Limited Development Areas.
• Mowing and clearing: in Limited Development Areas, adjoining owners can apply for a vegetation alteration permit to control underbrush and mow public land between their property and the lake. The mowed area generally won't exceed 100 feet wide or half an acre, whichever is less. Cutting trees over one inch in diameter at the base is prohibited.
• Erosion control: where there's erosion, permit holders may be required to stabilize the bank with riprap, natural rock or bioengineering.

Applications go to the Corps' Resource Manager for the lake. Talk to them before you hire anyone to build a dock, clear a path or armor the bank. A contractor's assurance that "it's fine" doesn't protect you if the work violates your permit.

On your side of the line

Work on your own lot, such as a deck, a boathouse-style storage building or a patio, falls under Metro Codes. Metro requires permits for decks, porches, patio covers and storage buildings of 100 square feet or more. Covered decks must meet full rear and side setbacks. Near the water, Metro also requires certain sites to preserve water-quality buffers along streams, lakes and wetlands, and floodplain parcels follow Metro's four-foot freeboard rule. See decks and porches.

Renovating an older village house

Old Hickory's early houses were built quickly and simply, and a century later they share some common needs:

• Foundations and crawl spaces. Many sit on piers or low foundations. Sagging floors usually point to deteriorated sills, undersized beams or settled piers. Moisture control matters as much as the structural fix. See basements and crawl spaces.
• Siding and paint. Original wood siding and trim need regular scraping and painting, and pre-1978 paint likely contains lead. See exterior painting and siding.
• Windows. Restore or replace. Old wood windows can be rebuilt, but replacement is common where they're too far gone. See windows.
• Systems. Expect to update the electrical service and plumbing during any major remodel.

Old Hickory isn't one of Metro's historic or conservation overlay districts, so exterior changes go through ordinary Metro permitting. Confirm on Metro's Parcel Viewer for your address.

Newer homes near the lake

For newer homes, the usual projects are decks and screened porches facing the water, finished basements on sloping lots and roof replacements after storm damage. Lake humidity and shade are hard on wood decking, so composite decking is popular. Re-roofs need Metro permits. See roofing.

Licensing and hiring

Old Hickory is in Davidson County, so remodeling jobs from $3,000 to $24,999 require a state Home Improvement license, and jobs of $25,000 and up require a state contractor's license. Contractors pulling Metro permits must be licensed and bonded with Metro Codes. Check licenses on the state's Verify search. For dock and shoreline work, also ask to see the Corps permit before any work starts.