Epoxy Flake Floors in Columbia, SC

Epoxy flake floors are the system we install most often in Columbia, SC. A flake floor is a resin base coat with colored vinyl chips broadcast into it while it is wet, then sealed under one or two clear coats. The chips give the floor color, texture and depth, and they hide the dust, pollen and red clay that end up on a Midlands garage floor between cleanings.

How a flake floor is built

After the slab is diamond ground and repaired, we roll on a base coat tinted close to the main chip color. While it is still wet, we throw chips across the floor by hand until no base shows. This is called broadcasting to refusal. Once the base cures, we scrape and vacuum off the loose chips, and the surface has a fine, even texture. A clear topcoat goes over the top. On most Columbia floors that topcoat is polyaspartic, which HomeGuide rates excellent for UV resistance against poor to fair for standard epoxy.

Full broadcast or partial broadcast

A full broadcast covers the floor completely and gives the most texture and the most forgiving look. A partial broadcast scatters fewer chips over a solid color for a cleaner, more modern look. Partial floors show dirt more and are a little smoother, so we usually suggest them for indoor rooms and full broadcast for garages.

Picking a blend

Chip blends mix several colors and sizes. Lighter blends keep a garage brighter and stay cooler underfoot, but show tire marks sooner. Darker blends hide marks well and show dust more. Mid-tone blends with gray, tan and a touch of black are the most forgiving in a garage that sees yard work, pollen season and a fair amount of red clay. We bring physical samples to your estimate, because a blend looks different under a garage light than it does on a screen.

Texture and slip resistance

The chips leave a slight texture that gives grip when the floor is wet, which helps when summer storms blow rain under the door or when kids come in from the pool. If you want more grip, we add a fine aggregate to the topcoat. If you want an easier mop, we put on a second clear coat to smooth the texture down.

Where flake floors work besides the garage

• Laundry and mud rooms on a slab
• Screened porches and covered patios
• Workshops and hobby rooms
• Golf cart and boat storage bays
• Small commercial spaces like salons, gyms and break rooms

In each case the prep is the same: grind, repair, test for moisture, then coat.

Living with a flake floor

Sweep or dust-mop grit, and mop with water and a mild cleaner. Avoid harsh acids. Clean up pool chemicals, fertilizer and brake fluid when they spill. Put a pad under motorcycle kickstands and jack stands.