Metallic Epoxy Floors in Appleton, WI

Metallic epoxy floors are the decorative end of what we do. Instead of chips, the epoxy carries fine metallic and pearl pigments. While it is wet, we move it with rollers, brushes, sprayed solvent or air to create swirls, ripples and cloud patterns. The pigments settle at different angles and catch light, so the floor looks deep, almost like polished stone or liquid metal. No two are the same. In Appleton, most metallic floors go into finished basements, home bars, studios and the occasional showpiece garage.

How it is built

• Prep: diamond grinding and full crack repair. Every flaw in the slab can show through a glossy finish, so we fill and grind more carefully than for a flake floor.
• Primer: a base coat, usually tinted, that seals the slab and sets the background color. Where moisture readings call for it, this is a moisture-tolerant primer.
• Metallic coat: a thicker, self-leveling layer with metallic pigment, manipulated by hand while it is workable.
• Clear topcoat: a UV-stable, abrasion-resistant clear coat to protect the pattern.

Choosing a look

Color and technique both matter. Two-tone blends, such as charcoal with silver or bronze with copper, give the most depth. A single color with light movement reads calmer and more like stone. A darker base makes the metallic veining stand out more. We show you samples and photos of different techniques, but the final floor will vary, because the pattern is made by hand on your slab.

Trade-offs to know about

Metallic floors are smooth and glossy, which also makes them slick when wet. In a basement family room that is rarely an issue; in a garage or near an entry door, we add fine anti-slip aggregate to the topcoat, which slightly mutes the shine. Gloss also shows scratches, dust and footprints more than a flake floor. Felt pads under furniture and a dust mop keep it looking right.

Basements in the Fox Cities

Most metallic jobs here are in basements, and that means moisture comes first. The clay soils around Appleton drain slowly, and the USDA's Winneconne series description notes a perched water table 1.5 to 3.5 feet down for part of most years. A decorative floor that blisters is a costly mistake. We test the slab before we quote, and if the readings are high, we tell you what that means for the system or whether the floor needs a water fix first.

Garages and metallic

A metallic garage floor looks striking, but it is a harder environment. UV through the door window, hot tires, road brine and grit all test the clear coat. If you want metallic in the garage, we build it with a polyaspartic topcoat for UV resistance, add slip grit, and talk honestly about winter wear compared with a flake floor.

Timing and care

Metallic systems are applied over two or more days because of the extra coats. Plan to keep off the floor longer than with a basic coating, and to move furniture back only when we say. After that, care is simple: dust mop, damp mop with a mild cleaner, and avoid dragging heavy items.