Epoxy Flooring in Virden, IL

Virden sits on top of a large coal seam, and that history matters for epoxy flooring in Virden. Once the Chicago and Alton Railroad was finished in the 1850s, coal from under the town could be mined and shipped long distances, and Virden grew as a mining community through the late 1800s. Today it is a city of 3,231 people, about 22 miles southwest of Springfield on Illinois Route 4. Many of its garage and basement slabs sit above ground that was mined long ago.

Why we start with the cracks

Most of the city lies in Macoupin County. The Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund lists Macoupin as a mandatory county, with 108,112 acres in its mine-related zones and 12,817 of the county's 20,876 housing units inside them. That does not mean every crack in a Virden garage is from subsidence. Most are ordinary shrinkage cracks and settling that we fill as routine prep. Still, we look closely. A crack that is new, wide or growing, especially with doors or windows that have started to stick, deserves attention before any coating goes over it. We point those out at the estimate and suggest you talk to your insurer.

Crack and floor repair comes first

• Hairline shrinkage cracks are opened up and filled flush.
• Wider cracks and broken control joints get a semi-rigid filler that tolerates slight movement.
• Spalled and pitted areas near the garage door are rebuilt.
• Low spots that hold water are leveled so meltwater drains out.

Only after that do we put down the coating. On an older Virden slab that usually means a flake broadcast system with a clear topcoat. The flakes hide patched areas so the repaired floor looks like one surface.

The town and its housing

Virden counted 1,596 housing units in 2020, with 12.3% vacant. Its population has slipped from 3,425 in 2010. That means most garages and basements here are older, and some homes coming back onto the market need their concrete brought back to life. Investors and new buyers often ask us to coat a basement or garage as part of getting a house ready to live in.

Weather on the Route 4 corridor

Virden averages about 38.4 inches of precipitation and roughly 16.1 inches of snow a year. That is enough salt season to flake bare concrete near the door. Spring rain matters too. Basements need a moisture test before coating, and we choose the primer based on the readings.

A town with a hard-won history

The monument on Virden's town square marks the 1898 mine riot, when strikers and armed guards on a train of strikebreakers exchanged fire outside the Chicago-Virden Coal Company stockade. Thirteen people died. A bronze portrait of Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, who played a major role in that strike, sits atop the monument. The mines shaped this town above ground and below it.

Basements in an older mining town

Many older Virden houses have basements that have taken on water at some point. Before we coat one, we look for efflorescence, the white powder that shows water has moved through the concrete, and for damp spots along the walls. A coating can seal the surface and make the room easier to clean. It cannot stop water that is pushing in from outside. When we see signs of that, we recommend fixing the drainage first and coating after.

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