How To Make Stunning Metallic Epoxy Floors

Are you a DIY type of person that wants to take a step into the realm of epoxy flooring by crafting your very own metallic epoxy flooring system? We won’t lie to you, crafting this flooring system will be a tremendous task for anyone but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done! So, today we are going to be taking a look at exactly what it will take to up your home flooring game with metallic epoxy flooring. Down below, we have outlined what you need and what you will need to do to craft metallic epoxy. So, let’s get started.

The first step of the process won’t have anything to do with your concrete, you still have to pick out what materials and color schemes that you are going to use! While you can’t buy the highest grade materials from vendors as they require licenses to buy, you still have a selection to choose from. A few of the names that metallic epoxy goes by in the epoxy market include:

Make sure to find a material that offers the level of pigments and metallic shards you desire!

Where most people think that the next step of installation of the metallic pigmented flooring is to simply mix up and start pouring, there are still many steps in your way. The next step of the process will be the profiling of your concrete slab. The tools for this process, however, are not cheap and a full system can set you back thousands of dollars the process can be very labor-intensive without the right equipment. This is why using professional epoxy flooring contractors can save you time and money; not to mention an aching back! The profiling tools you will need are a grinder equipped with a diamond wheel blade that will be hooked up to a vacuum along with a pressure washer to clean your concrete slab

The preparation process of your concrete slab for metallic epoxy is a whole different ball game as there are many moving pieces involved. For example, you will need to make sure that your concrete falls with these parameters:

With the intensity and perfection required for metallic epoxies, many homeowners opt into having contractors prepare the concrete slab and pour and finish the epoxy flooring system themselves, so don’t count out using professional assistance for this portion of the process!

When mixing your epoxy flooring make sure to read the directions of the materials before even thinking about mixing them together. Some materials have specific times that they need to be mixed for and even how long they need to sit before being applicated to your concrete slab. The average mixing and wait times for epoxy flooring is around 5-10 minutes depending on the materials that you will be using. To mix the epoxy, it is recommended that you place both part A and part B into a standard five-gallon bucket that you can find at the local hardware store. To make sure your epoxy parts are thoroughly mixed, we recommend using an electric drill equipped with a paint mixing paddle to make sure that the chemical reaction takes place throughout the entire mixture. If you don’t have an electric drill, a wooden paint stir will be enough to get by. The next step is where things get tricky

Applying your epoxy will be the most fun step of the process but also the easiest to mess up. When your epoxy is ready to pour, it is time to get to work as the epoxy is a time-sensitive material. We recommend the use of a large squeegee to spread the epoxy until it is 2mm thick to achieve the most stunning visual effects. While applicating the base coat of epoxy, spread some of the metallic pigments into the epoxy and spread them around to achieve even more dazzling finishes. Remember, this is the part where it could pay off to use a professional contractor. They have knowledge and access to materials such as solvents to create finishes that you can achieve with a DIY project. When you are satisfied with the look of your metallic epoxy, it is time to wait.

Now it is time to wait. A good rule of thumb when installing epoxy flooring is to always wait at least 24 hours before walking on the epoxy and at least 72 hours must pass before using the flooring as a regular flooring system.

Now that you know exactly what it is going to take to install your metallic epoxy, its time to put your new knowledge into action! Good luck putting your own personalized flair on the flooring industries’ most mesmerizing flooring system!