Metallic Epoxy Floors in Reading, PA

Metallic epoxy floors are the decorative end of what we do. Instead of a flat color or a chip pattern, a metallic floor uses a clear epoxy loaded with fine metallic pigment, poured over a base color and moved by hand while it is wet. The pigment drifts and settles into swirls, ripples and depth that change with the light. Around Reading, people choose metallic for finished basements, home bars, studios, salons and garages kept as display space for a car collection.

How the look is made

The floor starts with the same prep as any other system: grinding, crack repair and a primer. Then a base color goes down. The metallic coat is mixed and poured in sections, and while it is fluid we work it with rollers, brushes, trowels and sometimes solvent sprays to create the pattern. Two or three colors can be combined. Because the movement is done by hand, no two floors look the same, and a sample board only shows the general effect.

Where metallic works and where it does not

• Good fits: finished basements, rec rooms, bars, offices, retail floors and garages that are kept clean.
• Use care: working garages with heavy winter salt and slush. A glossy metallic finish shows salt film and scratches more than flake does, and it can be slick when wet.
• Not a fix for problem slabs: metallic coats are thin enough to show what is under them. A slab with lots of cracks or patches needs repair and sometimes a skim coat before the pour.

Moisture and older basements

Many metallic floors in Reading go into basements, and many of those basements are under houses built before 1940. That means checking for moisture first. A metallic finish that blisters or clouds from slab moisture is hard to repair without redoing the room. We test the slab, use a moisture-tolerant primer where it is needed, and tell you if the basement has a water problem that should be fixed first. Humid summer air can also affect how epoxy cures, so we run dehumidification during the job when conditions call for it.

Protecting the finish

Metallic epoxy is usually sealed with a clear topcoat. A urethane or polyaspartic topcoat adds scratch and UV resistance, which helps in rooms with big windows or a garage with the door open. You can choose high gloss, satin or a textured anti-slip topcoat. Felt pads on furniture and walk-off mats at the doors keep the floor looking right for years.

Planning the room

The floor goes in before trim, furniture and appliances. If you are finishing a basement, we fit into the schedule after walls and ceiling are done and before baseboards. If cabinets or a bar are being installed, we can coat under them or around them depending on your plans.