Seamless Flake Flooring System FAQs

The important thing about a floor is that it is clean, dry, and etched. In the last 15 years, diamond grinding has become much more cost effective and therefore popular. We see this as the ideal way to prepare a floor, although grinding marks need to be minimal or they are likely to show in the finish coat. Some contractors still like to acid etch, and we are happy with a floor prepared this way so long as it is obviously etched and thoroughly rinsed. If a floor has a release agent of some sort on it, acid washing is unlikely to be adequate.

Our standard system is a thinned out sealer coat of E2100 Water Based Epoxy to colour followed by a second coat of unthinned E2100 when hard enough to walk on. Flake is then cast into this unthinned coat. Some applicators prefer to use just one coat of E2100 and cast flake into it.

Some applicators prefer E4110 100% Solids Epoxy. This is normally applied in the same manner, with the first coat thinned out a little with E122 Epoxy Thinners. The Flake is cast into the second unthinned coat, working from the far corner a metre or two at a time.

Broadcast the flakes using a seeding action until there is 100% coverage and no basecoat showing. Leave preferably overnight to dry.

Using a stiff broom sweep the floor or vacuum to remove the excess. Then carefully scrape the floor with a clean floor scraper or sand with 180 # sand paper and vacuum again.

Apply by brush and roller until the whole surface is evenly covered. Don’t allow the E2000 to pool. Any areas which are short of flake can be carefully touched up at this time.

Apply a second coat of E2000. If desired for extra depth a third coat may be applied. If UV resistance for exterior use is required, use E8474 Water Based Polyurethane Gloss or Satin as required. If ultimate chemical resistance is required, use E8480 Fluoro Modified Polyurethane Light sanding between coats is necessary if a smoother finish is needed, or if the time between coats is greater than 12 hours.

All Epoxies and Polyurethanes will continue to cure for weeks. We recommend placing mats under car tyres for the first month.
NB: Some recent tyre formulations tend to impart a stain. Some applicators recommend only dark flake for car storage areas on this account. A & I Coatings is currently doing extensive research to address this issue. See FAQ7.