There is rising awareness about epoxy’s benefits, which has led to a boost in the industry. According to Global Market Insights, the industrial floor coating market is valued at $4.74 million and has a CAGR of 7.2% from 2022 to 2028. There are different segments in the floor coating market, with epoxy having a significant share. Epoxy floor coating is popular in residential and industrial areas for its many benefits and multiple options, such as epoxy flakes. But with so many choices available, how can one person pick the best? Here’s a small guide to picking the right epoxy flakes!
What are Epoxy Flakes?
Epoxy flakes have various names, such as decorative flakes, color chips, vinyl flakes, or fleck. They are polymer paint aggregates made using a special formulation and are used to add designs and uniqueness to the epoxy floor coating. They usually consist of resin materials, organic minerals, and additives to give it pigment and enhance the strength and look of the floor. They are random in shape and can also be custom blended to match any décor.
Picking Epoxy Flakes
Epoxy flakes are also available in several choices, such as in color design and flake size. Since there are hundreds to choose from, it can be quite confusing to pick the right shade and size and decide on the best option for your floor. To pick the right epoxy flake, here are some to consider:
1. How Durable Do You Want the Floor to Be
Based on your choice of flakes and how close they are, the thickness of the epoxy floor coating can vary. If you apply heavy to full coverage of flakes, the floor coating becomes about 5 millimeters thick. Epoxy is already durable, but adding these flakes will add some elasticity to the epoxy coating and make it even more impact resistant. This will further enhance the durability and add some cushion to the concrete.
2. Is Your Epoxy Floor Slippery
The curing or hardening process of epoxy makes it looks smooth and slippery, and in some cases, it’s not just the look but the actual surface becomes slippery as well. Flakes add texture to the epoxy coating. However, to make it truly anti-slip, it needs some additives to remove the slipperiness completely.
3. How Much Noise Do You Want to Dampen
Epoxy materials are very effective in dampening sound. If there are a lot of echoes in the room, such as in your garage, applying flakes can help reduce the noise. The closer the flakes are and the thicker the surface, the more sound it will stop.
4. The Aesthetic You’re Going For
There are hundreds of options in the design, color, and size of the flakes. This gives people several possibilities to choose from and can fit any look you’re going for. This is another reason, except for the durability of the epoxy, that you’ll see flakes being used in residential and commercial buildings.
5. What Flaws are You Trying to Cover
Epoxy floor coating it’s a great way to cover flaws on the surface below. However, there might be some flaws that might not be covered with a regular epoxy floor coating, in which case flakes can be used. Depending on how close or far the flakes are from each other, they will cover all the flaws underneath the epoxy.
6. Kind of Coverage You Like
Epoxy flakes come in different sizes, and depending on the coverage you like, the number of flakes will differ as well. Although it is best to discuss within epoxy flooring contractor beforehand and consult if the kind of coverage of flakes you are interested in is the right one for you, it is usually categorized into four types of coverage:
- light coverage which has 0.002 lbs per square feet
- medium coverage, which has 0.01 lbs per square feet
- heavy coverage, which has 0.04 lbs per square feet
- full coverage, which has 0.15 lbs per square feet
When to Avoid Epoxy Flakes
Epoxy flakes are a great choice for floor coating; however, there are some cases where it might not be recommended. If the room you are applying the epoxy floor coating in is primarily used to work on cars, heavy projects, or uses smaller parts like screws, nuts, bolts, pins, etc., a coating without flakes is a safer option. This is because if the smaller parts fall to the floor, they can be hard to find and can come under your feet, which will cause injuries. If you work on heavy equipment and something that the epoxy floor cannot bear, the impact of falls on it, then the dents left from it will become more prominent on a flaked floor.
The Best Epoxy Flooring Contractor in Draper
Epoxy floors are a great choice for both residents and commercial areas. You can install an epoxy floor coating in the garage or basement and have a floor that will need no replacing for years on end. Flaking is a design option that can elevate the look of your epoxy floor. The better the quality and installation, the better the final results will be. Steel Coated Epoxy Floors offers top-quality epoxy floor coating in Draper and a multitude of flake options, all with a lifetime warranty!
Whether it’s a garage, shop, basement, or patio, we can help increase the value and aesthetics of our floor coating services. Floors are the first thing that will make an impression, whether it’s your business or your home, which is why we offer both residential and commercial coating. Let us help you reflect stability and sensibility with steel epoxy flooring and more for that great first impression. We’ll also help you protect the concrete and maintain cleanliness with our floors. We also offer multiple flake options for epoxy coating.
Contact us today and request a quote to transform boring old floors into something new that will last a lifetime!
