Powder Blue Chip Flooring
If you’re looking for something durable, attractive and resistant to stains, a decorative chip floor over concrete might be the ideal choice. They are found in all types of commercial settings and are used in residential basements, mud rooms and garages too. This guide to garage flooring options lets you evaluate this product for use in your project. See our other flooring pages to compare your options.
Decorative chip floors are applied in three steps. First is the installation of a wet epoxy resin layer on top of well-cleaned concrete. This is known as the background layer, and it can be tinted with a wide range of colors. Color chips are applied in the second step using a broadcast spreader. The chips often have a metallic finish to add sparkle and visual interest. They come in many colors and color blends too. You can choose colors that complements the background color or provides definite contrast. The background coat dries with the chips on it, and chips that don’t stick are swept up. The final step is to apply one or more layers of a clear topcoat.
Pros and Cons of Decorative Chip Floors
These are beautiful floors with a distinctive appearance. The color spectrum is virtually unlimited, so finding the right one to blend with other elements in your garage design will be easy. The flooring does a great job resisting stains from oil and chemicals, and clean-up can be done with water and mild cleaning agents. Applying a cove base around the edge will make cleanup with a hose easier while protecting drywall. The finished floor is seamless, and it hides imperfections and small cracks in the concrete beneath it. The surface has enough texture in it to make it skid-resistant. If the surface gets worn with time, a new topcoat layer can be applied to rejuvenate the appearance of the floor.
There are few if any negatives to decorative chip floors. The price is a drawback for some, but the durability over 20+ years makes it a cost-effective choice in the long-run.
Decorative Chip Floors Price
For garages, you’ll need a concrete floor as a base. That will cost $6-$8 per square foot installed. Epoxy resin floors like these cost $3-$4 per square foot installed. You can save money by doing it yourself, but the material costs are much higher than the labor costs. For this reason, getting professional installation of your decorative chip garage floor makes sense for most people.
Who Should Consider Decorative Chip Epoxy Floors?
If you are willing to pay more to get a beautiful, lasting floor for your garage, then this type is definitely worth considering. The more of these you can see, the more you’ll know if they’re right for you. Pay attention to the floors you travel in malls and retail stores, office buildings, schools, etc. You’ll find decorative chip floors just about everywhere. To learn more about decorative chip floors and to find the best prices, request written estimates from local contractors who install them.
