Metallic Epoxy Floors in Kalama, WA, Done on a Slab That Is Ready

Here is the mistake we see people make with metallic epoxy: they pick the floor off a photo, then put it over concrete that dips, ripples and has a patch from 1985 in the middle. Metallic is clear resin with pigment swirled through it by hand. It reflects light like water, and like water it shows every low spot underneath it. On a flat slab it looks like polished stone. On a rough one it looks like a rough one with a shiny coat.

So in Kalama we start by walking the floor with a straightedge. The newer houses up on the bluffs with river views often have the tighter concrete this needs. Older garages on the hillside above First Street and around Downtown Kalama usually take more grinding and some leveling compound first. Either way, you will know before we quote what it will take to get the result in the photo.

Why the Columbia View Homes Suit a Metallic Finish

People put metallic in rooms they want to show off. Above Kalama that tends to mean a finished lower level with big windows toward the Columbia, a hobby shop, a home gym, or a garage that doubles as a place to hang out. Every pour is different because the swirl is done by hand, so no two floors in town will ever match. That is the appeal.

The system goes down at 40 to 60 mils of 100% solids epoxy, with a polyaspartic topcoat over it. That topcoat keeps the color from fading where low winter sun comes off the river and through the glass. It is glass smooth and easy to mop. Our crew needs two to three days on site, and the resin wants another three to five before heavy use. The floor carries a 15-year warranty.

Our Metallic Epoxy Floors System

Materials: Metallic pigment, 100% solids clear epoxy, polyaspartic topcoat
Thickness: 40-60 mils
Install time: 2-3 days
Cure time: 3-5 days
Warranty: 15 years

Glass-smooth finish. UV-stable topcoat. High-traffic rated.

Flatness, Damp Air and Cold Mornings in Kalama

Three local things change how we handle a metallic job here. First, flatness: hillside garages often have a pitch toward the door and old repairs, so we grind, fill and sometimes skim the whole floor. Second, damp: places near the Port of Kalama waterfront hold moisture through the wet months, so we test the slab before we commit to clear resin, which shows any bloom. Third, temperature: Kalama runs a little colder than Vancouver, and epoxy flows best when the room is warm, so we may ask you to heat the space. We are about 35 minutes away on I-5 and plan the multi-day install around that drive.

Kalama Neighborhoods We Cover

the hillside above First Street, the Port of Kalama waterfront, Downtown Kalama, Kalama River Road

What Metallic Epoxy Runs on a Kalama Floor

Our metallic pricing sits at $9 to $16 for every square foot, higher than flake because of the extra build and hand work. Put that on a two-car Kalama garage of 400 to 500 square feet and the total is $3,600 to $8,000. A 300 square foot studio or gym room runs $2,700 to $4,800. Slabs that need a skim coat to get flat sit at the upper end. Exact price after we see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a metallic floor that picks up the colors of the river outside?

Yes. Blues, grays and silvers are popular for rooms that look over the Columbia, and we can layer two pigments so the floor shifts between them. We bring physical samples. Photos on a phone screen never show how the metallic catches real light from your windows.

How flat does my slab need to be?

Flatter than for any other coating we sell. Small dips that a flake floor would hide will show as dark or light pools in metallic. We check with a straightedge at the estimate and tell you if grinding alone will do it or if the floor needs a leveling coat first.

Is metallic a good idea in a damp garage near the Port of Kalama marina?

It can be, but we test before deciding. Clear resin shows moisture problems more than an opaque floor. If the reading is high, we use a moisture-mitigating primer underneath. If water is actually coming in, the leak gets dealt with first, full stop.

How long will my room be out of use?

Plan on about a week. Grinding, priming, pouring and topcoating fill two to three days, and then the floor sits for three to five more before furniture, gym gear or vehicles return. In a cold Kalama February we lean to the longer end.

Will a car scratch it?

The polyaspartic topcoat is hard and stands up to tires. Like any glossy surface, dragging a steel jack or a tool chest across it can leave marks. Rubber casters and a mat under the jack keep it looking new. Light swirl scratches can be buffed and recoated later.

Nearby Cities Where We Also Install Metallic Epoxy Floors