Metallic Epoxy Flooring
At Raleigh Epoxy Flooring Pros, metallic epoxy is the finish people ask us about the most once they've seen it in person. Photos don't really do it justice. The pigments move and swirl through the resin as it cures, so no two floors turn out exactly alike.
We install it in garages, basements, kitchens, retail spaces, and showrooms across the Triangle, and it tends to be the one upgrade that gets a reaction from every guest who walks in.
What This Flooring Actually Is
Metallic epoxy starts as a standard two part epoxy resin. Before it goes down, we mix in metallic pigment powders (mica, aluminum, or bronze based, depending on the look you want). Once the epoxy is poured, we manipulate it with tools, air, and sometimes heat to push the pigments into patterns.
That's the whole trick: it's a chemical reaction and a bit of technique, not a printed or stamped design. The floor you get is the floor that formed while it was still wet.
Colors range from deep ocean blues to copper, pearl, charcoal, and gold. Some clients want a subtle, almost stone like texture. Others want something that looks like it belongs in a gallery. Both are achievable with the same base product.
Get Free In-House Estimate
asterisk ( * ) are required
How It Compares to Other Epoxy Finishes
| Finish Type | Look | Typical Use | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Color Epoxy | Flat, uniform color | Garages, warehouses | High |
| Flake Epoxy | Speckled, textured | Garages, basements | High, good slip resistance |
| Metallic Epoxy | Fluid, dimensional, marbled | Living spaces, showrooms, retail | High, needs a topcoat for heavy traffic |
Why We're Seeing More Requests For It
Wake County issued 15,248 new residential building permits in 2024, down from 17,389 the year before, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Fewer new builds usually means more homeowners investing in the houses they already have. We've watched that play out directly in our schedule.
Garage and basement renovation calls pick up whenever new construction slows, and metallic epoxy is consistently one of the first upgrades people mention once they start pricing out a remodel. It's not the cheapest flooring option on the market. It's also not trying to be.
People choose it because it changes how a space feels, and that matters more to most of our clients than shaving a few dollars off the square footage cost.
Materials We Use
We don't formulate our own resin from scratch, and we're not going to pretend otherwise. We work with established manufacturers because consistency matters more than a marketing story.
Depending on the job, that might mean Sherwin-Williams industrial epoxy systems, Dur-A-Flex resinous flooring products, or metallic pigment lines from Leggari Products, which many installers in this industry rely on for color range and clarity.
We'll walk you through which system fits your space, your budget, and how much foot or vehicle traffic the floor needs to handle.
What Goes Into the Installation
- Grinding the existing concrete to open the surface and remove old coatings or sealers
- Patching cracks and low spots so the epoxy cures level
- Applying a moisture barrier where slab moisture readings call for it
- Mixing and pouring the metallic base coat, then working the pigment while it's still workable
- Sealing with a UV stable polyurethane or polyaspartic topcoat
A standard two car garage usually takes two to three days start to finish, including cure time. Larger commercial floors take longer, and we'll give you a real timeline once we've seen the space, not a generic number pulled from a brochure.
Is It Right For Your Space?
Metallic epoxy holds up well in garages and basements. It also works in kitchens, home bars, and retail floors, as long as the topcoat is matched to the traffic level. It's not the best pick for outdoor patios exposed to direct freeze thaw cycles year round, since concrete movement outdoors is harder to control.
If that's your situation, we'll tell you that upfront and point you toward a product built for it instead.
If you're weighing options for a garage, basement, or business floor, reach out and we'll walk the space with you. We'll tell you honestly whether metallic is the right call, or whether something simpler will serve you better.