Flake Epoxy Flooring in Wollongong & the Illawarra
A flake system is the most popular epoxy finish for garages and busy floors: coloured flakes over a solid base, sealed under a clear topcoat. Tell us about your floor and we’ll arrange a free quote from a local epoxy specialist.
- Free quotes
- Light scatter to full flake coverage
- Colour samples discussed before work starts
Why flake is the go-to garage finish
Flake hides the dust, tyre marks and small imperfections that show up on a plain floor, which is why it suits busy garages from Helensburgh to Kiama and workshops and shops in between.
Good for
- Residential garages and carports, with a UV-stable topcoat where exposed
- Home workshops and hobby rooms
- Shops, gyms and showrooms
- Laundries and utility rooms
- Slabs with minor marks or patching you would rather not see
Problems it fixes
- Plain concrete or solid colours that show every speck of dust
- Patchy slabs with repairs, stains or colour variation
- Slick floors that need a little more texture
- Tired, peeling garage paint
A flake floor is only as good as the slab under it
The flake is decorative. What holds the floor together is the bond between the base coat and the concrete. Expect your installer to diamond grind the slab, remove old paint or coatings, and fill cracks and chips before the base coat goes down.
Flakes are broadcast into the wet base coat, the loose flake is scraped back once it sets, and a clear topcoat locks everything in.
Flake coverage and topcoats
How much flake you choose changes the look, the texture and the price. Ask your installer for physical samples, since colours look different on a screen.
| Finish | Looks like | Suits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light scatter | The base colour shows through, with flecks of flake | Workshops and budget-conscious floors | Less flake to buy; shows marks more than heavier coverage |
| Medium coverage | A speckled, granite-like look | Most garages | A good balance of looks, texture and cost |
| Full coverage | Flake covers the whole base for a terrazzo-style look | Showcase garages, shops and gyms | Hides the most, but uses the most flake and costs more |
| Topcoat options | Clear gloss or satin over the flake | Every flake floor | Ask about UV stability for open garages and anti-slip additive for wet areas |
How a flake floor goes down
Most flake floors take two to three days on site, depending on the size, the slab and the weather. Your installer will confirm the timing on your quote.
Cure times
Foot traffic is often possible after about a day, and vehicles after several days. Cool, humid weather slows curing. Ask your installer for cure times in writing.
- Prepare the slab. Grinding, crack repairs and cleaning.
- Base coat. A coloured base coat is applied to the prepared concrete.
- Broadcast the flake. Flake is thrown into the wet base coat to the chosen coverage.
- Scrape and clean. Once set, loose flake is scraped back and vacuumed up.
- Topcoat and cure. A clear topcoat seals the flake, then the floor cures before use.
What flake does well
- Hides dust, marks and small slab imperfections
- Adds texture underfoot compared with plain gloss
- Wide choice of colour blends
- Easy to sweep and mop
- Small scratches are less noticeable than on solid colour
Worth knowing
- Full coverage costs more than a light scatter
- A gloss topcoat can still be slippery when wet without an anti-slip additive
- Flake colours vary between suppliers, so check samples
- Repairs are easier to blend than on metallic floors, but not invisible
What affects the price
Flake floors are quoted on the job. These are the main things that move the price.
- Floor size
- Slab condition and preparation
- Flake coverage and blend
- Topcoat type, including UV-stable options
- Old coatings to remove
Looking after a flake floor
Sweep or vacuum grit regularly, mop with a pH-neutral cleaner, and clean up oil and chemical spills promptly. Use protective pads under stands and heavy equipment.
Over time the clear topcoat in high-traffic areas can dull. Ask your installer whether a fresh topcoat can be added later without redoing the whole floor.
Related services
Flake floor quotes across the Illawarra
Surrounding areas on request.
Flake floor questions
Is a flake floor slippery?
Flake adds some texture, but a gloss topcoat can still be slippery when wet. An anti-slip additive in the topcoat helps, especially near doors and in wet areas.
How do I choose a flake colour?
Ask your installer for physical samples and look at them in the space, in daylight. Mid-tone grey blends are popular because they hide dust and tyre marks.
Can flake go outdoors?
Only with a UV-stable topcoat. Standard epoxy yellows and breaks down in sunlight, so ask your installer which system they use for outdoor and sun-exposed areas.
Is flake the same as epoxy?
The flake is decorative vinyl that sits inside an epoxy or similar coating system. The base coat and topcoat do the protective work.
Can a flake floor be repaired?
Damaged patches can often be ground back and recoated. The repair may be visible, so ask your installer what to expect.
Get a quote for a flake floor
Tell us the suburb, the size of the floor and the look you have in mind. Photos of the slab help your installer quote accurately.
Get a free quote
Four details are all we need to get started. A local epoxy specialist will contact you to arrange your free quote.