Epoxy Flooring in Galena, IL

Epoxy flooring in Galena starts with knowing what is under the building. About 85 percent of the structures in town are inside the Galena Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of them are brick, because zoning once barred wood-frame construction. Those buildings carry old foundations, lower levels that have seen water, and floors that have been patched for generations. We coat basements, garages and commercial spaces here, and every job begins with a close look at the slab and a moisture reading.

Galena's flood record

The Galena River has a long history of leaving its banks. The first recorded flood came in 1828, high enough for steamboats to run on city streets. In 1937 up to five feet of water covered Main Street. Floodgates tied into the levee were added in 1951, and in 1993 they held back almost eight feet of water. They do not stop every kind of flood, though. On July 22, 2010, eight inches of rain fell in one night, and many homes and businesses reported damage to basements and lower levels. A year later, on July 27 and 28, 2011, the town got 10 to 15 inches of rain in 12 hours.

A floor coating will not keep floodwater out of a building. What it can do is give a lower level a sealed surface that is easier to clean and dry after water comes through. If your basement has flooded, here is how we approach it:

• Let the slab dry fully. Concrete that held water can stay damp inside for weeks.
• Test moisture before choosing a product. Some systems tolerate damp slabs better than others.
• Grind away any residue, efflorescence or old coating that the water loosened.
• Repair cracks and spalls so the new coat has a sound base.

Old basements, careful prep

In a building that has stood since the lead-mining era, the basement floor may be thin, uneven or poured in sections over many decades. We tell you plainly what we find. Some floors are good candidates for a full epoxy or flake system. Others need concrete repair first, and a few should wait until a drainage or wall leak problem is fixed. Basement floor coatings work best on a slab that stays reasonably dry.

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Storefronts, restaurants and inns

Galena draws well over one million visitors a year, and many Chicagoans keep second homes in the area. That foot traffic lands on the floors of shops, tasting rooms, kitchens and back-of-house storage. Shop and commercial floor epoxy holds up to carts, spills and constant traffic, and it can be scheduled around slow days so a business stays open. For a back room or kitchen we usually recommend a textured finish for grip.

Main Street was one of the first in Illinois to require architectural review of exterior changes. An interior floor coating is inside work. If your project also touches a storefront, door or window, check with the city about that part before it starts.

What we install most in Galena

• Basement floor coatings after a dry-out and moisture test
• Concrete crack and floor repair in older lower levels
• Shop and commercial floor epoxy for retail and hospitality spaces
• Garage floor epoxy and flake floors for homes and second homes outside downtown