Side by side
| Factor | Flake | Metallic |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | $8-$12/sq ft | $12-$18/sq ft |
| Days on site | 2 | 3, adds a skim-coat day |
| Hides dirt | Best available | Shows footprints |
| Slip resistance | Mechanical, lasts for life | Needs an additive |
| Spot repair | Disappears into the pattern | Cannot be matched |
| Visual impact | Clean and textural | Exceptional |
| Every floor unique | No, blends repeat | Yes, cannot be reproduced |
| Tolerates a sloped slab | Yes | No, it self-levels downhill |
Gold marks the stronger option for that factor. A tie is shown in neutral text.
Choose flake when
The floor gets used. Garages with daily drivers, shops, basements that double as gyms, anywhere tools get dropped or wet shoes arrive. It is also the only sensible choice on a sloped slab, because metallic migrates downhill while it cures.
Choose metallic when
People look at the floor rather than work on it: finished basements, entries, showrooms, salons, collector garages. Under directional lighting it is genuinely spectacular, and no two floors can be made alike. Accept that it shows scratches and needs an anti-slip additive anywhere shoes arrive wet.
The blend matters more than the family
A poorly chosen flake blend shows more dirt than a well-chosen metallic. Contrast within the blend, not lightness or darkness, is what hides dust. And in a basement lit only by pot lights, warm metallic tones hold their depth while the cool greys that photograph beautifully read flat and grey.
Not sure which applies to your slab?
The site visit includes a moisture reading and an honest look at the concrete, then a written fixed price. We will tell you when the cheaper option is the right one.