Built for the way you actually use the space.
Flake (or chip) systems combine a coloured base coat with broadcast vinyl flakes and a clear high-build top coat. The result is a textured, decorative surface that hides dirt and lasts for decades.
Decorative, durable and hard-wearing resin flooring ideal for garages, workshops and commercial premises.
Flake, sometimes called chip or vinyl flake, is the workhorse of decorative resin flooring. A pigmented epoxy base coat is laid, coloured vinyl chips are broadcast into the wet resin to full refusal, and a high-build clear top coat is applied over the top. The result is a textured, extremely hard-wearing surface that hides everyday marks and lasts for decades.
We install flake resin floors across the West Midlands in garages, workshops, commercial units, MOT bays, veterinary surgeries, salons and gyms. It is our most popular system because it does everything most clients want a resin floor to do, at a sensible cost per m².
Key benefits
- Naturally anti-slip from the flake profile
- Hides dust, dirt, tyre marks and minor imperfections
- Enormous range of colour blends
- Very hard-wearing under vehicle and MHE traffic
- Sensible cost per m² vs metallic or marble finishes
- Fast install — typical garage in 2 days on site
Our installation process
Every flake flooring systems project follows the same disciplined sequence. Skipping steps is where floors fail — we don't skip.
- Step 01
Survey and sample selection
We visit, take moisture readings, assess the substrate and confirm your flake blend on a physical sample. Custom blends are mixed to your spec if none of the standards fit.
- Step 02
Diamond grinding
Full mechanical prep with HEPA extraction to CSP 2–3 profile. This is the difference between a flake floor that lasts 20 years and one that lifts in 2 — no exceptions.
- Step 03
Crack and joint repair
Cracks, spalls and defective joints are cut out and re-mortared with fast-cure epoxy repair mortar.
- Step 04
Epoxy primer
Penetrating epoxy primer roller-applied to seal the substrate and lock in the bond.
- Step 05
Pigmented base coat and flake broadcast
The coloured base coat is laid and vinyl flake is broadcast into the wet resin to full refusal — meaning we keep throwing flake until it stops taking any more. This is what gives the finished floor its full opaque coverage and its slip profile.
- Step 06
Reclaim and scrape
The next morning we sweep up and reclaim the loose excess flake, then lightly scrape the surface to knock off any high points. This produces the smooth-textured finish rather than a rough one.
- Step 07
Clear high-build top coat(s)
One or two clear top coats — either epoxy for indoor use or aliphatic PU for UV-exposed areas — seal the flake in and give the floor its wear layer.
- Step 08
Handover
Snag, aftercare pack, guarantee. Foot traffic same day; vehicles at 5–7 days.
Where it works, where it doesn't
We're honest about specification. A system installed in the wrong environment will fail no matter how well it's laid.
Suitable for
- Residential garages and workshops
- Commercial garages, MOT bays and vehicle prep areas
- Veterinary surgeries and grooming salons
- Home gyms and studios
- Utility rooms, boot rooms and mud rooms
- Retail back-of-house and stockrooms
Not suitable for
- Aesthetic-first designed interiors that want a fully smooth finish (specify metallic or marble)
- Cleanroom and pharma environments requiring a fully closed cove-detailed surface (specify PU screed)
Advantages and trade-offs
Advantages
- Extremely hard-wearing
- Naturally hides everyday marks
- Anti-slip profile built into the finish
- Vast colour choice — custom blends possible
- Great value per m² for the durability delivered
- Fast install and rapid re-occupation
Trade-offs
- •Textured surface holds fine dust slightly more than a smooth floor
- •Cannot be repaired invisibly the way a metallic can — patch will be visible
- •Full chemical cure takes 5–7 days before heavy vehicle traffic
Durability and lifespan
A properly installed flake floor is one of the toughest decorative floor finishes available. The vinyl flake itself is essentially indestructible under normal use, and the clear top coat is the sacrificial wear layer. In a domestic garage a flake floor will typically last 20+ years; in a commercial workshop 10–15 years before it wants a re-seal.
Because the flake is broadcast to full refusal, the floor is opaque — you can grind and re-seal the top coat in future without ever exposing the base colour underneath. That is why flake systems age so gracefully.
Curing times
Cure schedule at 20°C. Colder conditions extend times; heated cures accelerate them.
| Stage | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foot traffic | 12–24 hours | Light walking in socks or clean shoes once the top coat has gelled. |
| Furniture return | 48 hours | Light furniture, tools and shelving can be reintroduced. |
| Vehicle traffic | 5–7 days | Hot tyres and heavier point loads once the clear top coat has fully cross-linked. |
| Full chemical cure | 7 days | Chemical resistance, wet cleaning and heavy wear reach design spec. |
Maintenance and aftercare
Sweep or blow out grit regularly, mop with a neutral cleaner. The textured surface of a flake floor holds slightly more dust than a smooth finish so a rotary scrubber or a good stiff broom is more effective than a mop alone.
For commercial installs we recommend a professional re-seal every 5–7 years. This resets the top coat, restores the sheen and adds another decade to the useful life.
Aftercare checklist
- Sweep or blow out weekly
- Neutral pH cleaner only
- Rotary scrubber preferred over mop for commercial spaces
- Wipe up oil, brake fluid and coolant promptly
- Professional re-seal every 5–7 years for commercial installs
Colour, finish and customisation
Flake is where colour choice is at its widest. We stock dozens of standard blends — from subtle greys and taupes through to high-contrast statement blends — and custom-mix flake blends for one-off projects. Colour is only limited by imagination.
Beyond colour, sheen is specifiable: matte for a stone-look finish, satin for the middle ground, gloss for maximum reflection. Slip rating can be tuned by choosing a coarser or finer flake profile.
Available finishes
- ◆Standard blend range — dozens of stocked options
- ◆Custom-mixed blends to any colour scheme
- ◆Fine, medium or coarse flake sizes
- ◆Matte, satin or gloss clear top coats
- ◆Solid colour or metallic feature zoning
- ◆Aliphatic PU top coat for UV-exposed areas
Book a free survey — we'll bring the full sample range so you can pick your blend in daylight, on site.
Flake Flooring Systems — frequently asked
Is a flake floor slippery when wet?+
No. The flake profile creates a natural slip texture and flake is one of the most slip-safe resin finishes for garages and workshops.
How long does a flake floor last?+
20+ years in a domestic garage and 10 to 15 years in a commercial workshop before it wants a re-seal. The flake itself doesn't wear; only the clear top coat does, and that is re-coatable.
Can I choose my own colour blend?+
Yes. We mix custom flake blends to match a brand colour, a vehicle or any reference you provide, and produce a sample panel before install.
Will it hide the marks on my old concrete?+
Yes. Broadcast to refusal, flake is genuinely opaque, which is exactly why customers with tired concrete choose it.
Can it be repaired if damaged?+
Yes, but a patch will be visible against the original because it is a broadcast finish. If invisible repair matters, a metallic or marble system is a better choice.
Related resin systems
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Turn any garage into a clean, hard-wearing space.
ReadCommercial Flooring
Seamless resin floors for offices, retail and hospitality.
ReadWarehouse Flooring
Hard-wearing warehouse systems built for scale.
ReadAvailable across the West Midlands
We install flake flooring systems across:
Call 07756 971 165 for a free quotation, or email admin@epoxyguys.co.uk.
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