Mica vs. Epoxy Chips

[wydizzle]

I am planning to get my garage floor epoxied as soon as I can decide on color and material. My question here relates to material. I had two companies come out and provide quotes. The first company mentioned the option of using Mica "chips" or "flakes" as an alternative to normal epoxy chips/flakes. I asked the second company about Mica and they strongly recommended against it. I think they said something about it turning to dust and making a mess but I didn't really understand.

I've searched the web and this forum but haven't been able to find any clear info between the two. Any help would be appreciated! TIA

 

[wydizzle]

Nothing?

 

[Shea]

Mica flakes are much lighter and more fragile than the typical vinyl colored flake. Installers typically are not excited about using mica flakes because when going with a full flake coverage, the surface creates a fine mica dust during the scraping and sanding which can be a pain to vacuum out. If going with partial flake coverage, they take longer to disperse due to how light they are. Smaller handfuls are needed to toss up and they tend to float down out of the air.

They do create a more natural granite-like type of appearance due the sparkle / glimmering mineral look it can create. There is not a downside really other than it takes a little more time and attention to detail when working with it.

If you want to use mica flakes I would highly recommend hiring a company that is proficient with it. Don't hire one that prefers not to use it or you will just be asking for problems.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Mica flakes are much lighter and more fragile than the typical vinyl colored flake. Installers typically are not excited about using mica flakes because when going with a full flake coverage, the surface creates a fine mica dust during the scraping and sanding which can be a pain to vacuum out. If going with partial flake coverage, they take longer to disperse due to how light they are. Smaller handfuls are needed to toss up and they tend to float down out of the air.

They do create a more natural granite-like type of appearance due the sparkle / glimmering mineral look it can create. There is not a downside really other than it takes a little more time and attention to detail when working with it.

If you want to use mica flakes I would highly recommend hiring a company that is proficient with it. Don't hire one that prefers not to use it or you will just be asking for problems.

Have your blend supplemented with “some” Mica.


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[wydizzle]

Mica flakes are much lighter and more fragile than the typical vinyl colored flake. Installers typically are not excited about using mica flakes because when going with a full flake coverage, the surface creates a fine mica dust during the scraping and sanding which can be a pain to vacuum out. If going with partial flake coverage, they take longer to disperse due to how light they are. Smaller handfuls are needed to toss up and they tend to float down out of the air.

They do create a more natural granite-like type of appearance due the sparkle / glimmering mineral look it can create. There is not a downside really other than it takes a little more time and attention to detail when working with it.

If you want to use mica flakes I would highly recommend hiring a company that is proficient with it. Don't hire one that prefers not to use it or you will just be asking for problems.

Thank you! That's very helpful. So after install, (assuming it was installed properly) there isn't any disadvantage to using mica over regular flakes?

 

[PoorUB]

I also vote "nothing".

Leave the finish smooth, much easier to clean.

 

[Shea]

Thank you! That's very helpful. So after install, (assuming it was installed properly) there isn't any disadvantage to using mica over regular flakes?

No, it's mostly cosmetics. If you were going with a full flake coverage, standard vinyl color flakes would have a slight advantage in terms of durability, but it's not that big of a difference.

 

[Armorpoxy]

Everything above is correct, but in a garage the vinyl flecks since they are less prone to any damage would be a preferred choice in our opinion with vehicular traffic.

 

[wydizzle]

Thank you for the replies! Very helpful!

If I decide to use flakes I will use the traditional vinyl. Now to just decide on whether or not to use flakes... lol

 

[BrianPK]

Put down epoxy with some grit. The flakes look great but the surface becomes extremely slippery when wet. If the concrete isn't new you will need to shotblast the surface to insure adhestion. primer, topcoat, spread grit, topcoat over the grit.