Flakes ? for a rookie

[z28dad]

Getting ready to put down some epoxy soon. I have never done it and just wanted to ask about the flakes. Most of the searches I have done talk about them in weight.

My garage is roughly 640sq/ft. I have roughly 6, 10X12 section in this garage. It could be more like 5.5. The front of the building is on an angle, so the last two sections will be a pie shape .

When I bought my kit, I ordered more burgundy and milkweed flakes. I wanted more of these two colors than my third which is latte. I practiced throwing some in the garage tonight and too me it doesn't seem to take alot of flakes for coverage. I'm wanting around a medium broadcast.

Tonight I separated all my flakes into 6 bags in what I think would be way more than enough, but wanted to ask you guys. I actually have alot more left over which will be good should I ever need to touch up the floor.

Pics:

One of my 6 bags:

All 6 bags:

Extra Bag:

Do you think I have it about right? I'm sure once I do a section I will know, but would like to be close before starting.

Thanks,

Russ

 

[munkey]

Just my opinion here, but my experience is that you'll use more flakes than you think. It takes a LOT of flakes to get "heavy" coverage (much more than you have). Light coverage is difficult because the flakes must be distributed very uniformily or else your eye will pick up on areas where there are "clumps". (As soon as you get one "clump", your only reasonably recourse will be to increase the flake density of the entire floor.)

Just estimating from a photo is hard, but my guess is that your bags are going to give a fairly light coverage. Since you have a lot of "extra" flakes, I would divide a bunch of them into the other bags. Even better, divide them into 6 new "reserve" bags and if you decide you need them, you'll be ready.

Remember to throw them upwards as high as possible and let them flutter to the ground. After you've been doing it for awhile, it's very easy to get impatient and start throwing them a little bit haphazardly (since the correct method is a bit slower.) Don't give in and start throwing them like you might throw grass seed, or, like I said, you'll have to add more flakes everywhere to compensate!

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Average coverage is 1 pound per 300 square feet.

 

[parker2275]

I used a handheld grass seeder from lowes for my flakes. the spike shoes are worth every penny and make spreading the flakes easy.

 

[mb1]

I just did 1/2 of my garage, and used about 1/2 - 2/3 of the flakes in the kit I bought. ( Epoxymaster from Costco )

I'm hardly a perfectionist, but IMO the coverage is fairly uniform just from throwing the flakes up in the air. I sprinkled a few places where I thought the coverage was a little thin.

 

[desmo907]

I used 2 kits from SW but only used 1 packet of flakes. I guess it was light but it looks ok to me. As said, throw high in air else you get some clumps (like I did a little).

I did notice later that the flakes don't embed into the paint well... you can run your finger and feel them. I suspect some would "flake off" too over time. SoI got the SW clear acrylic and painted over the floor (adding non-skid again) and it seems to seal the floor better and the flakes as well.

 

[z28dad]

Thanks for all the replies and tips guys, Hopefully I can coat tomorrow. The weather has just not been too good the last week. I do plan to mix them again and get most of all the flakes into the six bags. I'm sure once I have the first section under my belt, I will know how much it will take. Thanks, Russ

 

[bad_idea]

it looks like you are putting far more into this than i did when i coated my floor. i used the rustoleum kit readily available from home depot. i let the wife spread the flakes and she just flung them out there. there were a couple 'woopsies' but they aren't too noticeable. overall the flakes look pretty good. given the choice tho, i would go back and not spread the flakes. they make cleanup a nuisance. dirt and grease catches on the edge of each flake and involves more scrubbing to clean. not alot of extra cleaning time, but enough to be a nuisance.

 

[munkey]

Once the epoxy has set (but before the clearcoat) you really (REALLY!) need to scrape them aggressively with a floor scraper or some similar tool. You can get a scraper at Lowes or any other hardware store. The flakes that are loose or very poorly embedded will come up; the flakes that are a bit vertical or only partially embedded will break off. Then, sweep up the debris (or use a blower), and then apply the clearcoat. (You will be amazed at how both how many flakes you can pile up, and your floor will immediately be dramatically smoother -- even before you apply a clearcoat.)

There absolutely should not be an "edge" to the flakes that will trap dirt. A properly flaked floor should not be harder to clean! (I do think that the flake-free floors look better when they ARE clean and shiny, but that is a difficult state to maintain...)

 

[DeuceDude]

Recently did a floor about the same size, 2.5 pounds was just about right. With that amount you shouldn't run out, which would be worse than too much, IMHO.
Good Luck!

 

[bad_idea]

Once the epoxy has set (but before the clearcoat) you really (REALLY!) need to scrape them aggressively with a floor scraper or some similar tool. You can get a scraper at Lowes or any other hardware store. The flakes that are loose or very poorly embedded will come up; the flakes that are a bit vertical or only partially embedded will break off. Then, sweep up the debris (or use a blower), and then apply the clearcoat. (You will be amazed at how both how many flakes you can pile up, and your floor will immediately be dramatically smoother -- even before you apply a clearcoat.)

There absolutely should not be an "edge" to the flakes that will trap dirt. A properly flaked floor should not be harder to clean! (I do think that the flake-free floors look better when they ARE clean and shiny, but that is a difficult state to maintain...)

it sounds like the clearcoat smoothes the floor. the kit from home depot doesn't included any kind of clearcoat. does anyone know if i could apply the clearcoat 2 yrs after the epoxy? sorry for the side track.

 

[DeuceDude]

My guess is, you could, but you'd have to clean and lightly sand the entire floor first. I'm tired just thinking of it. Also remember smooth equals slippery, may need some anti-slip stuff sprinkled on.