Paint chip epoxy floors offer a wide range of looks. You can choose different colors, like blues, greens, and grays. You can also choose paint flakes in several sizes. Knowing what colors you like or will work well for your space is easy, but paint chip sizes are harder to pick. Which paint flake size will work best for your project?
Elite Floor Coatings has installed over 1,000 paint chip floors. Paint chip epoxy is one of our most popular epoxy systems. Customers often wonder about the right size of paint flakes, and we walk them through their options.
When you've finished reading, you'll know what sizes are available and which is best for you.
Quarter-inch paint flakes used to be quite popular. For many years, these larger paint chips were the trend. Currently, quarter-inch is our least popular size option. There's nothing wrong with this size of paint chip. They simply have gone out of style. Someday, this size will become popular again, but it has fallen out of the current trend.
Our recommendation for quarter-inch paint chip is huge spaces. This size visually looks best on vast floors of 3,000 square feet or more. Unless you're researching paint chip epoxy for business or commercial space, quarter-inch is likely not the size you're looking for.
However, if you are considering paint chip epoxy for an event space or commercial application, quarter-inch might be the right choice.
It is important to note that quarter-inch paint flakes are so large they allow the epoxy to peek through. Epoxy can deteriorate when exposed to ultraviolet light, so these systems won't last as long if they're exposed to the sun. If a paint chip system with quarter-inch flakes is exposed to lots of sunlight, the floor will get sunburned and cause the clear coat to get flaky.
If your event space has large overhead doors frequently kept open, choosing a smaller flake size is better. However, commercial applications like warehouses and assembly lines have less sun exposure. They would be safe for this size of paint chip.
Eighth-inch has surpassed quarter-inch in popularity, largely because it looks less busy. It has become the new premier choice for commercial applications, especially those with possible sun exposure. Because these chips are smaller, the epoxy is totally covered with flakes. There's no risk of your floor getting a sunburn.
Some homeowners also choose an eighth-inch flake for their paint chip flooring. It's a well-rounded option. The pattern isn't busy or loud but still offers a pop of color.
One other benefit of this size is the potential for covering repairs. Sometimes, epoxy is installed on top of repaired concrete. This middle-ground option covers repairs better than smaller flakes, making repairs seemingly disappear. The eighth-inch size is best for areas with heavy amounts of damage.
Sixteenth-inch paint flakes are the most popular choice by homeowners. This size is quite subtle and gives the best aesthetic for indoor areas of the home. The sixteenth-inch flakes are ideal if you want to coat the concrete in your basement, mudroom, or laundry room.
While these tiny flakes don't cover repairs as well as larger sizes, the sixteenth-inch has other benefits. As the smallest and most subtle paint chip flooring, it looks the most similar to carpet. Rather than having a floor that looks like a commercial kitchen or restroom, you have a hard carpet. This is warmer and inviting, much more appropriate for a residential space.
Because the flakes are so small, the feel can also be smoother than the other sizes. The paint chip system can feel like linoleum and look like carpet.
Paint chip epoxy offers many choices, including paint flake color and size. Which size of paint flake is best for your project depends on how big the space is. The larger the space, the larger your paint flakes should be.
The two most popular options are an eighth-inch and a sixteenth-inch. While a quarter-inch can be used for expansive spaces, it should only be selected if there is no risk of UV rays.
Want to learn more about epoxy floors? Check out how much paint chip epoxy costs.