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Best method to apply Flakes

jaggudada

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Jun 21, 2010
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I bought epoxy-coat to do my 2 car garage. What is the best method to apply flakes? some say they throw it on ceiling, some others have used leaf blower???
 
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kywildcat

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Nov 2, 2010
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Western KY
I just stood back with my finger tips full of flakes and just tossed them to what ever place I wanted them. I made one mistake of catching my fingers on the bucket and had a large amount of flakes in one place. I couldn't imagine using a leaf blower or throwing them to the ceiling to let it fall.
 

Cruzin90

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Mar 30, 2010
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First, mix up the bag of chips because small/broken chips settle to the bottom.

Don't throw the chips directly at the floor. You should throw them horizontally or at a upward angle.
 

myridge

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Aug 26, 2009
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Yeah I just poured them into my hand and used a light underhand toss up in the air but not all the way to the ceiling., I second shaking the bag I didn't and ended up with a section of really small chips.
 

kywildcat

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Its not that hard to find a nut or anything small on the grey floor with medium flake.

Another thing about the flakes........take them out of the bag and put in a coffee can or mixing cup, its alot easier to get them out that way.
 

jcp907

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Seminole County, FL.
I am about to do my floors the next day or two.

What if it`s a black plastic / rubber gromet?

You have me considering a lighter flake. I have worked on gray floors with a decent amount of aluminum oxide and it tore up mops-made it a royal pain to clean.

I suppose a light-medium flake and just a little aluminum oxide would be the best balance. And if I can't find it, I'll have to buy another one.
 

AlphaGarage

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Every Garage, AnyTown, USA
I am about to do my floors the next day or two.



You have me considering a lighter flake. I have worked on gray floors with a decent amount of aluminum oxide and it tore up mops-made it a royal pain to clean.

I suppose a light-medium flake and just a little aluminum oxide would be the best balance. And if I can't find it, I'll have to buy another one.

Any amount of aluminum oxide will make mopping tougher - why not use polymer grit?
 
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mrobins297aaa

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south east michigan
i had that alum oxide on the floor at my last house and I never liked it. i won't use it again. Its hard to mop, sweep and it isn't even that good at slip resistance, especially if you get snow on the garage floor its almost useless.
 

srode

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Apr 28, 2011
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If you add the aluminum oxide before back rolling will it still be slip resistant but easier to clearn or will it just get buried in the coating?
 

AlphaGarage

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There are a few different polymer grits out there. It looks a lot like table salt, and since the corners are rounded it's easy on mops, and skin. I use those blue paper shop towels on it all the time without the towel shredding. It doesn't have the same grip as AO, but it has enough grip for most residential and shop applications.

It is white and opaque, so against a solid color and darker color coating it will be visible, but it gets tough to notice if you have flakes also.

Ours is "SuperGrip" and we usually recommend 0.5 pounds per 300 - 400 ft2.
 

Cruzin90

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Made of polypropylene plastic. Comes in various sizes.

NoSlip1.jpg
 
OP
J

jaggudada

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Jun 21, 2010
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Any amount of aluminum oxide will make mopping tougher - why not use polymer grit?


Flakes is not going to make it harder to mop. right? That aluminium oxide is the slip resistent thing that you are talking about. right?
 

theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
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SE MI
I used epoxy on my son's utility room floor. I wanted to skip the flakes, but the wife insisted and she did the sprinkling. It came out great ! I think the trick was doing a small area (4' x 4') and then just carefully sprinkling them from waist high. Woman' touch definitely helped.
 

AlphaGarage

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Flakes is not going to make it harder to mop. right? That aluminium oxide is the slip resistent thing that you are talking about. right?

No, flakes by themselves will not have any noticeable effect on mopping. Yes, Aluminum Oxide is a granular material that's applied with the last coating that reduces slip and fall potential. Essentially it makes the surface act like sand paper, in fact Aluminum Oxide is used in a lot of sandpaper products. It can be extremely effective, but it can be difficult to clean, it can shred mops, paper towels, rags, and skin.

Most home environments do not need that level of texture, consider polymer grit products instead.
 

AlphaGarage

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Regardless of what type of flake you use, and regardless of what technique you use to broadcast said flakes, by all means take a few minutes and practice spreading the flakes beforehand! yes, you may feel foolish, but it can save you a lot of grief.

Once you spread flakes on wet epoxy, if it's too thick, or too clumpy, or whatever, it's a bell that can't be unrung.
 
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