Metallic Epoxy Flooring in Nashville and Franklin, TN
Metallic epoxy is the floor people stop and stare at. Instead of a flat color or a scatter of flake, metallic pigments suspended in a clear 100%-solids epoxy are worked by hand into swirls, ripples and depth that look like polished stone, poured metal or moving water. Every metallic epoxy floor is one of a kind, which is exactly why it should be installed by an experienced metallic installer.
We install metallic epoxy floors in garages, finished basements, home gyms, bonus rooms and showrooms across Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood and Middle Tennessee. Every one starts the same way our other floors do: a diamond grind, a moisture test and a properly cured base coat. The art only lasts if the prep is right.
Planning a Showpiece Floor?
Tell us the room, the size and the look you want. We will tell you honestly whether metallic is the right system.
Get a Metallic Floor QuoteWhat a Metallic Epoxy Floor Is
A metallic epoxy floor is a layered system. First comes a diamond-ground slab and a primer or base coat in a color chosen to sit underneath the design. Next is the metallic body coat: a clear epoxy loaded with fine metallic and pearl pigments, poured and spread across the floor. While that coat is still wet, we work it with rollers, trowels, brushes, air and solvent mist to move the pigment and build the pattern. The last layer is a clear topcoat that protects the design from scratches, chemicals and UV.
The topcoat matters more on metallic floors than on any other system. Epoxy ambers in sunlight, and a metallic design is mostly clear epoxy. A UV-stable polyaspartic or polyurethane topcoat keeps whites white and blues blue in a garage that sees afternoon sun.
Popular Metallic Epoxy Colors and Looks
Most metallic floors we install fall into a few families. Gray, silver and charcoal metallic garage floors are the most requested, because they hide tire marks and pair with any car and cabinet color. White and pearl metallic floors give a marble look that works in basements and gyms. Copper, bronze and brown metallics read like aged leather or wood and suit bars and family rooms. Blue and black metallics are the boldest and look best in large, well-lit spaces.
Custom touches are possible too: logo or paw print inlays, contrasting borders, a cove base that carries the color a few inches up the wall, or two metallic colors blended across the floor. We plan those before install day so there are no surprises.
Where Metallic Epoxy Works Best (and Where It Does Not)
Metallic epoxy is at its best indoors and in spaces where the floor is part of the design: finished basements, home gyms, game rooms, showroom garages, retail floors, salons and offices. It is also a strong choice for a basement or bonus room over a sound concrete slab where carpet or vinyl would trap moisture.
It is not the right floor for everything. In a working shop garage, a flake floor hides scratches, dropped tools and grit far better. On an outdoor patio or a porch in full sun, a full polyaspartic system handles UV and temperature swings better. And if you want a perfectly consistent pattern from wall to wall, metallic is the wrong choice, because no two areas of a metallic floor look exactly alike. We would rather tell you that up front than install a floor you are unhappy with.
Metallic Epoxy Floor Cost
Metallic epoxy runs $8 to $15 per sq ft installed. For a typical floor that looks like this:
| Floor | Typical Size | Metallic Epoxy Installed |
|---|---|---|
| 1-car garage | 250–300 sq ft | $2,200–$4,500 |
| 2-car garage | 400–500 sq ft | $3,600–$7,500 |
| 3-car garage | 600–750 sq ft | $5,200–$10,500 |
| Finished basement | 800–1,200 sq ft | $6,800–$15,000 |
Middle Tennessee installed estimates for 2026, including diamond grinding, standard crack repair and a clear topcoat. Vapor-barrier primer and heavy repair are priced separately.
The price spread comes from design complexity. A single-color gray metallic with gentle movement sits near the bottom of the range. Multiple colors, inlays, borders and coved walls push it higher. Compared with a flake floor, metallic costs more because the body coat uses more resin and the design is worked by hand. The full breakdown is in our epoxy flooring cost guide.
How We Install a Metallic Epoxy Floor
Day one is preparation. We moisture-test the slab, diamond-grind it with dust extraction, fill cracks and joints, and grind the repairs flush. Then the base coat goes down in the color that will sit under the design, and it cures overnight.
Day two is the metallic coat. We mix the metallic pigments into the clear epoxy, pour it in sections and work the pattern while the material is still moving. This is the step that separates experienced metallic installers from everyone else, because the window to work the epoxy is short and every motion shows in the finished floor.
The topcoat follows once the metallic layer has cured enough to recoat, usually the next day. Plan on about 3 days before parking and about 7 days before heavy furniture or harsh cleaners, longer in cold weather.
Caring for a Metallic Floor
Dust-mop or sweep often, because grit is what dulls a glossy floor. Wash with a pH-neutral cleaner and a microfiber mop; skip vinegar, citrus cleaners and anything abrasive. Put felt pads under furniture and a mat under gym equipment. If the topcoat wears in a high-traffic path after years of use, it can be lightly sanded and recoated without touching the design underneath.
About the Installer
I am Ryan Pepple, founder of Best Coast Epoxy Coatings. I have installed epoxy and polyaspartic floors with my own hands since 2011. I built the company in Southern California, working out of Temecula and Murrieta, and now run it from Franklin, Tennessee. I personally inspect and moisture-test every slab before we quote it. More about my background.
Metallic Epoxy Flooring FAQ
How much does a metallic epoxy floor cost?
Metallic epoxy runs $8 to $15 per sq ft installed in Middle Tennessee. That is roughly $3,600 to $7,500 for a typical two-car garage and $6,800 to $15,000 for an 800 to 1,200 sq ft finished basement. Design complexity and the number of pigment colors move the price within that range. Our epoxy flooring cost guide breaks down every system.
Is metallic epoxy good for a garage floor?
Yes, for a garage that is treated as a showroom, gym or hangout space. Under a polyaspartic topcoat it handles parked cars and hot tires well. It is not our first pick for a hard-working shop garage, because a high-gloss metallic finish shows scratches and dropped-tool marks more than a flake floor does.
Is metallic epoxy slippery?
A glossy metallic floor is smooth, and it can be slippery when wet. We add an anti-slip aggregate to the topcoat in garages, entries and anywhere water gets tracked in, for $0.25 to $0.50 per sq ft. It reduces the gloss slightly but makes a real difference underfoot.
How long does a metallic epoxy floor last?
Indoors, a properly prepped metallic floor lasts 10 to 20 years. The epoxy body is protected by the topcoat, so wear shows up in the clear coat first, and that layer can be lightly sanded and recoated without redoing the design. Expect a topcoat refresh before the floor itself needs attention.
Can you install metallic epoxy inside a house or basement?
Yes. Finished basements, home gyms, bonus rooms and man caves are where metallic epoxy looks best. Basements need a moisture test first, because below-grade slabs in Middle Tennessee often carry more vapor than garage slabs. If the reading is high, a vapor-barrier primer goes down before the metallic coat.
Will every metallic floor look like the photos?
No two metallic floors look the same, and that is the point. We plan the base color, the metallic pigments and the movement pattern with you, and we can show finished examples in person, but the final pattern forms as the material is worked. If you need a perfectly uniform look, a solid-color or flake system is a better fit.
How long until I can use a metallic epoxy floor?
You can walk on it once the topcoat sets, usually within a day. Plan on about 3 days before parking a vehicle and about 7 days before moving heavy furniture back, longer in cold weather.
Also see our garage floor coating systems and commercial epoxy flooring for showrooms and retail.
Get a Metallic Epoxy Floor Quote
We install metallic epoxy floors across Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Nolensville and Middle Tennessee. Call (615) 807-0582 or email hello@bestcoastepoxycoatings.com with your floor size and a couple of photos. We reply with a price range and a date for a free on-site moisture test.
Call (615) 807-0582Request a Free Floor Quote
Tell us about your floor and we will reply with a price range and a date for a free moisture test. Prefer to talk? Call (615) 807-0582.