6 easy steps to achieve a beautiful epoxy flake floor
Has your garage floor seen better days? Is it full of unsightly cracks, stains, and pits? We’re teaching you step by step how to properly prepare your worn-out garage space for Stone Coats' Epoxy Flake Flooring System. We simplified and improved our flooring system, making it perfect for any DIY-er. Learn how to save thousands on your epoxy floor project, adding value to your home and giving your garage and other spaces a professional, finished look. Follow along with our step-by-step guide and video.
What you need:
- FLAKE FLOORING SUPPLIES
- OTHER TOOLS & MATERIALS
Cleaning agent
7" angle grinder
7" dust shroud
7" diamond cup wheel
Grinder with 4" diamond cutting blade (for cleaning cracks)
Graduated mixing buckets and mixing sticks
Sanding backer w/ 220
Roll of paper towels
Epoxy glide roller
91% isopropyl alcohol
3-mil plastic sheeting (for moisture test)
Shop vac
Propane torch
Flake epoxy floor how-to instructions:
STEP 1
PREP CONCRETE AND PATCH FLOOR
Use a grinder and diamond blade to make any cracks in the concrete floor wider. Don't press too hard - just enough to fit some material into the crack. If you can't fit a playing card into the crack, it doesn't need to be widened because it won't show. Sweep or vacuum any dust before the next step. If your floor is extremely dirty or stained, clean clean it with a heavy-duty outdoor cleaner. Ensure the slab is completely dry before moving to the next step.
Mix equal amounts of Part A and Part B of Floor Patch Epoxy Gel. Mix well until they become one uniform color. Use a stiff putty knife to fill the cracks with just a little more than it needs. The Floor Patch Epoxy Gel will be cured and ready for the next step in 4-8 hours.
STEP 2
GRIND
Use a concrete grinder to scratch the concrete slab. Use a hand grinder with a 7" diamond cup wheel for the edges, and a walk-behind floor grinder for the remainder. Connect these tools to a shop vac so there is less dust in the air while grinding. Clean up any remaining dust with either a vacuum, blower, or broom. Make sure you vacuum under the sheetrock and any small spaces. This will help ensure that the moisture seal epoxy primer applies smoothly.
STEP 3
apply moisture seal primer
Before applying primer, do a moisture test on concrete floors. Tape down a piece of plastic and check back in 24 hours. If the plastic is dry and the concrete hasn't changed colors, you're ready for the next step. If moisture is present, apply Epoxy Undercoat.
Measure 1-2 ounces Moisture Seal Epoxy Primer per square foot of floor to cover. Thoroughly mix part A by itself before mixing in part B at a 2:1 ratio by volume. Moisture Seal Epoxy Primer has become the industry standard when applying epoxy over concrete, creating a tenacious bond to the slab. Mix the material for 2-4 minutes with a paint stick or drill and paddle mixer. Take time to scrape the sides and bottom mid-way through mixing.
Put the Moisture Seal Epoxy Primer into a roller pan for use on the concrete block perimeter of your garage. Use a 1/4'' microfiber roller to spread it evenly and use a small paint brush for hard-to-reach spots. The concrete blocks will soak up the primer, so you should roll on one more thin coat before adding flake.
Spread the mixed moisture seal across the floor in thin lines. The goal is to have a thin and even coat of epoxy primer. Don't let it get too thick in any spots. Use the magic trowel squeegee to spread it out, then use a 1/4'' microfiber roller to roll over it twice, front to back and then side to side. This will give you the best results.
Pro Tip: If you are walking on wet epoxy, you'll need shoe covers to help keep you steady. You can buy them from Amazon. To spread the epoxy primer, we used a magic trowel squeegee.
STEP 4
apply epoxy floor flakes
Sprinkle some flake onto the walls around the garage. Make sure it's spread evenly. Use a putty knife to pick up any extra pieces of flake and save them for later. Sweep away any loose flake before you add the moisture seal and apply more flake to the rest of the garage floor.
Pro Tip: Throw the flake up and away almost like you're feeding chickens. Let gravity help disperse the flakes in a uniform pattern. When desired flake coverage is achieved, allow the flake and moisture seal epoxy primer to cure 24 hours before the next step. Keep the room temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal results. Remove any tape touching wet epoxy to keep the tape from drying into the coating.
- Light Flake Coverage: Using a small pinch at a time, toss flakes up in the air and let gravity disperse the colored flake on the floor. For light flake coverage use 1 pound of flake per 1 car garage (250-350 sqft)
- Mid Flake Coverage: Using a small handful at a time, toss flakes up in the air and let gravity disperse the colored flake on the floor. For mid flake coverage use 3 pounds of flake per 1 car garage (250-350 sqft)
- Full Flake Coverage: Using large handfuls at a time, toss flakes up in the air and let gravity disperse the colored flake on the floor. Avoid large piles of flakes on the floor. The goal here is an even and dry coating of flake. If you see the shiny epoxy showing through the flake that has settled, add more flake for a uniform finish when cured. You should't see any shiny spots. For full flake coverage use a full box 40 pounds of flake per 1 car garage (250-350 sqft)
STEP 5
SCRAPE
After the epoxy has dried, take a floor scraper and lightly scrape the floor. Move it from front to back and side to side, in a cross-hatch pattern. You don't need to press hard. Just let it glide across and the loose flakes will come off.
If applicable, don't forget to scrape the vertical sections of your project. Use a smaller scraper for the spots that are harder to reach.
Use a broom or blower to get rid of any loose flakes. Make sure you clean up as many of the flakes as possible before applying the top coat. If you don't, they can pile up and cause high points on your surface.
STEP 6
APPLY TOPCOAT
Measure 1-2 ounces of Polyaspartic Top Coat for each square foot of floor. Mix the topcoat with a paint stick or a paddle mixer and a drill for 2-4 minutes. To help prevent slipping, add in 2 ounces of our Non-Skid Floor Additive for light grit per 1.5 gallon kit, 3 ounces for medium grit, or 4 ounce for heavy grit.
The last and easiest step is to apply the Polyaspartic topcoat. It should cover the edges of the flake to protect your floor for years. To do this, roll it across your floor from left to right and front to back. Make sure you have an even coating, which will be seen in the lights above the floor. Once you are done, take off any tape, and make sure there are no high points or piles of flake before letting it cure for 24-48 hours with a temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Project Complete! Light foot traffic is allowed in 24 hours, and you can park your vehicle on the new epoxy floor in 72 hours. Always avoid dry steering your tires on your new surface as an extra precaution. Stone Coat's Epoxy Floor system is chemical resistant and easy to clean. Use cleaners designed for other floor products such as vinyl plank and tile. Keep from sliding heavy sharp items, use felt pads for best results when sliding large furniture.