What is Flake Flooring?

Flakes, also known as colour chip or fleck are composed of water-based resin materials, inorganic minerals, additives and various pigments.

They are integrally pigmented, brilliantly coloured,random in shape, sized within a standardised range and custom blended with infinite options to achieve optimal appearance and texture qualities with a resin-based flooring or wall-coating system.        

Flake flooring?is a decorative and durable type of?epoxy floor coating?that can be used to protect and decorate new – or breathe life into old – concrete surfaces. The flakes are available in a multitude of different colours and sizes and are scattered (often known as broadcasting) on top of an epoxy base coat, before being covered in a clear topcoat.?

What are the benefits of flake flooring and when should it be used?

Flake flooring offers a visually appealing and durable coating for high-traffic, concreted areas such as warehouses, garages and driveways. The range of colours and chip sizes and textures also means that this type of floor coating can be altered to suit your desired purpose or aesthetic.

Flake flooring is a great option when concrete surfaces need a much-needed boost. Stained, old, tired-looking concrete will benefit from the application of flake floor coating, improving its appearance and durability. What’s more, it offers a stain, scratch and chemical resistant surface, as it can be applied with no joins, resulting in a seamless application.

What does it cost to apply flake flooring?

The cost of applying flake flooring will depend on the size of the surface you want to be coated, and the current condition of the concrete. So when getting quotes from reputable floor coating companies, ensure you let them know if there are cracks, stains or bumps in the concrete, as this will need to be factored into the time required to prep, before the coating is applied.

How do you apply flake flooring?

An experienced?resin flooring specialist?will ensure that the surface is prepped and finished correctly. The tried and tested process includes the following steps:

1. Preparation of Concrete

This step is essential and must not be missed. Preparing the concrete before coating will ensure the epoxy paints penetrate the concrete and will ensure all coatings applied afterwards are long-lasting and of high quality.

2. Application of Primer or Sealer

The next step is to apply an epoxy primer or sealer. This ensures a sufficient bond is created between the concrete and the epoxy paint.

3. Application of Epoxy Coat

Several coats of resin are then applied on top of the primer coat. The products bond together with the substrate if applied correctly.

4. Flake Broadcasting

Coloured flakes are broadcast onto the epoxy layer to create the decorative flake effect. Depending on the effect you are after, the flakes can be applied sparsely or in a denser pattern.

5. Application of Top Coat

Several coats of clear topcoat resin are applied to seal the flakes in and thus, create a scratch-resistant, durable finish, which can be matte or glossy, depending on the desired look and feel.

Caring for your flake flooring: Some Simple Tips

Due to the durability and hard-wearing nature of flake and epoxy floor coatings, caring for them is quite simple. However, there are some key ways to ensure your new resin floor lasts for years to come:

• Once installed, do not allow people to walk on the newly coated surface for at least 24 hours. It takes up to 5 days to reach optimal hardness.
• Remove any spills immediately. The flake floor coating is stain and water-resistant, but cleaning regularly will help to minimise wear over time.
• Use gentle cleaning products and mops to clean the coated floors.
• If your flake floor incurs any damage, get it fixed straight away to avoid additional damage.

Choose an expert resin flooring specialist -

Floortrak is a resin flooring contractor covering the whole of the United Kingdom. Reinvigorate and extend the life of your concrete floors,?email me [email protected] -?today, or call 01794 885 284 for advice and a free resin flooring quote.