Epoxy Flooring in Chatham, IL

Most of the epoxy flooring we put down in Chatham goes into garages that are a few years to a few decades old. The village had 2,788 residents in 1970 and 14,377 in 2020. It grew 34% in the 2000s and another 25% in the 2010s. Housing kept pace, from 3,165 units in 2000 to 5,839 in 2020. So a large share of Chatham garage floors were poured in the last 25 years, and they bring a different set of questions than an old city slab.

The trouble with a smooth, new floor

A young slab is usually flat and sound, and that is good news. It is also hard and slick on top. Builders finish garage floors with power trowels that leave a dense, almost glassy surface, and resin struggles to grip it. Some new floors also carry a curing compound or clear sealer sprayed on at construction. A coating rolled over either one can look fine for a season and then lift in sheets under hot tires.

That is why we diamond grind every Chatham floor, even one that looks spotless. Grinding removes the trowel glaze and any sealer and leaves a texture the base coat can bite into. We also take moisture readings. A slab poured recently may still be releasing water, and if the numbers are high we wait or choose a primer built for it.

What we check on a Chatham estimate

• Builder sealer or curing compound on the surface
• Shrinkage cracks at inside corners and along saw-cut joints, which are normal and easy to fill
• Low spots near the door where meltwater collects
• The step into the house and the short stem walls, which many owners want coated too
• Whether a third bay is used as a workshop and needs a tougher finish

Garages that hold a household

In the 2020 census, 40% of Chatham's 5,461 households had children under 18. The village's motto is "Where families grow." In practice that means garages full of bikes, scooters, strollers, sports bags and a second refrigerator. Epoxy Flake Floors suit this kind of garage. The chips hide scuffs and tracked-in dirt between cleanings, and the texture gives kids some grip on a floor that is wet from a snowy car.

Time matters too. Few families want the garage out of service for a week. Polyaspartic Floor Coating cures fast enough that you can usually walk on it the same day and park within a day or two, depending on temperature. We give you exact times in writing.

Trail riders and hobby bays

The Interurban Trail runs 4.75 miles through Chatham and Woodside townships on a former rail line. Riders who use it often keep bikes, a work stand and tools in the garage. Other owners turn a third bay into a home gym or a woodworking corner. These uses are harder on a floor than parking. Dropped weights, bench vises and rolling tool chests call for a thicker build, and we can add a little more aggregate under a gym area for grip.

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Basements in newer homes

If your Chatham home has a basement, it is likely poured concrete that is still in good shape. Basement Floor Epoxy can turn it into a clean storage room, laundry area or play space. We still test for moisture first, because below-grade concrete stays cool and can sweat in July. A solid color with light flake is popular down there because it brightens the room.

A simple plan for most Chatham garages

1. Grind the full floor and vacuum the dust 2. Fill corner and joint cracks 3. Base coat with a full flake broadcast 4. Polyaspartic topcoat for UV stability near the door 5. Written walk-on and park-on times

If the floor turns out to need more, such as an old kit coating to remove or a crack that has opened since the house was built, we add it to the written quote before any work starts.