Metallic Epoxy Floors in Ann Arbor, MI

Metallic epoxy floors use fine metallic pigments mixed into clear epoxy. As the resin is poured and worked, the pigment shifts and settles, leaving swirls, veins and pools of color that change as you walk across the room. No two floors come out the same. In Ann Arbor, we install most metallic floors in finished basements, home bars, media rooms and creative studios, with the occasional showpiece garage.

How the finish is made

After grinding and repairs, the slab gets a primer and a tinted base coat that sets the background color. The metallic layer is mixed, poured and spread, then worked with rollers, brushes and sometimes solvent sprays to create movement. Timing matters, because the look keeps changing until the epoxy starts to set. A clear topcoat goes on last to protect the finish and set the sheen. We talk through the look you want before the pour, and show samples of colors and patterns.

Looks you can choose

• Marble or veined: soft veins over a lighter base, similar to polished stone.
• Lava or cells: high-contrast cells and swirls with lots of movement.
• Ocean or flow: wide, gentle waves of color with a sense of depth.
• Subtle sheen: one metallic color over a close base, for a quiet, glossy floor.

Lighter colors brighten a basement with small windows. Darker colors show dust and scuffs more, which is worth knowing before you choose.

Basement slabs need a moisture plan

Most metallic floors here go on basement slabs, and basement slabs are where moisture lives. Ann Arbor ran a footing drain disconnection program starting in 2001 that put sump pumps in many basements, and southern Michigan till soils like the Conover series are rated somewhat poorly drained by the USDA. Vapor coming through the slab can cloud or lift a metallic layer, and fixing that means redoing the whole floor. We test first and use a moisture-tolerant primer where readings call for it.

Practical points

A glossy metallic floor shows scratches more than a flake floor, and it can be slick with water on it. For bars and kitchenettes we add a fine anti-slip additive to the topcoat. Felt pads under chairs and a doormat at the stairs help it stay looking new. If the room gets sun through a walkout door, a UV-stable topcoat keeps the colors from yellowing.

Metallic in the garage

Metallic finishes can go in a garage, but they are less forgiving there. Road salt residue, hot tires and dropped tools show on a glossy floor. If you want metallic in the garage, we recommend a polyaspartic topcoat and a regular rinse through salt season.