Flake Combination

[Hogan646]

Hi all,

I have been contemplating flake combinations for an epoxy floor. One the options I have been thinking of is to match the colors in the BMW “M” logo. I have been experimenting on the Torginol’s color flake tool (link below) and have come up with the below combination. Using this tool I think I have achieved the best match, I am looking for some feedback on your thoughts on the match. Also, are there any other BMW enthusiasts out there who have either done this or have contemplated the same thing? I am thinking of a medium gray floor with a medium broadcast. Thanks in advance.

http://www.torginol.com/colorflakes/tool/

 

[Garage Flooring]

What are you thinking for a base color? I like the colors.

 

[Hogan646]

What are you thinking for a base color? I like the colors.

I thinking of a Medium or Light Gray.

 

[munkey]

I contemplated doing something similar; I was going to tint my epoxy to match my Imola Red ///M. Ultimately, though, I couldn't picture how it was going to look well enough to actually go through with it. I was worried the car would blend into the floor (which might not be very cool), that it would show too much dirt, and that the resale value of having an epoxied garage floor might suffer if it was a ridiculous color.

Here are a couple questions for you:

1. Is the connection between those colors and the ///M logo going to actually be obvious enough to pursue this? Are you going to be insulted if you are the only one who "gets it"? (This is less likely to be a problem if you have huge ///M logo posters or something around, or are going nuts with an embedded floor decal thingie like some people do!)

2. As Justin asked, do you have a planned base color? Would you be flaking to rejection?

3. If I were doing this, I would strongly consider the proportions of these colors. Even though they are equal size bars in the logo, they don't have equal visual prominence when scattered randomly about the floor -- that lipstick red is very dominant. I would probably lean heavily on one of the blues (probably the lighter one), with a bit less of the dark blue and just a handful of the red chips. (Maybe 60%/30%/10%? That's just a random guess.)

I think you need to decide what you want the overall/average color of the floor to be, because the way you have it configured in that screenshot, I think there's a good chance that, at first glance, it's going to come across as a "purple floor" first and an "///M logo colors floor" second. Just something to think about, I could be wrong.

Definitely keep us posted on how you decide to proceed!

 

[Hogan646]

I contemplated doing something similar; I was going to tint my epoxy to match my Imola Red ///M. Ultimately, though, I couldn't picture how it was going to look well enough to actually go through with it. I was worried the car would blend into the floor (which might not be very cool), that it would show too much dirt, and that the resale value of having an epoxied garage floor might suffer if it was a ridiculous color.

Here are a couple questions for you:

1. Is the connection between those colors and the ///M logo going to actually be obvious enough to pursue this? Are you going to be insulted if you are the only one who "gets it"? (This is less likely to be a problem if you have huge ///M logo posters or something around, or are going nuts with an embedded floor decal thingie like some people do!)

2. As Justin asked, do you have a planned base color? Would you be flaking to rejection?

3. If I were doing this, I would strongly consider the proportions of these colors. Even though they are equal size bars in the logo, they don't have equal visual prominence when scattered randomly about the floor -- that lipstick red is very dominant. I would probably lean heavily on one of the blues (probably the lighter one), with a bit less of the dark blue and just a handful of the red chips. (Maybe 60%/30%/10%? That's just a random guess.)

I think you need to decide what you want the overall/average color of the floor to be, because the way you have it configured in that screenshot, I think there's a good chance that, at first glance, it's going to come across as a "purple floor" first and an "///M logo colors floor" second. Just something to think about, I could be wrong.

Definitely keep us posted on how you decide to proceed!

No, I don’t think that anyone will get the color combination but me and that will bother me in the least bit. I want to go with a light or medium gray base coat with a light to medium coverage of the flakes similar to what the “NewShockerGuy” did on his floor; see below.

I like the idea of changing up the ratio of the colors, I agree with you the red may be over powering. Thanks for the input. Nice looking floor. What brand is that?

 

[munkey]

No, I don’t think that anyone will get the color combination but me and that will bother me in the least bit. I want to go with a light or medium gray base coat with a light to medium coverage of the flakes similar to what the “NewShockerGuy” did on his floor; see below.

I see; in that case, I think the color mixer/preview tool is pretty worthless, because you aren't getting to see them in context with the most important color (the base coat).

Just my opinion, and don't take this the wrong way, but if a warm/light gray is going to be showing on 80% of your floor, you basically have very little connection to the ///M logo anymore regardless of what color(s) you put on the other 20%. (Yes, the computer image has some "gray" in it but it is metallic/chrome in the real world and IMO doesn't count as part of the "color scheme"!)

Is it not an option to use a base coat that coordinates a little better? I used a color called "Steely Gray", this picture shows it a little better than the previous one; it definitely has some blue in it. (Note: ignore hideous walls, etc!)

I'm not saying it's perfect for you, just that a more cool-toned gray might look best with those chip colors you are interested in. If that's not an option, I think you're better off coordinating the chips and the basecoat together as a visual unit and choosing what looks best to you when looking at all (4?) colors together in the proportions they will end up being on the floor. Considering them as separate elements, where you are choosing a basecoat in one step and the chips in a second independent step might be a serious design mistake.

My garage was done with SW Tile Clad (high solids epoxy) and Armorseal Rexthane (moisture cure urethane). It isn't 100% solids like the high end products usually discussed here, but it has performed flawlessly so far.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I would either get a coating tinted to the color of the majority of the flakes (or vice versa) or do a full broadcast. I like the software...

 

[Hogan646]

I see; in that case, I think the color mixer/preview tool is pretty worthless, because you aren't getting to see them in context with the most important color (the base coat).

Just my opinion, and don't take this the wrong way, but if a warm/light gray is going to be showing on 80% of your floor, you basically have very little connection to the ///M logo anymore regardless of what color(s) you put on the other 20%. (Yes, the computer image has some "gray" in it but it is metallic/chrome in the real world and IMO doesn't count as part of the "color scheme"!)

Is it not an option to use a base coat that coordinates a little better? I used a color called "Steely Gray", this picture shows it a little better than the previous one; it definitely has some blue in it. (Note: ignore hideous walls, etc!)

I'm not saying it's perfect for you, just that a more cool-toned gray might look best with those chip colors you are interested in. If that's not an option, I think you're better off coordinating the chips and the basecoat together as a visual unit and choosing what looks best to you when looking at all (4?) colors together in the proportions they will end up being on the floor. Considering them as separate elements, where you are choosing a basecoat in one step and the chips in a second independent step might be a serious design mistake.

My garage was done with SW Tile Clad (high solids epoxy) and Armorseal Rexthane (moisture cure urethane). It isn't 100% solids like the high end products usually discussed here, but it has performed flawlessly so far.

That is a great color on your floor. I see your point in terms of coordinating the four colors. At this point I am leaning towards Legacy Industrial Epoxy flooring. They do not seem to offer a color like yours but do have a light blue that may work better with the other flake colors.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

That gray looks pretty close to our Medium Gray.
We also do logos that are designed for epoxy flooring.
If you need a quote, send me your image and I will get you a price.

 

[munkey]

At this point I am leaning towards Legacy Industrial Epoxy flooring.

Scotty sells good stuff and has hooked me up with several different products, all of which have worked very well. I can't comment on his colors but I have had no problems with his coatings, several of which I have used in bizarre (if not abusive) ways and they have still held up.

Good luck with your color decisions, it is all very subjective and I hope my excessively opinionated comments didn't offend you! All that matters is what you think will look best when you look at it day after day after day -- and after you do all that hard work, you WILL be looking at it a lot!

 

[Hogan646]

That gray looks pretty close to our Medium Gray.
We also do logos that are designed for epoxy flooring.
If you need a quote, send me your image and I will get you a price.

Thanks, that is good to know.

 

[Hogan646]

Scotty sells good stuff and has hooked me up with several different products, all of which have worked very well. I can't comment on his colors but I have had no problems with his coatings, several of which I have used in bizarre (if not abusive) ways and they have still held up.

Good luck with your color decisions, it is all very subjective and I hope my excessively opinionated comments didn't offend you! All that matters is what you think will look best when you look at it day after day after day -- and after you do all that hard work, you WILL be looking at it a lot!

No, I was not offended at all. Your comments have been very helpful. Thanks.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Any reason not to go with a white epoxy floor with the colors you have choosen?

I love the colors of the flakes you choose and it would really pop on white I think. It wouldn't be too over bearing either. The white would make the colors stand out.

It would be a nice clean look in my opinion... getting gray I feel like would take away from the flakes.

I choose light gray because the flakes that I went with are a nice conrast with the light gray, via charcoal, black, white and red...

I was very very tempted to do white epoxy but after realizing that I was going to be adding anti/skid, with a poly coat plus you wouldn't see the white flakes, it made my decision to go with the light gray so you can see everything. Next garage though in the house that we build will get a nicely poured garage and will have a white epoxy with white top coat. I want the sterile look...lol

I wouldn't worry about anyone coming in to the floor and second guessing it honestly.. it's your floor, your M... you know what it is... that's all that matters. I do stuff for me. That's like taking your M badge off... everyone else thinks it's a 3 series... you know it's a beast..lol ;-p


-Nigel

 

[Hogan646]

Any reason not to go with a white epoxy floor with the colors you have choosen?

I love the colors of the flakes you choose and it would really pop on white I think. It wouldn't be too over bearing either. The white would make the colors stand out.

It would be a nice clean look in my opinion... getting gray I feel like would take away from the flakes.

I choose light gray because the flakes that I went with are a nice conrast with the light gray, via charcoal, black, white and red...

I was very very tempted to do white epoxy but after realizing that I was going to be adding anti/skid, with a poly coat plus you wouldn't see the white flakes, it made my decision to go with the light gray so you can see everything. Next garage though in the house that we build will get a nicely poured garage and will have a white epoxy with white top coat. I want the sterile look...lol

I wouldn't worry about anyone coming in to the floor and second guessing it honestly.. it's your floor, your M... you know what it is... that's all that matters. I do stuff for me. That's like taking your M badge off... everyone else thinks it's a 3 series... you know it's a beast..lol ;-p


-Nigel

I never considered white as an option, I always wanted to go with a gray floor. I agree with you that the flakes would definitely “pop” but not sure I would like the white itself. I also want to add some anti-skip component to the floor as well and I think that in itself may dull the white.

I am not worried at all about anyone thinking I am a nut because of the “M” theme but my only reservations now are if I ever get rid of the “M” and now have a floor that really makes no sense. Right not I can’t imagine ever getting rid of it, my 8 year old son keeps asking me when he will be old enough to drive it.

Thanks for your input and I love your floor!

 

[munkey]

That's like taking your M badge off... everyone else thinks it's a 3 series... you know it's a beast..

I'm thinking about doing this. The other way around is super tacky (adding an M badge to a 325), but "underrating" a car is awesome. I've always thought it would be hilarious to put a 318ti badge on the M3 but have never had the guts to do it.

I never considered white as an option, I always wanted to go with a gray floor. I agree with you that the flakes would definitely “pop” but not sure I would like the white itself. I also want to add some anti-skip component to the floor as well and I think that in itself may dull the white.

White would definitely look awesome and make the color pop... the question is, how long does it stay white after you clean it? (Especially with antiskid grabbing dirt particles.)

 

[Hogan646]

I'm thinking about doing this. The other way around is super tacky (adding an M badge to a 325), but "underrating" a car is awesome. I've always thought it would be hilarious to put a 318ti badge on the M3 but have never had the guts to do it.

Of all the fake "M" pictures I have see over the years I think the best is the Infinity I35 with "M" badges. I do not know what this person was thinking!

 

[munkey]

Haha, that's great. Not that the overall effect is all that convincing, but the badge on the door makes it even worse when you consider that there's nothing like that on a real M3...