Metallic Epoxy Floors in Brownsville, TX

Metallic epoxy floors are poured resin floors with metallic pigment mixed in. As the coating levels out, the pigment moves and settles into swirls, ripples and depth that look a little like stone, water or polished metal. In Brownsville, homes and storefronts commonly sit on concrete slabs, and metallic epoxy turns that slab into a finished floor without grout lines, seams or wood that swells in damp weather.

Why it suits this climate

Wikipedia lists Brownsville's average relative humidity at 75.9%. Floors that take on moisture, like solid wood, or floors with lots of grout lines can be harder to keep looking new in damp air. A metallic epoxy floor is one continuous, sealed surface. It mops clean, does not hold sand in joints and is not affected by humidity once it is cured. The coating still has to be put down on a dry, tested slab, which is where most of our effort goes.

Where metallic floors work well

• Living rooms, kitchens and dens on slab foundations
• Home offices, game rooms and bars
• Salons, boutiques and small retail floors
• Lobbies and display floors where the floor is part of the look
• Converted garages being turned into living space

Moisture comes first

Interior slabs can hold more moisture than they appear to, especially on clay soil that stays damp. Wikipedia notes that Brownsville's flat ground and low-permeability clay leave parts of the city at high risk of localized flooding, and water that collects around a house can keep the slab under it wet. A metallic floor is thin at the top and very smooth, so any blistering or haze shows. We test moisture at the estimate. If the readings are high, we use a moisture-tolerant primer or tell you the floor is not ready.

Getting the slab ready

Most interior slabs have flooring on them now. Tile, vinyl, carpet glue and thinset all have to come off before we can coat. Then we grind the concrete, fill cracks and level low spots. Metallic finishes show what is under them, so cracks from clay movement need careful filling. Wide or moving cracks may still show over time, and we will tell you if we see any at the estimate. Expansion joints can be filled or kept, depending on how much movement the slab has.

Sunlight and topcoats

Wikipedia counts an average of 141 afternoons a year above 90 degrees in Brownsville, and bright sun through windows and glass doors fades or yellows plain epoxy. HomeGuide rates epoxy's UV resistance as poor to fair and polyaspartic's as excellent. On metallic floors near windows we finish with a UV-stable clear coat to protect the color. For homes with pets or heavy traffic, a harder topcoat also helps resist scratches.

What it costs and what affects the price

This Old House lists metallic epoxy at about $5 to $12 per square foot. Removing old flooring, leveling and crack repair add to that. Rooms with lots of corners, cabinets and doorways take more time than open rooms. We price each floor after we see it, because the prep varies more than the coating does.

Living with a metallic floor

Use felt pads under furniture and doormats at outside doors to catch sand. Dust-mop often and damp-mop with a neutral cleaner. Avoid harsh chemicals and dragging metal-legged furniture. A glossy finish can be slippery when wet, so we can add a fine anti-slip additive in kitchens and entryways.