La Vergne is at the northwest edge of Rutherford County, between Smyrna and Nashville along I-24 and Murfreesboro Road, with Percy Priest Lake to the north and a lot of warehouse and distribution employers nearby. Housing here includes many single-family slab homes on modest lots, townhomes and rentals. Space is often the main constraint on a shelter, not budget.
Shelters for smaller homes
- Compact above-ground safe rooms come in small footprints sized for a few people and fit in a single-car garage, beside a water heater or in a utility area on a slab. ICC 500 calls for at least 3 square feet per person, so a family of four needs at least 12 square feet of floor.
- Garage floor shelters take no usable space at all, because they sit under the slab. Whether they're possible depends on the depth to rock beneath your garage.
- Indoor safe rooms, built into a closet or bathroom, are practical mainly in new construction or when there's a slab under that room.
Townhomes and shared walls
If you own a townhome, check your HOA rules and whether the garage slab is yours to modify. An above-ground room bolted to the slab is often the least disruptive option. Bring the HOA in early.
Renters
Many La Vergne residents rent. A tenant can't install a shelter without the landlord's written permission. If you rent and there's no shelter:
- Ask your landlord whether they'd consider one; it can be a selling point for the property.
- Know the best interior spot: the lowest floor, an interior room with no windows, as far from outside walls as possible.
- Know where public storm shelters open in the county during watches, and how you'd get there safely before a warning.
Permits
Within city limits, the City of La Vergne handles building permits. Ask your installer who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
Get a quote
Tell us your ZIP code, your garage size (single or double), and how many people need space. One installer who covers La Vergne will contact you. See the cost guide and how to choose an installer.
Common questions
Will a safe room fit in a single-car garage?
Usually. Compact above-ground rooms are made for tight spaces. Measure the corner you have in mind and ask installers for models that fit it.
Can a renter buy a safe room and take it when they move?
Some bolted rooms can be unbolted and moved, but it is a big job and needs the landlord's permission to install in the first place. Get any agreement in writing.
Is a closet a safe place in a tornado?
An interior room on the lowest floor is the best place in a home without a shelter, but it is not tornado-proof. A tested safe room is designed to protect against the strongest tornadoes.