DIY glitter epoxy floor application tutorial

DIY GLITTER FLOORS

Shimmering floors are trendy these and look enchanting too. The vibrant glow make you feel like you are dwelling in heaven. The glitters are same that we use in our daily life but the application process is different and difficult as well. To glitter the floor is actually not that easy like it seems. The whole process is time consuming and a little bit expensive. As it is said it’s won’t last if it is easy.

There are different ways of glitters application. From full floor coverage to just a sparkle in the floor. All you need is a fine glitter with a goof epoxy brand.

To apply glitters, firstly the floor must be leveled in order to avoid any unwanted results.

FLOOR SURFACE

The first thing that matters is the floor. A smooth and uniform floor must be there for the application of glitters. An uneven or rough floor will be unable to provide you with the desired results. What happens is that the top sealer wears off the high spots, but stays in the low areas with foot traffic. . To smooth your cement you can rent/hire a cement grinder and make your floor smooth or you can fill in those pits with a commercial grade filler. You can also use a non-water-based Epoxy Coat sealer that will fill in most pits. These types of sealers usually offer an amazing shine when dry.
If your floor does not need to look good for years then the surface does not matter too much. It is the wear over time that is the issue with pitted/rough floors.

Before you can glitter and seal your floor your cement floor needs to be cured and dry. If there is moisture in the cement it will not seal well at all and you will have wasted a lot of time and money.

WOOD/LAMINATE:  Wood floors can also be done and you will need to follow the same rules- make sure it is as smooth as possible. If you have stains be sure to either sand them or seal them (especially if they are oil stains).

LINOLEUM: Not recommended for heavy traffic, but it can be done. Most linoleum is not totally smooth so you will eventually be recoating the surface when the high spots wear

down. Doing some extra coats will buy you some time before needing to re-coat. Be sure to ask the salesman for an appropriate (non-water based) sealer that is OK for linoleum.

For a More Professional look:

 If you are going for a professional look then call in the professionals or at least have a really big chat about sealers before you start. Tell them about your floor surface and see which sealing product is best.

ALWAYS TEST YOUR PRODUCTS BEFORE YOU START!  Contact us for samples, talk to us before you begin. A floor is a big and potentially expensive project.

Glittering your Floor

Here are the supplies you’ll need:

• 1 garage floor coating kit (found at home improvement stores)
• 2 paint rollers, handle, 2 trays
• 1 scrub brush for cleaning the floor before you start
• 1 bucket and mop
• 6-8 jars of chunky glitter, bowl
• 1 brush for edging
• 1 gallon of water-based polyurethane varnish, high gloss
• Fans, open windows!

Directions:

1. Use the cleaner in the kit to fully clean your floor. Mix it in the bucket, scrub, rinse with mop.
   2. Scrape off any glue, patch holes, let dry.
   3. Mix the two parts of paint mixture according to package directions. Stir vigorously. Seriously, this stuff is just like resin, you have to mix it really good or it won’t work!
   4. Pour into one paint tray, use a brush to paint the edges of the room.
   5. Now use one of the rollers to paint a section of the room.
   6. Throw handfuls of glitter in the air so it lands evenly. Don’t throw or toss it like chicken feed or it will land in piles or splotches.
   7. Keep working section by section, make sure to add glitter to cover the section lines so it will all blend.
   8. If you want light glitter, just lightly toss. If you want heavy glitter, spread generously (like mine!).
   9. Let dry over night, extra if you live in a humid climate. Use push broom to sweep off excess glitter. Scrub away areas that are too thick, you want it to all be even. Sweep up extra and toss it.
   10. Open can of varnish, pour in the second paint tray and use second roller to apply an even coat. Let dry and add another coat. Repeat four or five times. You want the floor to be smooth so you can wipe up any spills.
   11. Let dry for 2-3 days before moving in furniture or walking on it.

GLITTER APPLICATION (FULL COVERAGE)

Flake size: Most people like to go with a larger flake (0.040) for floors, but if you want a more subtle sparkle then you may want to go with the ultra fine (0.008).

If you decided to paint then feel free to use the wet paint as your adhesive. Paint an area (always keep a wet edge), then apply the glitter, paint some more, apply glitter and so on. For total coverage, you will be buying a lot more glitter than you actually need. You will be tossing glitter into the air and letting it drop onto the wet paint. It is best not to throw it sideways as you tend to get streaks. When the paint dries you will take a soft brush to remove the extra loose glitter that did not stick and remove it. This is an important step or you will be miserable when trying to seal your floor.

We also rent and sell glitter guns that can be used to put the glitter onto the floor. You can check them out here: Guns

If you do not paint first, then lay down a sealer coat and do the glitter toss OR you can mix the glitter into a portion of the sealer and apply that mixture (may have to do multiple coats). Be sure to follow the sealer manufacturer's instructions regarding multiple layers.