Full Broadcast vs Partial Broadcast Epoxy Flake: Cost, Look, and Durability
The two flake systems behind most garage floor quotes, broken down by how much flake goes down, what each one costs to install, and which one to put in front of a customer. Written for the contractor explaining it and the homeowner trying to read the estimate.
Full vs Partial Broadcast in One Paragraph
Full broadcast (also called broadcast to rejection or to refusal) means you throw flake into the wet base coat until the floor stops absorbing it, the next morning you sweep and reclaim the loose excess, and the finished floor is solid flake with no base color showing. Partial broadcast (also called light or medium broadcast) means you scatter a controlled amount of flake so the base coat color stays visible between the chips. Full broadcast uses roughly 10 to 20 lbs of flake per 100 sq ft. Partial uses closer to 1 to 8 lbs. Full broadcast hides the concrete and is the standard for garages. Partial is cheaper and gives a cleaner, more modern look, but it shows whatever is underneath.
10-20 lbs
Flake per 100 sq ft
Full broadcast to rejection
1-8 lbs
Flake per 100 sq ft
Light to medium partial
$0.50-1.50
Per sq ft delta (typical)
Full costs more; verify locally
Who this is for
If you are a contractor, this gives you the mechanics and the sales language. If you are a homeowner staring at two quotes that are hundreds of dollars apart, the section on cost explains exactly where that gap comes from.
What Full and Partial Broadcast Actually Mean
Both systems start the same way. You prep the concrete, prime it, and roll a pigmented base coat. The difference is entirely in how much flake hits that wet base coat and what happens after.
Partial broadcast (light or medium)
You hand-cast flake across the wet base coat at a light rate so the chips land scattered, not touching. The base coat color shows through as the background, and the flake reads as accents on top of it. According to ArmorPoxy's coverage guidance, a light broadcast runs about 1 lb per 250 sq ft and a medium broadcast about 2 lbs per 250 sq ft, with medium covering roughly 40 to 60 percent of the floor and the base coat staying partly visible. Superior Garage USA, a flake installer, describes partial broadcast as 10 to 30 percent flake coverage that leaves a more minimalist, polished look. There is usually no excess to reclaim because you are not over-applying.
Full broadcast (to rejection / to refusal)
You throw flake up and let it rain down onto the wet base coat, working the floor until it cannot hold any more. The term to rejection means exactly that: flake stops sticking because there is no wet epoxy left exposed to grab it. Concrete Floor Supply puts the rule plainly, that base coats are meant to be completely covered. The next day, once the base has cured, you knock down and vacuum up the loose flake sitting on the surface, scrape any high spots smooth, then topcoat. The reclaimed flake gets reused.
- 1Prep and prime the slab (identical for both systems).
- 2Roll the pigmented base coat.
- 3Broadcast flake: a light controlled scatter for partial, or throw to rejection for full.
- 4Cure overnight.
- 5Full broadcast only: sweep, vacuum, and reclaim the loose excess flake.
- 6Full broadcast only: scrape the floor to knock down sharp flake edges and high spots.
- 7Apply clear topcoat (often two coats on a full broadcast to bury the texture).
The vocabulary trap on quotes
Suppliers and contractors use light, medium, heavy, and full to mean different flake densities, and the lines between them are fuzzy. ArmorPoxy lists heavy at 3 to 4 lbs per 250 sq ft and full at 25 lbs per 250 sq ft, a huge jump. If a quote just says flake floor, ask which broadcast level. That single word is most of the price difference.
How Many Pounds of Flake Per Square Foot
For a full broadcast with 1/4-inch flake, plan on about 0.10 lbs per square foot, which is 10 lbs per 100 sq ft. Smaller or blended flake packs tighter and needs more. For partial coverage you are down around 0.01 to 0.08 lbs per square foot depending on how much base you want showing.
According to Concrete Floor Supply's flake calculator, a full broadcast (rejection coat) with 1/4-inch flake runs approximately 10 lbs per 100 sq ft (0.10 lbs/sq ft), and 1/8-inch flake or hybrid blends run closer to 20 lbs per 100 sq ft (0.20 lbs/sq ft) because the finer pieces fill the gaps. They call those numbers a minimum and tell installers to add 10 to 20 percent so they do not run dry mid-floor. A common shop shorthand for full broadcast is to take the floor square footage and divide by 6 for a pro or by 5 for a DIYer to get pounds needed.
Real-world numbers from installers track with that. In a Garage Journal thread on full broadcast quantity, a homeowner coating 2,100 sq ft was told by one supplier that 150 lbs would do (about 0.07 lbs/sq ft) while another quoted 315 lbs (0.15 lbs/sq ft). He finished the floor at roughly 0.13 lbs/sq ft, got minor shiny spots where he went lighter at 20 lbs per 235 sq ft section, and swept up 160 lbs of reusable excess afterward. That excess is the tell of a true full broadcast: you are supposed to over-apply and reclaim.
Verified broadcast rates by source (1/4-inch flake unless noted)
| Broadcast level | Flake rate | Base coat visible? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light / random | ~1 lb per 250 sq ft (0.004 lbs/sq ft) | Mostly, flake reads as accents | ArmorPoxy |
| Medium | ~2 lbs per 250 sq ft, 40-60% coverage | Partly | ArmorPoxy |
| Partial (general) | 10-30% flake coverage | Yes, background color shows | Superior Garage USA |
| Full / to rejection (1/4") | ~10 lbs per 100 sq ft (0.10 lbs/sq ft) | No, fully hidden | Concrete Floor Supply |
| Full / to rejection (1/8" or blend) | ~20 lbs per 100 sq ft (0.20 lbs/sq ft) | No, fully hidden | Concrete Floor Supply |
Order extra, every time
Running out of flake halfway across a wet base coat is a ruined floor, not a delay. Every supplier guidance above treats its rate as a floor, not a target. Buy 10 to 20 percent over and reclaim what you do not use on a full broadcast.
The Cost Difference, and Where It Comes From
Partial broadcast is cheaper, usually somewhere around $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot less installed than a full broadcast on the same floor. Treat that as a typical range and verify against your own local quotes, because slab condition and topcoat choice swing it more than the flake itself. The gap comes from three line items: flake quantity, topcoat, and labor.
Flake quantity
A full broadcast can use five to ten times the flake of a light partial. On a 500 sq ft garage that is the difference between roughly 50 lbs of flake and 5 to 10 lbs. Flake is not the most expensive part of the system, but at full-broadcast volume it adds up, and you are buying extra to reclaim on top of that.
Topcoat and the scrape coat
This is the cost most homeowners miss. A full broadcast floor is rough: thousands of flake edges stand up out of the base. To get a smooth, sealed surface you often need two topcoats, sometimes a dedicated grout or scrape coat first to fill between the chips, plus the labor to scrape the floor down before any clear goes on. ArmorPoxy advises two topcoat layers for a full broadcast specifically because of that texture. A partial broadcast stays much smoother, so it needs less clear and no scrape coat. More material, more passes, more time.
Labor
Labor is the biggest single cost in any flake floor, commonly 50 to 70 percent of the total. Full broadcast adds a full extra phase: the day-two reclaim and scrape, vacuuming loose flake, and the additional topcoat. Broadcasting to rejection is also typically a two-person job, one rolling base and one throwing flake, so the base does not skin over before it is covered. Partial broadcast skips the reclaim entirely.
Where the price gap lives (same 500 sq ft slab)
| Line item | Partial broadcast | Full broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| Flake used | ~5-10 lbs | ~50 lbs (plus reclaim buffer) |
| Reclaim / scrape coat | None | Required (extra day-two labor) |
| Topcoats | Often one | Often two, to bury texture |
| Crew | Can be one person | Usually two for the broadcast |
| Relative installed price | Lower | ~$0.50-1.50/sq ft more (verify locally) |
For homeowners comparing quotes
If two flake bids are far apart, the cheaper one is often a partial or medium broadcast and the higher one a full broadcast to rejection. That is not one contractor gouging you, it is two different floors. Ask each to state the broadcast level and topcoat count in writing, then compare apples to apples. Flake systems also follow the shape of your slab, so heavy crack repair or grinding on bad concrete raises both bids.
Where Each System Wins
Full broadcast wins for garages and anywhere the concrete underneath is rough or repaired. Partial wins when the floor is in good shape and the customer wants a cleaner, more designed look for less money.
Full broadcast (to rejection)
Pros
- Completely hides concrete imperfections, patches, and substrate repairs
- Uniform, consistent wear layer across the whole floor
- Built-in traction from the flake texture, good for a garage
- The standard, expected finish for garage floors
- No base-coat roller marks or lap lines show through
Cons
- Costs more in flake, topcoat, and labor
- Rougher surface unless topcoated well; needs the scrape coat
- Less design flexibility, the floor is all flake
Partial broadcast (light / medium)
Pros
- Cheaper: less flake, less topcoat, less labor
- Shows off the base color for a modern, minimalist look
- Smoother finished surface
- Good for interior spaces, showrooms, mudrooms, retail
Cons
- Shows roller marks, lap lines, and base-coat flaws
- Telegraphs concrete repairs and patches underneath
- Wears differently: traffic paths can show against the open base
- Less traction than a full flake texture
A quick note on the terrazzo look, because it gets used loosely. The clean, speckled, stone-like read people call terrazzo usually comes from a lighter broadcast of a multi-size blend where the base shows between chips, like the Denali or Yosemite-style brown-and-grey aggregate blends suppliers sell. Some installers also call a dense full broadcast terrazzo-like. Both are fair, just know that if a customer wants the airy, designer terrazzo look, that is a partial or medium broadcast call, not a floor packed to rejection.
Durability and Maintenance: What Actually Differs
The single most important thing to get straight: hot tire pickup is a prep and adhesion problem, not a flake-density problem. A full broadcast floor with bad prep will peel just like a thin one. Where flake density genuinely matters is traction, how wear shows over time, and the smoothness of the finished surface.
Hot tire pickup is about the bond, not the flake
Hot tires soften coatings and grip them. If the coating is bonded properly to a ground or shot-blasted, contaminant-free slab, it stays put. If the concrete was not profiled and cleaned, the tire pulls the coating off the slab, and no amount of flake changes that. As the coatings guidance puts it, when an epoxy floor peels it is almost always improper surface preparation, not a defective coating. So when a homeowner asks whether full broadcast resists hot tire pickup better, the honest answer is that prep and the right base resin decide it, and both systems sit on the same prep.
Where density does change durability
- Wear visibility: a full broadcast wears uniformly because the whole surface is flake; a partial can show traffic paths where tires and feet scuff the open base color.
- Traction: full broadcast leaves a textured surface with grip; a smooth partial can be slick when wet unless you add an anti-slip additive to the topcoat.
- Topcoat protection: the real durability of either floor lives in the clear coat. A well-applied urethane or polyaspartic topcoat is what takes the chemical, UV, and abrasion hits.
- Maintenance: both clean the same way (dust mop, occasional mop). A full broadcast hides dust and tire marks better between cleanings; a partial with a dark base shows them sooner.
Do not sell flake density as peel protection
Telling a customer that full broadcast prevents peeling sets up a callback you will lose. Sell prep as peel protection (grinding, profile, clean slab, correct base) and sell flake density as look, traction, and how the floor ages.
Flake Size and How Density Reads
Flake comes mainly in 1/4-inch, 1/8-inch, and 1/16-inch, often sold as multi-size blends. Size and density work together: bigger flake at full broadcast reads bold and chunky, while smaller flake or a blend reads tighter and more like stone. Size also changes your material math.
- 1/4-inch: the garage standard. Big, forgiving chips that hide the slab fast at full broadcast and give an obvious flake look.
- 1/8-inch: a tighter, more refined speckle. Packs denser, so a full broadcast needs roughly double the pounds of 1/4-inch (about 0.20 lbs/sq ft per Concrete Floor Supply).
- 1/16-inch: fine, almost granular, reads closest to natural stone or a solid color from a standing height.
- Blends: mixing sizes gives the layered, aggregate, terrazzo-style depth and is common in designer light broadcasts.
The practical takeaway: a customer who wants a busy, high-contrast garage floor wants larger flake at full broadcast. A customer who wants a calm, stone-like interior floor wants finer or blended flake, often at a lighter density. Density and size are two dials on the same look, not separate decisions.
How to Sell the Difference (Without a Whiteboard)
Customers do not picture broadcast rates from words. The fastest close is showing the same floor both ways, side by side, so they see what hiding the concrete versus showing the base actually looks like in their space. Talking pounds per square foot loses people; a visual does not.
"The homeowner is not buying 0.10 lbs per square foot. They are buying a floor they can picture in their own garage. Show them that picture and the broadcast conversation answers itself."
Lead with the look, not the spec
Open with the visual difference: full broadcast hides the concrete and looks uniform, partial shows the base color and looks cleaner and more modern. Save the pounds and percentages for the customer who asks.
Show the same floor both ways
A side-by-side of their actual garage in full broadcast versus partial does more than any explanation. It also justifies the price gap on the spot, because they can see what the extra money buys.
Tie density to their priorities
Rough or patched slab, or a working garage? Point them to full broadcast. Good concrete and a designer look on a budget? Partial is a real option, with the caveat that it shows what is underneath.
Put the broadcast level in the proposal
Write the broadcast level, flake size, and topcoat count into the quote so you are never compared against a cheaper partial bid the customer thinks is the same floor.
Render both options from one photo
With ShowFloor AI you upload one photo of the customer's actual garage, pick from 800+ real materials including Torginol flake systems, and get a photorealistic render in about 15 seconds. Generate full broadcast and partial side by side, drop both into one proposal, and let the customer choose. That comparison sells the upgrade better than any spec sheet. Try it free at showfloor.ai/demo.
Featured Materials
Flake Broadcast
Domino
High-contrast black, white, and grey blend. Reads sharp and busy at full broadcast on a garage floor, the most-requested neutral.
Flake Broadcast
Nightfall
Deep blues, charcoal, and black. Full broadcast hides the slab completely; the dark base makes a strong garage statement floor.
Flake Broadcast
Saddle Tan
Warm tans and browns over a beige base. Works full broadcast for a uniform garage, or lighter to show the base for a softer interior look.
Flake Broadcast
Shoreline
Soft greys, blue, and white. A natural fit for a partial broadcast where the light base shows through for a clean, modern, stone-like read.
Show full and partial broadcast side by side
Upload one photo of your customer's garage, pick real Torginol flake systems, and generate full broadcast and partial renders in about 15 seconds. Put both in one proposal and let the customer pick the floor. Solo $49/mo, Business $149/mo.