Metallic Epoxy Flooring in West Allis, WI

Where metallic floors make sense

The long winters here put a premium on indoor space. A lot of West Allis families spend December through March downstairs, watching games, playing pool or hosting friends at a basement bar. Those basements often have a concrete floor that was never meant to be seen, covered with old carpet, peel-and-stick tile or paint. A metallic epoxy floor gives that space a finished, high-end look without adding the moisture problems that carpet and wood can have below grade.

We also pour metallic floors in home offices, studios, converted garages, salons and small showrooms. Anywhere you want a floor that becomes the centerpiece of a room, metallic is worth considering.

How the look is made

Metallic epoxy is a clear resin loaded with fine pearl pigments. When it is spread across the floor and worked with rollers, brushes and sometimes air or solvent, the pigments move and settle into swirls, veins and pools of light and shadow. No two floors are the same, and even two areas of the same floor look different. That is part of the appeal. We usually show customers photos of past finishes and work up a sample board in their chosen colors, then talk through how much movement they want, from calm and subtle to bold and marbled.

Basement slabs need a moisture plan

Basements are the most common place for metallic floors, and they are also the trickiest. Groundwater and soil moisture push vapor up through the slab and in from the walls. Many older basements here were built before modern waterproofing, and some show efflorescence, the white mineral deposits that form when water evaporates through concrete. Coating over high moisture without the right primer is the fastest way to get bubbles and peeling. We test every basement floor with a meter and, when needed, a calcium chloride or relative humidity test. High readings get a moisture-mitigating epoxy primer before any decorative layers go down.

If there is active water coming in, through a crack, a floor drain backup or a wall seam, that has to be solved first. We will point you to the right trade if the issue is outside our work.

Prep and pour

We grind the floor to remove paint, adhesive and mastic from old tile and to open the concrete. Cracks and holes are filled and ground flat, since anything left in the slab will show through a glossy floor. After a primer and a solid base coat, we pour the metallic layer and work it by hand. Once it cures, we apply a clear topcoat. For basements that see furniture and foot traffic, we often use a urethane topcoat for scratch resistance. Most metallic floors take two to three days to install.

Choosing colors

Silver and charcoal floors are popular for a modern, industrial look. Copper, bronze and gold work well with wood bar tops and warm lighting. Blues and greens can mimic water or stone. You can combine two or three colors in one floor for more depth. Keep in mind that lighting changes everything. A floor that looks soft under warm bulbs can look sharper under daylight LEDs, so we always try to view samples in the actual room.

Care and wear

Metallic floors are glossy, so they show dust and scratches more than a flake floor would. Use felt pads under chairs and furniture, put mats at the bottom of the stairs and sweep often. Clean with a microfiber mop and a mild, neutral cleaner. If the topcoat wears down in a high-traffic path after years of use, it can be lightly sanded and recoated without touching the metallic layer underneath.

Is it slippery?

A smooth, glossy floor can be slick when wet. For bars and areas where drinks get spilled, we can add a fine clear grit to the topcoat or use a satin finish that has a little more grip. We will talk about who uses the room, including kids and older family members, when we plan the finish.

Metallic epoxy questions