Chip and flake may not be a very encouraging name for a floor coating, but the name belies just how sturdy the mixture is. If you are looking for a beautiful coating for your garage floor, chip and flake flooring may be just the solution you are looking for. You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Here we provide the basic deals so you can choose for yourself.
What Is Flake Flooring?
Laying flake flooring combines the highest quality blended vinyl flakes from polyaspartic coatings and epoxy. It is a floor protection that is hardy and beautifully textured. The process to lay chip and flake flooring is a layered one. That is the secret of its durability. The process follows this order: a moisture-resistant primer, a vinyl chip and flake broadcast, a grout coat, and a chemical resistant topcoat.
First, the flooring is prepped for the primer. The primer protects the floor while shoring it up. It also keeps moisture from coming up through the ground into the flooring. Primers are usually made of polyurethane concrete, other polyaspartic coating materials, or—most commonly—epoxy. Each has its unique strengths.
After the primer comes the namesake: the flakes. These are made with resin, pigments, fillers, and optional additives. They are fine, like thin vinyl confetti, and come in a wide array of colors that do not bleed when they get wet. Each flake is completely unique in both size and shape. They are layered on in color schemes unique to the property owner’s preference.
The flake layer is secured in place by a grout coat. During this stage, property owners can decide just how textured they want the floor coating to be, though how the top coat is applied can also be adjusted to that preference.
Top coats can be laid to the property owner’s specified thickness, and a thicker coat generally appears more luxurious. While the topcoat determines the sheen of the floor (ranging from matte to glossy), it is not only about the coating’s appearance. It also protects the entire system from UV radiation.
Common Questions About Chip and Flake Flooring
What Are the Disadvantages of Flake Flooring?
Nothing is perfect, and flake flooring is no exception. It can be slippery and the top coat can become discolored if it undergoes too much UV exposure. Perhaps the biggest drawback is just how involved the installation is. Each layer (especially the epoxy) takes time to cure, and in order for it to cure correctly, the humidity levels need to be kept at consistent moderate levels.
Chip and flake flooring have a very unique textured appearance. This can make it easy to lose similarly-colored small items like staples or bolts. The floor coating also has a high upfront cost, However, since it is such an enduring material, this disadvantage is mitigated by the fact that flake floors are actually less expensive in the long run.
Are Flake Floors a Good Idea?
The only answer to this question seems to be a list of flake flooring’s pros and cons. Since we have already covered the cons, we’ll just add some of the floor covering’s advantages. The biggest is probably just how durable the system is. Against water, heat, and the pressure of heavy vehicles, flake floors pass the test.
Sometimes the toughest materials are also bland and unattractive, but that is not the case with flake flooring. Property owners have almost unlimited color choices, and the variability means that each floor is customized to a property owner’s taste. Color, thickness, and texture are all up to you. The unique installation process allows the coating to cover both smooth and textured floors without issue. Your garage floors can have a luxurious appearance, reminiscent of marble’s, while still being tough as nails.
Are Epoxy Flake Floors Slippery?
With the addition of a smooth topcoat, flake coverings have a tendency to be a bit slippery. The upside is that the smoothness makes them very easy to clean. The downside is that they can be a bit hazardous when wet. The way to get around this is to add anti-slip compounds into the topcoat.
How Long Does Chip and Flake Flooring Last?
Have we mentioned that these floor coatings are highly durable? Just how long they last depends a few factors. These include where they are laid, the quality of the installation, the thickness of the topcoat, and the amount of use the floor coating gets. Even on the shorter end, chip and flake flooring still preserves any floor for a long time. Installing it can only be an investment for your garage floor.
