We know that flooring is highly important in commercial environments and that it can have a positive impact on workplace safety, maintenance costs, and even your overall brand image. One of the best materials currently available for commercial floors is epoxy, which chemically bonds with concrete to form a rigid, strong, and non-porous surface that’s highly resistant to moisture, chemicals, stains, and heavy wear. Its range of benefits is the reason why it’s become the flooring of choice in a wide range of commercial environments, from automotive garages and warehouses to healthcare facilities and retail shops, but did you know that there are actually multiple types of epoxy flooring to choose from?
Smooth epoxy flooring and epoxy flake flooring may sound similar and are even built on the same compound, but they have some notable differences that are worth knowing about before you decide which kind is best for your business. From appearance to installation time and cost-effectiveness, we’re here to break down these key differences so that you’re able to make a confident, informed decision based on your specific needs.
What is Smooth Epoxy Flooring?
Smooth epoxy flooring (also known as self-levelling epoxy) is known for its sleek and uniform finish. It creates a glass-like appearance that’s usually very glossy, but matte finishes are also available. The flooring is typically applied in multiple coats, starting with a primer and followed by one or more layers of epoxy resin, and can be customised with a range of colours. The overall look is clean, modern, and almost futuristic, all of which are a big part of its appeal.
What is Epoxy Flake Flooring?
Epoxy flake flooring is essentially a textured version of the traditional epoxy system. During installation, small, coloured chips, usually made from vinyl or acrylic, are spread across a wet base coat. These flakes can be subtle or bold, with a huge array of colours, sizes, and patterns available. After the flakes are scattered, a clear topcoat is then applied to seal everything in and provide protection. The result is a multi-tonal, speckled surface that not only adds visual interest but also delivers practical advantages. The textured finish can further improve slip resistance and even help disguise dirt, dust, scratches, and other imperfections.
Comparing Smooth and Flaked Epoxy Flooring
Appearance
In terms of appearance, smooth epoxy has a glossy, glass-like surface that offers a premium feel. The clean, continuous look reflects light beautifully, making spaces appear brighter and more expansive. For environments like showrooms, retail stores and modern office spaces, smooth epoxy is a standout choice that makes settings look much more luxurious and high-end. Epoxy flake flooring, on the other hand, provides a much more textured and patterned surface. Whilst this might not look as minimalist as smooth epoxy floors, it can do a better job at visually masking imperfections, making it more forgiving when it comes to dirt and wear and slightly more capable of maintaining its appearance over time.
Safety
In a commercial setting, safety is essential, and whether it’s for staff, customers, or site visitors, your flooring must do a good job at preventing accidents. Both smooth and flake epoxy floors can be treated with anti-slip finishes in order to enhance traction, helping create safer environments. It’s important to know, however, that the flakes in epoxy flake flooring also provide extra grip, further reducing the likelihood of slips and falls. This makes the latter option particularly well-suited to commercial kitchens, gyms, garages, and toilets, where floors are frequently exposed to moisture.
Strength and Longevity
Smooth and flaked epoxy flooring are also both incredibly strong and hard-wearing, with epoxy flooring systems being able to resist impacts, abrasion, moisture, and most chemicals. However, smooth epoxy, despite its strength, is more likely to show signs of surface wear over time, like scratches and scuff marks, due to having a cleaner and smoother surface. Flake flooring tends to age better, thanks to its speckle finish that helps make marks and wear less visible for longer. Plus, the flakes can also add extra defence against wear, which is another reason why it’s the preferred option for high-traffic environments.
Cleaning
Both types of epoxy flooring are quite easy to clean due to their non-porous and seamless nature. This means there are no grout lines or crevices for dirt and grime to hide in, making them easier to keep clean than other traditional forms of flooring. However, as stated before, flake epoxy makes damage and marks less noticeable, meaning it can go a bit longer without cleaning than smooth epoxy.
Installation and Downtime
Despite flake epoxy flooring being slightly more durable and easier to clean and maintain, smooth epoxy tends to be quicker and simpler to install. It involves prepping the concrete substrate, applying a primer, followed by one or more layers of epoxy resin, and then finishing with a seal coat. The total installation time typically spans 2–3 days depending on the area size and curing time. Epoxy flake flooring involves all those steps plus the addition of flakes and an extra clear coat to seal them in. This extra step can add another day to the process, so if you’re operating on a tight schedule or need to minimise downtime, smooth epoxy may be the better choice.
Cost
From a budgeting perspective, smooth epoxy flooring is usually more cost-effective upfront because it requires fewer materials and a bit less labour. This makes it an attractive choice for startups, smaller retail spaces, or projects with limited budgets. Flake epoxy usually costs more initially, due to the additional materials and labour involved, but it can prove to be even more economical over the long term, as it’s slightly more durable and easier to maintain.
Which One Should Your Business Choose?
Choosing between smooth epoxy flooring and epoxy flake flooring ultimately comes down to how your business uses its space and what you value most, whether that’s style, strength, safety, or ease of maintenance.
Smooth epoxy offers a sleek, modern finish that’s great for offices, showrooms, and retail spaces where presentation is key. It’s quicker to install and gives a clean, professional appearance, but it can show marks and wear more easily and may require more frequent cleaning to maintain its shine. Epoxy flake flooring, by contrast, delivers added texture, grip, and resilience. Its speckled finish hides dirt and wear far better, making it ideal for high-traffic or moisture-prone environments like garages, commercial kitchens, gyms, or washrooms. It does take slightly longer to install and comes with a higher initial cost, but this often pays off in the long term through reduced maintenance and slightly greater durability.
In short, both are excellent choices, and it just depends on the needs of your business. If you prioritise looks and fast turnaround, smooth epoxy might be the most appropriate option, but if you need something tough, safe, and low-maintenance, epoxy flake flooring will be the smarter investment.
MCG: Expert Epoxy Installers
MCG Epoxy is located in Lancashire and has been proudly serving the North of England for over a decade, professionally installing resin flooring for a number of commercial environments. Our floors are renowned for their strength, versatility, and visual appeal, so whether you opt for our smooth or flaked epoxy, we’ll provide you with a reliable flooring system that looks great, performs well, and is built to last. To find out more about what we offer, browse our website today. Alternatively, if you have any queries, then don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 07707 129523.