If you’re an avid fan of home renovation shows like The Block, or have looked at an interior design blog or Pinterest board lately, you would have noticed the meteoric rise of natural flooring materials being used inside homes and businesses. Textures like stone, marble, concrete, and brick are being utilised more and more to bring a sense of the outside in, and to elevate a sense of earthy calm into a space.
We love this trend – and think it looks great when done right. But not all spaces (and budgets) are made equal. That’s where epoxy flake flooring could be the solution for you. It’s the perfect way to class up concrete, without breaking the budget.
But you might be asking, ‘what on earth is flake flooring’? Well quite simply, it’s epoxy flooring laid on top of concrete, with decorative vinyl flakes added to create a textured look. This method is gaining popularity as a stylish, durable and statement-making floor covering. How the flakes are broadcast (or dispersed) can also drastically change the appearance of the flooring. With a range of epoxy colours and flake sizes, you can emulate the designer looks of any surface, from a terrazzo floor to a polished stone look and even certain marbles.
Where are the best locations for flake flooring?
With all the flake and colour combinations available, the potential applications for flake flooring are virtually endless. Here are some of the kinds of spaces that we’ve helped our customers transform:
Wet areas
Flake flooring is a great solution for those wanting a cost-effective polished stone look in the bathroom, kitchen or laundry. With non-slip protective coatings available, it’s a safe and stylish option for these wet areas.
Living areas
With amazing looks replicating stone and marble, flake flooring is on the rise as a way to bring living areas to life. No wonder, either – being stain and scuff resistant makes it an easy choice for the room that gets the most wear and tear in a home!
Retail & business
Flake flooring also looks fantastic in retail spaces where you need a hard-wearing, easy-to-clean, anti-slip floor that will give your customers a sense of the outside being brought inside. This treatment is popular among restaurants, cafés, and retail shops. Another bonus is that it can be colour-matched to suit any theme.
Schools
High foot traffic areas like school common areas, classrooms, and gymnasiums are ideal locations for flake flooring. Its ability to withstand constant use, coupled with being easy to clean and the option to add non-slip protection make it perfect for the school environment.
Garages and warehouses
An epoxy garage floor or warehouse floor with flakes will make any room feel more like a showroom! Being chip, spill and stain resistant also makes it an ideal solution for these prone areas. Plus, its flaked texture masks dirt and dust that much better than plain concrete.
Outside the home or office
While it’s popular for interior spaces, epoxy flake flooring can also transform outside the home or workplace too. Instead of forking out for expensive pavers that can crack, flake flooring is commonly used to liven up patios, driveways, alfresco areas and walkways.
How is it installed?
Installing an epoxy flake floor with a specialist like Kleenit can radically transform the look of a room or exterior. All the while, it will create a scratch-resistant, easy-to-clean surface that is chemical and stain resistant, and will last for many years to come. Installing the flooring involves the application of epoxy paints, and broadcasting vinyl chips to create a decorative finish.
1. Preparation
It’s vital that the concrete is prepared correctly. This is to ensure proper penetration and bonding of the epoxy paints. There are no shortcuts here – the longevity and quality of the finished floor would be compromised otherwise.
2. Primer/sealer coat
Once the concrete is prepared, an epoxy primer and sealer is applied to ensure an effective bond with the surface.
3. Epoxy Coat
A coat of two-pack tinted epoxy paint is then applied on top of the primer coat. The two products bond together.
4. Flake broadcasting
Coloured flakes are broadcast (or distributed) onto the epoxy layer to create the decorative flake effect.
5. Polyurethane clear top coat
Finally, two coats of a clear, two-pack polyurethane paint are applied to give a high gloss, hard wearing, and scratch-resistant finish.
How do I look after flake flooring?
While epoxy flake flooring is heavy duty and incredibly durable, like all floors, nothing can stay perfect forever. However, looking after it will go a long way to increasing its lifespan. When treated with care, you can expect a flake floor to last you a good 20 or more years. Want to know what steps to take to care for your flake flooring? Well, since it’s made with practically the same materials and finish as epoxy flooring, you can find a post we’ve previously made on the topic here.
How much does it costs?
Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to how much an epoxy flake floor costs. The final price of the project will depend on factors such as the surface area, the condition of the concrete, the type of flake finish you want, and whether anti-slip protection is applied. Rest assured though that it is one of the most cost-effective ways for you to treat your floor.
Contact a Kleenit advisor to get a free quote for your epoxy flake
flooring.