Foundation Repair in New Palestine, IN
A newer house can still have a moving foundation
New Palestine is a growing Hancock County town southeast of Indianapolis, with the older center of town surrounded by newer neighborhoods and farm fields beyond. Many houses here were built in the last few decades, often with full basements, though there are older homes near the middle of town too. The ground is flat, heavy glacial clay. When builders dig a basement in clay and backfill around it, that loose fill takes in water faster than the undisturbed soil around it, and it keeps settling for years. Most lots are flat with young landscaping.
Foundation Repair for New Palestine homes
That backfill is behind many of the calls we get from New Palestine. Wet fill pushes on a basement wall until a horizontal crack shows up. A corner over poorly compacted soil sinks, and drywall cracks spread from door frames. Patios and front stoops drop away from the house. Older homes near downtown have their own issues, like block walls bowing and floors that slope after decades of the clay swelling and shrinking. Window wells are another weak spot, since cracks often start at the corners of a basement window. In a finished basement, the first clue may be a crack showing through new drywall.
Our inspector checks walls, floors and outside drainage to find out what's moving and why. A bowed wall gets carbon fiber straps or wall anchors. A sinking corner gets footing piers driven to stable soil. Our own crews do the work, the inspection is free, and you'll get a written price for your New Palestine home that explains each step. Financing is available. If your builder's warranty has ended, that's fine, because we inspect any house regardless of who built it. When drainage is part of the cause, our inspector will point out gutters or grading worth fixing as well.
What foundation repair in New Palestine involves
A foundation in New Palestine moves for a reason, and the repair has to answer that reason. These are the four ways we stabilize it, chosen after the inspection.
Wall crack repair
Cracks are sealed from the inside to stop water, and structural cracks get reinforcement so they stay closed.
Bowing wall stabilization
Wall anchors or carbon fiber straps hold a wall that has been pushed inward, and can bring some walls back over time.
Footing piers for settling
Piers driven down to firm soil support a footing that has sunk, which is what sticking doors and sloping floors often point to.
Brick and drywall cracks
Stair-step cracks outside and cracks above door frames inside are traced back to the movement that caused them.
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.
Foundation Repair questions from New Palestine
We moved into a New Palestine subdivision a few years ago and the basement wall has a horizontal crack. Is that normal?
A horizontal crack isn't typical shrinkage. It usually means soil pressure is pushing the wall. Our inspector can measure it and tell you whether straps or anchors are needed.
Our front stoop in New Palestine has dropped away from the house. Is the foundation settling too?
Stoops often sit on loose fill and settle on their own. It's still worth checking the foundation beside it, since the same soil affects both.
I'm in an older home near downtown New Palestine and the floors slope toward the middle. What's causing that?
In older homes, sloping toward the middle is often the support beam or posts settling. Our inspector checks the framing and footings together.
Is it worth fixing foundation cracks in New Palestine before finishing our basement?
Yes. Finishing over a moving wall means cracks will come through the drywall later. Getting it inspected first protects your investment.
My New Palestine house has drywall cracks above several doorways. Should I call someone?
Several cracks over doorways can point to foundation movement. An inspection with floor readings will show whether it's settling or just normal framing shrinkage.
Our New Palestine yard backs up to farm fields and water flows toward the house. Will that affect the foundation?
Yes, runoff toward the house saturates the backfill and adds pressure. Our inspector looks at grading and checks the walls for movement.
We're selling our New Palestine home. Will a foundation repair scare off buyers?
A completed repair with paperwork usually reassures buyers more than an unknown crack. We provide written details of the work.
Can foundation work be done in New Palestine while we're living in the house?
Usually yes. Most repairs happen in the basement or around the outside, and our crew works to keep disruption low. We'll explain the plan ahead of time.
I noticed my New Palestine garage floor cracking. Is that connected to the house foundation?
Garage slabs crack independently in most cases. If there are matching cracks in the house walls, our inspector will look at the connection.
How do I know if carbon fiber straps will work in my New Palestine basement?
Straps fit walls that have bowed a modest amount and are still in fairly good condition. Our inspector measures the bow and tells you if they'll work.
More from Michaelis Foundation Solutions around New Palestine
Other services in New Palestine
Foundation Repair near New Palestine
Every part of the job is explained on our foundation repair page, and the towns we cover are on the service areas page.