Once you've decided to coat your floor, the fun part is picking the look. The two most popular decorative systems are full-broadcast flake and metallic epoxy. They're built on similar foundations, but they look, feel and live very differently.
This guide compares them so you can choose the right finish for your space. It's part of our epoxy floor coatings hub.
Full-broadcast flake floors
A flake floor starts with a colored epoxy base coat. While it's wet, colored vinyl chips are broadcast until the surface is completely covered. After curing, excess flake is scraped off and a clear topcoat seals everything in.
The result is a speckled, granite-like finish with natural texture. It's the workhorse of residential garages for good reason.
- ▸Hides dust, dirt, tire marks and small imperfections
- ▸Built-in texture for better grip, especially when wet
- ▸Dozens of color blends to match your home
- ▸Very forgiving over older slabs with minor surface flaws
Metallic epoxy floors
Metallic floors use pearlescent pigments suspended in epoxy. Installers move the material to create swirls, depth and a flowing, marble-like look. No two metallic floors are exactly alike.
They're stunning in showroom garages, basements, home gyms, offices and retail spaces. They're also smooth and glossy, so they show dust and scratches more readily than flake and need a slip-resistant additive in wet areas.
How they compare
- ▸Appearance — Flake: speckled, granite-like. Metallic: flowing, marbled, high-gloss.
- ▸Hiding dirt — Flake: excellent. Metallic: shows dust more.
- ▸Slip resistance — Flake: naturally textured. Metallic: needs an additive.
- ▸Best spaces — Flake: garages, shops, utility rooms. Metallic: showroom garages, basements, commercial interiors.
- ▸Installation skill — Flake: moderate. Metallic: high.
Which one should you pick?
Choose flake if…
You park daily, track in Georgia red clay, store a boat or mower, or just want the most practical, low-maintenance floor. It's what most of our customers in Buford, Dacula and Braselton choose.
Choose metallic if…
Your garage is a showpiece, you're finishing a basement or office, or you want a one-of-a-kind floor. Metallic also pairs beautifully with stained concrete in interior spaces.
The part that doesn't change: prep and topcoat
Whichever look you choose, the floor is only as good as the prep underneath it and the topcoat on top. Both systems start with diamond grinding and crack repair, and both benefit from a UV-stable topcoat — read more in epoxy vs. polyaspartic.
Once installed, both are easy to care for. Our epoxy floor maintenance guide covers the simple routine that keeps them looking new.
Frequently asked questions
Is a metallic epoxy floor slippery?
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Its surface is smooth, so we recommend adding a slip-resistant additive in the topcoat, especially in garages or near entries.
Which hides dirt better?
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Flake, by a wide margin. Its speckled pattern hides dust, lint and small scuffs.
Can I see samples before choosing?
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Yes. We bring flake chips and metallic samples to every estimate.