To flake or not to flake

[motormitch]

I would like to get a quick assessment of folks experience with using or not using color flakes on epoxy coated shop floors. Here is the background. 3200 sq.ft. shop. Red iron building. Very good lighting. Activities will be vehicle restoration to include all aspects of the process like mechanical, engine, welding, painting, etc..

I have decided on epoxy floor coating over tile due to budget and now just need to decide on color flakes or not and what size.

 

[bdamico]

there isn't anything new to discuss

1) what's your preference in style
2) how much does it bug you that you'll have a harder time finding stuff you drop
3) any other imperfections you want to help cover up on floor

done

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=12316395

 

[motormitch]

I'm interested in seeing what the majority prefer and have experienced which is why I am not posting my inclination and doing a poll.

 

[Zmw]

I wish I did a heavier broadcast of chips on my floor. I start laying them down and for some reason decided to back off and do a light broadcast. It looks ok, but a med/hevy broadcast would look better imo

 

[.:Ryno]

I wouldn't bother with it for a 3200 sq ft shop. If it was my home garage i would do a heavy broadcast.

 

[macattak]

I like the looks of the flakes, particularly if the floor isn't battleship gray. Being consistent on that size of floor might be a bit difficult though.

 

[retfr8flyr]

For a shop with a large floor, heavy flakes would be very costly and labor intensive. I would do it for a home garage, I did with mine but not for a large floor. I would just do single color with no flakes on a floor that size.

 

[Jsf721]

I lightly flaked my last install which was a water based install many years ago. I plan in re-doing my floor August 3 with 100% Epoxy and will again lightly flake and add anti slip before the Clear coat.

 

[Shea]

From my experience in talking with shop owners who have epoxy floors, the majority opted for a floor with no flakes or wish they would have done their floor with no flakes. The major reasons for this had to do with finding loose nuts, cotter pins, bolts, and etc. that have fallen on the floor as well as making it easy to identify any fluid leaks.

A floor with full flakes does make for a much easier repair however in the event that some heavy sharp object scores the floor from falling off a lift, workbench, or etc.

 

[Thumper68]

IMO I wouldn't use chips at all in a working shop area, the reason being that the chips make it very hard to find small parts on the floor.

 

[motormitch]

I forgot to add that the price delta for a "rich" flake coverage is $1,000. Just more information for your thoughts.

 

[pauloman]

decorative colored chips etc. have no place in a work environment. Done right a chip floor is a multi coat project combining epoxy and LPU coatings in several different methods.

what is recommended in such a work environment is a quartz broadcast floor (epoxy, sand to excess, epoxy topcoat). Back in the days when epoxy contractors were skilled and professional, many would do nothing less than this on such a work floor.

 

[motormitch]

OK, it's done. I ordered a light gray epoxy without flakes. This is going to be a working man's shop and not just for show, so I listened to everyone about finding small items on the busy background of a flaked floor. This coming Friday it starts.

Long term, if I come into some extra cash, I will want to go with rectified porcelain, but for now.....

 

[c7fx]

I went without the flake and the floor is very slick when wet. I think the floor shows off scratches more so than if with flakes.

 

[motormitch]

I went without the flake and the floor is very slick when wet. I think the floor shows off scratches more so than if with flakes.

Now you tell me My floor guy has seen that problem before and adds pigment to the urethane top coat which reduces the scratch problem since you don;t have the base coat, clear coat effect.

 

[QT.]

My first post!!!!

We're going to flake however, I'm undecided on colors and flake size. I'm using grey.

 

[JD in DFW]

If it were my shop area I would want a full broadcasted flake. Adds more build tot eh floor, better traction and just looks alot better to me. As for the issue of finding washers, nut and bolts on a full flaked floor....a magnet bar is your best friend for that. You can pick up one with wheels that is around 18-24" wide from HF and it will save you a tone of time looking for lost metal items on the flaked floor.
Just my 2-cents we do alot of both, but the flaked floors are by far the most popular and get the most bang for the buck in these parts.

JD

 

[hacksaw2375]

I added flakes and I really like it that way.
Makes the floor less slippery.
I used a hand held seed spreader to distribute the flakes and it came out very even and looks good.