You've been thinking about getting an epoxy floor, and you're weighing your options. There is a range of epoxy options to choose from, starting with an affordable commercial look and ending with high-end, shiny floors like metallic epoxy. Metallic epoxy is quite a show-stopper, but is it the right choice for you and your project?
Elite Floor Coatings has coated over two million square feet of concrete since our inception. Metallic epoxy isn't the most popular epoxy floor we offer, but it is beloved by the customers who choose it. While metallic isn't the best option for every concrete floor, it can be a stunning choice for the right project.
When you've finished reading, you'll know all the benefits and drawbacks of metallic epoxy.
Metallic epoxy floors have several unique benefits. Let's take a look at these pros.
Metallic is a great choice if you have a floor that just receives foot traffic.
Commercial spaces like storefronts, showroom floors, and offices can be set apart with a shiny metallic floor.
House basements used as entertainment centers or game rooms may enjoy the fun atmosphere from a metallic epoxy floor.
Even public spaces like dance floors and event centers enjoy the showiness of metallic.
It is technically true that all epoxy floors are unique. The placement and coloration of paint chips and river rocks are different every time. However, the visual effect is the same for paint chip and river rock.
Metallic epoxy is truly unique. No two metallic floors are the same, even with the same choices. Metallic epoxy is like a piece of shiny, reflective art for the floor.
The huge draw of metallic epoxy is the fun of it. You might not want something so shiny and attention-drawing on every piece of concrete. However, in the right applications, metallic makes floor fun.
These floors gleam, which may be a drawback if you want a matte finish. But for those who are seeking out a shiny floor, metallic offers just that.
Metallic epoxy is a smooth floor, which makes it easy to clean. With standard household cleaning materials, maintaining a metallic epoxy floor is simple.
Metallic is a cool flooring option, but it isn't perfect for every application. Let's look at the drawbacks of metallic epoxy floors.
Epoxy floors adhere to concrete. Professionals use expensive equipment to thoroughly prep concrete for this adhesion. However, metallic epoxy doesn't get the same adhesion to its top coat as other coating systems.
Without paint flakes or quartz sand, there is nothing but smooth epoxy for the urethane top coat to hold onto. The difference in adhesion means the top coat can take damage more easily. For example, a sharp chair leg could scratch off the top coat. Metallic epoxy is less durable than other epoxies.
Metallic epoxy is not meant for floors that receive any type of aggressive use. This type of coating is not ideal for mechanical work.
For example, you would never want to install metallic epoxy in a commercial setting like an assembly line or warehouse. Aggressive use of a metallic epoxy floor can chip or peel that protective top coat.
While these floors are beautiful, they can be slippery. A metallic epoxy floor is very smooth. We can install anti-skid for other types of epoxy to counteract some of this slipperiness. The anti-skid is easily hidden in the pattern of paint chip.
However, the anti-skid addition would be visible with a metallic epoxy floor. Adding anti-skid to eliminate slipperiness risks ruining the great visual effect of the floor. Instead, we add something known as HWS, which is a powdered white oxide. It looks like flour and can be visible on dark colors, but it does give shoes some grip.
With some epoxies, an increase in price correlates to an increase in durability. Paint chip and quartz epoxy are often compared as similar floors, with quartz being the more expensive and durable option.
Metallic epoxy is also a more expensive option, but there is no accompanying increase in durability.
One of the reasons metallic epoxy is more pricey is the condition of the floor. When installing metallic, the floor needs to be in good condition already. Damage can impact adhesion, and flaws in the concrete will show through in the epoxy’s pattern and mess up the beautiful flow of the designs.
With a new floor, there is no damage and therefore no increase in cost. However, any damaged concrete will incur repair costs.
Metallic also tends to be more expensive due to the size of its projects. The cost per square foot is higher when choosing metallic for a small storefront or basement. As the square footage increases, the cost per square foot decreases.
One project we completed was approximately 250 square feet, and the cost of metallic was between $12 and $14 per square foot. Another project was 2000 square feet, which dropped the cost to $9 per square foot.
If your project is expansive, like a dance floor or event center, you might be able to get an exceptional price for metallic epoxy. Smaller projects like basements will have a more regular rate.
Metallic epoxy is a fun and shiny coating option for indoor concrete. Metallic floors are not especially durable and cannot withstand more than foot traffic. Of all the indoor epoxy options, metallic tends to be more expensive. However, if you're looking for a showstopping floor for a basement, showroom, or community center, metallic might be the right choice for you.
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