Crawl Space Repair in New Palestine, IN
Your suburban crawl space may be holding more water than you think
New Palestine is a growing town in southwestern Hancock County, southeast of Indianapolis, where subdivisions have spread over what used to be cornfields. A lot of those newer homes, plus the older houses near the original town center, are built over crawl spaces. The ground is flat glacial clay. It's slow to drain and holds water against the foundation after storms, and flat lots with tight grading often don't move water away from the house as well as they should. Sump pits and downspouts on these lots carry a lot of the load, and when one of them fails, the crawl space shows it fast.
Crawl Space Repair for New Palestine homes
In New Palestine we see two kinds of crawl space trouble. In newer homes it's usually humidity: thin plastic, open vents, sweating ducts, damp insulation dropping off the joists and a musty smell in the bedrooms. In older houses it's often more advanced, with rot in sills and joists, sagging floors and piers that have settled. Both start the same way, with wet clay and moist air under the floor. Some newer homes also have a crawl space under one part of the house and a slab under another, and water tends to collect where the two meet.
Our inspector checks the downspouts, the grading and how water moves across the lot, then measures humidity and inspects the wood, insulation and supports under the house. For New Palestine homes, the fix is commonly a sealed vapor barrier with closed vents and a dehumidifier, and a French drain to a sump pump when water collects. Rotted wood gets replaced and sagging beams get steel supports. Our own crew handles it, with a written price explaining each part. You'll see photos of what's under your New Palestine floor before any work is scheduled.
What crawl space repair in New Palestine involves
Under a New Palestine house, the fix depends on how wet the space is and how long it has been that way. These are the four pieces we combine, sized to what the inspection finds.
Encapsulation
A sealed liner over the floor and up the walls, with vents and gaps closed, so damp ground air stays out of the house.
Vapor barrier
A durable ground cover where full encapsulation is more than the space needs, lapped and taped at the seams.
Dehumidifier
A crawl space rated unit that holds humidity down once the space is sealed and drains on its own.
Floor support and wood rot
Adjustable supports under sagging joists and replacement of framing that moisture has already softened.
From the first call to a dry, solid house in New Palestine
- 01
You call, we schedule
Someone at our Indianapolis office picks up and books your free inspection while you are on the phone.
- 02
Free on-site inspection
An inspector walks the New Palestine property inside and out: basement or crawl space, grading, gutters and the lot. You see what they see.
- 03
A written price, explained
Scope, method and cost in writing, with financing options. Take the time you need to decide.
- 04
Our crew does the work
Michaelis employees do the job start to finish, clean up behind themselves and stay a phone call away afterward.
Crawl Space Repair questions from New Palestine
Our New Palestine subdivision house has a crawl space that feels muggy every summer. Is that normal for newer homes?
It's common in newer homes with open vents and thin plastic. Humid air gets in and the soil adds more moisture. Sealing the crawl space and adding a dehumidifier usually brings the humidity down.
I'm in New Palestine and my gutters dump right next to the foundation. Could that be flooding my crawl space?
Very possibly. On flat clay lots, water from a downspout soaks right in beside the foundation and seeps into the crawl space. Extending the downspouts helps, and the inspector will check if a drain inside is also needed.
We have an older home near downtown New Palestine with a sagging kitchen floor. Can that be repaired from underneath?
Yes. We work from the crawl space, replacing damaged wood and adding adjustable steel supports under the beam. The floor above stays in place while we raise it back closer to level.
My New Palestine crawl space has a sump pump but there's still water in the corners. Why?
The pump may not be getting the water. Without a drain line to collect it, water can sit in low spots away from the pit. A French drain around the inside can carry it to the sump.
How does the free crawl space inspection work for New Palestine homeowners?
The inspector checks outside drainage, then goes under the house with a light and moisture meter. You get photos, an explanation of what we found, and a written price, with no obligation.
We're selling our New Palestine home and want the crawl space to pass the buyer's inspection. Can you help?
Yes. We can inspect, fix any moisture, mold or wood damage, and give you documentation of the work.
Can I finance crawl space encapsulation for my New Palestine house?
Financing is available. The inspector will go over options with your written price.
Our New Palestine crawl space insulation is wet and falling. Do we need to replace all of it?
Usually wet batts come out, since they hold moisture against the wood. Once the crawl space is sealed and dry, the floor framing stays drier. The inspector will explain the options for your home.
I'm allergic to mold and live in New Palestine. Can a damp crawl space affect the air inside?
Yes. Air from the crawl space moves up into the house. Drying and sealing the crawl space reduces mold growth and the musty air that comes with it.
Can I put down a vapor barrier in my New Palestine crawl space as a weekend project?
Laying plastic is doable. Sealing it to the walls and piers and taping the seams takes more care, and it won't fix water that's coming in. We're happy to look and tell you which parts make sense to do yourself.
More from Michaelis Foundation Solutions around New Palestine
Other services in New Palestine
Crawl Space Repair near New Palestine
Every part of the job is explained on our crawl space repair page, and the towns we cover are on the service areas page.