Epoxy Flake Floors in Cheektowaga, NY

Epoxy flake floors are the finish most Cheektowaga garage owners pick once they see the samples. A flake floor is a resin base coat with colored vinyl chips spread over it until no base shows through, then sealed under a clear topcoat. The chips give the floor color variation and a slight texture. Through a long winter, that variation hides the salt haze, dried slush marks and tire tracks that make a plain gray floor look dirty a day after you clean it.

Why chips make sense here

The snowfall normals recorded at the airport in Cheektowaga average 95.4 inches a year, and most of that snow is cleared with salt. When salty meltwater dries on a solid-color floor, it leaves a white film that shows right away. On a flake floor, the same film blends into the pattern. The texture also matters. A wet, glossy floor can be slippery, and in this climate the garage floor is wet for months. Chips broadcast to full coverage give your shoes and tires something to grip.

How a flake floor is built

• Grinding: the slab is diamond ground across its full surface to open the concrete.
• Repairs: cracks, pits and scaled areas are filled and ground flush.
• Base coat: a pigmented resin coat is rolled out in sections.
• Broadcast: chips are thrown by hand into the wet base until it is fully covered.
• Scrape and vacuum: once the base cures, loose chips are removed and high points are scraped down.
• Topcoat: a clear coat locks the chips in and sets the final texture.

Chip size and blend

Flakes come in several sizes and dozens of color blends. Smaller chips give a tighter, more granite-like pattern. Larger chips give a bolder look with more variation. Darker blends hide dirt better. Lighter blends brighten a dim garage or basement, which helps in a dim garage with a single window. We bring physical samples so you can compare them on your own floor.

Topcoat choices

The topcoat is the part you walk and drive on. A polyaspartic topcoat cures fast and holds up to UV, so a floor that faces a sunny open door will not yellow. Epoxy topcoats are thicker and harder but can amber in sunlight over time. We decide with you based on where the floor is and how you use it, and we can add a fine aggregate to the topcoat if you want more grip.

Where flake floors work outside the garage

Flake systems also work in basements, laundry rooms, workshops and commercial spaces like small retail back rooms or break rooms. In a basement, the moisture check comes first. A flake floor over a slab that pushes moisture up will blister just like any other coating, so we test and pick a primer to match.

Keeping it looking right

Sweep or dust-mop regularly, squeegee meltwater out in winter and wash with a mild cleaner when the salt film builds up. Avoid acidic or citrus-based cleaners, which can dull the topcoat. Put pads under the kickstands of motorcycles and the feet of heavy equipment.