Epoxy Flake Floors in Reading, PA

Epoxy flake floors are the finish most Reading homeowners ask about for a garage, and a question that shows up in Reading search results is whether to choose flake or solid color. A flake floor is a base coat of epoxy with colored vinyl chips broadcast into it while it is wet, then sealed under a clear topcoat. The result is a speckled, textured surface that hides the things that make a garage look dirty.

What the flakes do

The chips are thin pieces of colored vinyl. Scattered across the floor until no base coat shows, which is called broadcasting to refusal, they cover small imperfections in the slab and break up the surface visually. Salt residue, dust, tire marks and small stains blend into the pattern. The chips also leave a slight texture under the topcoat, which helps your footing when snowmelt is on the floor.

Full broadcast or partial

• Full broadcast: chips cover the entire base coat. This is the most durable and the most forgiving look, and it is what we recommend for most garages.
• Partial or light broadcast: chips scattered over a solid color, with the base color showing between them. This gives a cleaner look for basements and workshops, with a bit less texture.
• Chip size: larger chips read as a bold, granite-like pattern, smaller chips as a finer speckle. We bring samples so you can see them in your own garage light.

How the system goes down

The floor is diamond ground and repaired first, the same as any coating. Then the base coat goes on, and while it is wet the chips are thrown by hand across the whole floor. After the base cures, the loose chips are scraped and vacuumed off, leaving a rough, even layer. A clear topcoat goes over it to lock the chips in. Many installers now use polyaspartic for the topcoat because it resists UV and cures quickly. HomeGuide rates polyaspartic UV resistance as excellent and epoxy as poor to fair, which matters in a garage with the door open on summer afternoons.

Where flake floors fit in Berks County

Flake suits attached garages in Wyomissing and the townships, alley garages behind city rowhouses, basement gyms and laundry rooms, and small shops in places like Laureldale and Muhlenberg Township where floors see foot traffic and spills. In a busy commercial space, we may suggest a thicker system or a more textured topcoat. How the floor is used matters as much as how it looks.

Picking colors

Light blends show less dust but more tire marks. Dark blends show less staining but more salt film and lint. Mid-tone mixes of gray, tan and black are the most forgiving in a working garage. Many people pick a blend that ties in with the house trim or the cabinets on the garage wall.