Torginol/Solid Resin floors throughout home?

[tengallonhat]

I realize this forum is garage specific, but it seems like there is a lot of experience with this type of floor.

My question is - given that experience, would you ever consider putting a flake floor throughout your whole home?

Let me provide some context. We have a 1300 sq ft home that it's primary heat source is Electric In-Slab heat (Thermaray panels). The previous owners had a carpet pad and carpet on top of the slab which effectively was insulating the slab and preventing the heat from radiating in the home.

Our plan was to remove the carpet and polish the concrete, but the slab was in too bad of shape to create a good looking floor from - lots of staining, adhesive, nail holes and cracks.

So now our plan B is to go with a Flake/Solid Resin floor throughout the whole home. This would still have the same heat efficiency as polished concrete, it's cheaper then polishing, and has a much more predictable outcome then if we polished what we have.

We know it's going to be a hard floor but we are hoping area rugs throughout and anti-fatigue mats in the kitchen will suffice.

Is this a terrible idea? I know it's not common but it does seem like it would fit well for our situation.

- Will it yellow?
- Is double broadcast a must in this application?
- Any recommendations on what to use for base and top coats?
- I am waiting on a list of the steps to outline the process and materials used - what should I watch out for?

Thanks all in advance!

 

[tengallonhat]

Oh, I should also mention the final installed price would be around $10 a sq. ft which didn't seem too bad to me given the complexity of prepping the concrete inside the home (lots of closets and nooks and crannies to account for). Does this compare in installed price with what you've seen?

 

[tengallonhat]

Also, I think our next best option would be an engineered hardwood plank that is rated for radiant floors, but there are spots where the slab heaved an 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch - so it's not flat and would require at a minimum either a grind or a top coat to level the slab before we could install the plank. I suspect that would add a fair amount to the install cost of the engineered hardwood install but maybe I'm wrong on that?

 

[rlitman]

Someone who knows more can correct me, but I thought that epoxy yellowing was due to UV exposure, and that window films can fix most of that.

Personally, I don't care for tile floors in the home aside from in the restroom. It's just too hard on the joints, but if you don't mind that, I guess it's not a bad idea from the radiant heat perspective. And any engineered floor you put down won't be floating on much of a cushion anyway, if you expect the radiant heat to work.

 

[Garage Flooring]

- Will it yellow? What top coat are you using? Epoxy certainly will. On a full broadcast floor, the epoxy base won't be exposed.
- Is double broadcast a must in this application? Quartz, yes; flake no
- Any recommendations on what to use for base and top coats? There are several factors that come into play here. Is the space unoccupied during the renovation? Are the walls finished? How much light etc
- I am waiting on a list of the steps to outline the process and materials used - what should I watch out for?

 

[tengallonhat]

- Will it yellow? What top coat are you using? Epoxy certainly will. On a full broadcast floor, the epoxy base won't be exposed.
- Is double broadcast a must in this application? Quartz, yes; flake no
- Any recommendations on what to use for base and top coats? There are several factors that come into play here. Is the space unoccupied during the renovation? Are the walls finished? How much light etc
- I am waiting on a list of the steps to outline the process and materials used - what should I watch out for?

This is super helpful, thank you! The space will be unoccupied while the floors are installed. We'd like to get back in as soon as possible after, but would be willing to wait a few extra days if it improves the quality or life of the flooring. The walls are finished drywall, the baseboards and door jambs have all been removed. All the rooms have at least 1 window. It's a ranch style home with soffits over the windows, so it's average light for a home I'd say.

 

[P0234]

I'd do LVP before I did any coating. It looks better and is cheaper.

 

[tengallonhat]

I'd do LVP before I did any coating. It looks better and is cheaper.

I was wondering this - I guess I should see what the cost of leveling 1300 sq ft of concrete would be. My guess is the difference in the high and low points is upwards of a 1/4".

 

[Garage Flooring]

This is super helpful, thank you! The space will be unoccupied while the floors are installed. We'd like to get back in as soon as possible after, but would be willing to wait a few extra days if it improves the quality or life of the flooring. The walls are finished drywall, the baseboards and door jambs have all been removed. All the rooms have at least 1 window. It's a ranch style home with soffits over the windows, so it's average light for a home I'd say.

If you decide to coat it and a professional is doing it, I would do Polyaspartic or Polyurea (multi-coat ) for top coat IF all walls are painted, all soft goods removed, and precautions taken with HVAC. Honestly, I agree with the comment below

I'd do LVP before I did any coating. It looks better and is cheaper.

^ This

 

[Garage Flooring]

Fix it once and be done. Even with a coating you would still want level

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

We work with customers all the time doing these systems for interiors. Excellent application.

 

[Garage Flooring]

We work with customers all the time doing these systems for interiors. Excellent application.

I don’t disagree, just not going to fix the bigger issue. Personally I like it on an interior application but not everywhere. That is 100% preference , not knocking

 

[benwah]

This customer wanted it everywhere in their cabin.

 

[Armorpoxy]

We have supplied thousands of homeowners with flake floor systems for interior use, zero issues.

 

[tarbellb]

Look into self leveling concrete

Just got done leveling my entire 1600sqft home with Uzin NC 150. The stuff is impressive.

You could easily pour your floor level, and even clear coat it for a finished concrete floor!