Broadcast sand is a resin-based coating system enhanced with a layer of silica or quartz sand that is broadcast — or evenly spread — into the surface while it’s still wet. The sand becomes embedded in the base coat, and a clear or pigmented topcoat is applied to lock it in.
The result? A textured, non-slip, and heavy-duty flooring solution built to handle high-traffic environments, impact, chemical spills, and moisture. This floor solution is designed to provide a slip resistant flooring option that stands up to the toughest environments — from busy warehouses to commercial kitchens and garage floors.
If your space demands traction, strength, and chemical resistance, a broadcast sand system is one of the most reliable choices. This floor coating system is ideal for:
Broadcast floors aren’t just durable — they’re engineered to solve specific challenges in commercial and industrial environments. In environments with strict hygiene regulations, heavy foot traffic, thermal stress, and constant exposure to moisture or chemicals, selecting the right flooring system is critical. Whether you’re outfitting a commercial kitchen, food processing area, brewery, or pharmaceutical facility, the right floor is not just about durability — it’s about safety, compliance, and long-term performance. Here’s why professionals rely on broadcast sand coatings:
If you want an anti-slip epoxy floor, the broadcast sand system is the perfect solution. Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries, especially in areas exposed to water, oil, or cleaning chemicals. Broadcast sand systems are designed to dramatically improve traction. By embedding angular silica or quartz particles into the floor, the surface gains micro-roughness that increases friction — even when the floor is wet or greasy.
This is especially important in environments where traditional smooth epoxy could pose a serious hazard. The degree of slip resistance can also be tailored during installation by adjusting the grit size and broadcast density. The embedded sand creates texture that significantly improves grip and reduces risks. That’s why broadcast epoxy floor systems are often the preferred choice for:
Heavy traffic from foot traffic, carts, forklifts, or machinery puts immense pressure on flooring. The sand in a broadcast floor doesn’t just sit on the surface — it becomes an integral part of the coating system. As the base coat cures, the sand bonds into the resin, increasing surface hardness and improving the floor’s resistance to:
This system is not just about safety — it’s built to last. The embedded silica or quartz sand enhances the floor’s toughness against abrasions, heavy foot and machinery traffic, and chemical spills, making it a highly durable floor coating. For garages and industrial settings, an epoxy floor with sand ensures your floor can withstand daily wear and tear without compromising performance.
Epoxy and polyaspartic systems already provide a strong barrier against moisture and chemicals — but when paired with a broadcast layer, the coating’s integrity is further reinforced. The sand helps maintain coating thickness and prevents premature wear in areas frequently exposed to:
This makes broadcast floors especially well-suited for auto repair shops, food processing plants, laboratories, and commercial kitchens — places where harsh cleaning regimens and chemical exposure are a daily reality.
Despite having a textured, non-slip surface, broadcast floors are surprisingly easy to maintain. Once fully sealed with a high-grade topcoat, the system becomes non-porous. That means:
Additionally, because the sand helps disperse wear across the coating, these floors tend to show less visible wear in high-traffic areas. This reduces the need for frequent recoating and extends the service life of the floor.
Just because broadcast systems are industrial-grade doesn’t mean they can’t be attractive. Today’s commercial spaces often need flooring that delivers both performance and visual appeal. With broadcast sand floors, you can customize:
These customizations make broadcast floors suitable not only for back-of-house areas but also for customer-facing environments like showrooms, retail stores, or branded garages.
While broadcast sand floor coatings are primarily designed for indoor environments, they can be used outdoors under the right conditions and with the correct materials. However, several important factors must be considered before applying this system in exterior settings.
Standard epoxy resins are not UV stable, meaning they tend to yellow, chalk, or degrade when exposed to direct sunlight over time. For outdoor broadcast applications, UV-resistant resins like polyaspartic or polyurethane must be used instead. These coatings offer excellent clarity and color retention even under constant UV exposure, making them suitable for patios, walkways, pool decks, and outdoor work areas.
Outdoor environments are subject to temperature swings, rain, humidity, and freeze-thaw cycles. To handle this, the broadcast system must be installed over properly prepared concrete with a moisture vapor barrier underneath if needed, and flexible coatings that allow for thermal movement without cracking. This helps prevent peeling, bubbling, or delamination caused by trapped moisture or seasonal shifts.
One of the major advantages of a sand broadcast system outdoors is enhanced traction in wet conditions. Whether around a pool, on a sloped driveway, or in a breezeway, the textured surface significantly improves safety. You can also fine-tune the level of grip by selecting coarser or finer aggregates, depending on the intended use.
Outdoor broadcast floors can hold up well against light to moderate wear—like foot traffic, bikes, or parked vehicles — but they must be resealed periodically to maintain their integrity. Exposure to UV rays, rain, and temperature extremes will naturally wear down the topcoat over time, so a reapplication schedule (every few years) is essential for long-term performance.
Best use cases for outdoor broadcast sand floors:
If installed with the right materials and preparation, a broadcast sand system can perform reliably even in outdoor environments — offering both aesthetic value and functional safety. However, success depends on working with a contractor who understands exterior resin flooring systems and the importance of proper surface preparation for outdoor conditions.
If you’re considering a slip-resistant, long-lasting finish for your exterior surfaces and need expert guidance,
We offer a free quote and professional recommendations tailored to your specific project.
Installing a broadcast sand system isn’t as simple as pouring and spreading — it’s a multi-layered process that must account for site conditions, performance goals, and the right material choices. Whether you’re preparing for a residential garage or a large-scale commercial installation, here’s what you need to evaluate before committing to this type of flooring solution.
One of the most important factors to consider is the environment where the floor will be installed. Broadcast floor systems are highly customizable, but they rely on the right combination of resin, sand, and topcoat to perform well in specific conditions. For example:
The main appeal of a broadcast sand floor coating is its textured, slip-resistant surface. But keep in mind: the more aggressive the texture, the more effort required to maintain it. Striking the right balance between safety and maintenance is key to selecting the right aggregate size and topcoat gloss level.
Installing a full broadcast system isn’t a one-day job. It typically involves multiple layers applied over several stages:
Each coat requires curing time, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can affect drying speed. Most standard installations require 2–3 full days, though commercial epoxy flooring installations in larger facilities may take longer depending on square footage and complexity.
This makes proper scheduling essential — especially in operational settings like warehouses, auto shops, or retail spaces where downtime affects business.
The long-term performance of any epoxy broadcast floor system comes down to one thing: quality of installation. The broadcast technique itself may seem simple, but getting it right takes experience:
That’s why it’s strongly recommended to hire a professional epoxy flooring contractor who understands the chemistry, timing, and techniques involved in a broadcast application. DIY attempts often lead to delamination, patchy finishes, or costly rework. A skilled flooring contractor will evaluate all critical factors during the site assessment — including substrate condition, moisture levels, traffic type, and exposure to chemicals or thermal shock. This ensures the selection of the right system based on long-term performance requirements. With proper installation, your flooring can withstand years of heavy use without cracking, delaminating, or losing its slip-resistant properties.
By considering these factors early in the planning phase, you can ensure your broadcast sand floor coating system performs as expected — delivering long-term durability, safety, and visual appeal tailored to your environment.
Substrate preparation is the single most crucial step in achieving a high-performance quartz broadcast floor system. The longevity, adhesion, and slip resistance of the final floor depend heavily on how well the concrete base is prepared before applying the epoxy broadcast coating.
A poorly prepared substrate can lead to a range of issues that compromise both the aesthetics and functionality of the slip resistant commercial flooring. Common problems include delamination, cracking, bubbling, and premature wear — all caused by insufficient surface profile, contamination, or moisture.
To ensure optimal adhesion, the concrete surface must be clean, dry, and mechanically profiled to the correct texture. This often involves shot blasting or diamond grinding to remove laitance, grease, oils, and any weak surface layers. Moisture content should be tested and controlled, as excessive moisture can cause blistering or failure of the epoxy coating.
Skipping or rushing substrate preparation risks the entire system’s performance, turning what should be a durable, slip-resistant surface into a costly maintenance issue. Only through meticulous epoxy floor prep and broadcast can you achieve the intended durability, safety, and aesthetic appeal of a top-quality quartz broadcast floor.
When installing an epoxy broadcast floor system, the choice of substrate is crucial for achieving a durable and slip resistant flooring solution. The ideal surface is concrete, thanks to its strength, porosity, and stability, which provide excellent adhesion and longevity for a quartz broadcast floor.
Concrete is preferred because it can withstand heavy foot and machinery traffic, resists chemical spills, and maintains dimensional stability, ensuring the broadcast sand coating remains intact and slip-resistant over time.
That said, broadcast sand epoxy floors can also be installed on other surfaces, though these require careful preparation:
Each of these surfaces demands specific epoxy floor prep and broadcast techniques to achieve the best results. Neglecting the right preparation can lead to failures such as peeling, bubbling, or loss of the slip resistant commercial flooring properties. Ultimately, while concrete remains the most reliable and durable base for broadcast sand floors, skilled contractors can adapt installation methods to a variety of substrates, delivering high-performance, quartz broadcast floor solutions tailored to different commercial and industrial needs.
At first glance, broadcast sand flooring and regular epoxy floor coatings may seem similar — they both involve applying resin to a concrete substrate. But there are key differences in structure, performance, and application that set broadcast systems apart and make them ideal for high-traffic or safety-critical environments.
Whether you’re dealing with foot traffic, rolling equipment, or spilled liquids, choosing the right slip-resistant system is critical. Standard solid color epoxy floors are typically smooth or only lightly textured. While this gives them a clean, sleek appearance, it also means they can become slippery when exposed to water, oils, or cleaning agents — a potential hazard in busy environments. To improve slip resistance, these floors can be modified with an anti-slip epoxy floor topcoat, which includes fine aggregates or grit added to the surface. This helps, but the texture remains relatively mild and may not be suitable for high-risk environments.
Broadcast sand floors, on the other hand, include a layer of sand or quartz aggregate that is fully embedded into the base coat. This creates a rougher surface texture that significantly enhances traction. This makes broadcast floors a preferred option for areas requiring slip-resistant flooring, such as commercial kitchens, garages, warehouses, and production facilities.
A basic epoxy floor is durable and chemical-resistant, but it relies solely on the thickness and hardness of the resin layers. In contrast, a broadcast floor coating system includes a sand layer that reinforces the structure, improving abrasion resistance, impact tolerance, and load-bearing capacity. This added durability is why broadcast floors are often chosen for industrial flooring or heavy-use environments, where carts, machinery, and foot traffic are constant.
This layered construction results in a thicker, more robust system — typically 1/8” to 1/4” thick, depending on application.
Regular epoxy floors can be customized with pigments, flakes, or metallics, but they maintain a smooth finish. Broadcast sand floors can be highly decorative when colored quartz or specialty aggregates are used. With colored sand blends and various topcoat sheens, you can achieve a non-slip floor that’s also visually appealing — especially in public-facing commercial areas or showrooms.
Smooth epoxy floors are easier to mop and squeegee but may wear faster in rough environments or become dangerously slick. Broadcast floors require slightly more maintenance to clean textured surfaces, but in return, they offer longer wear cycles and greater performance stability under demanding conditions.
| Feature | Regular Epoxy Floor | Broadcast Sand System |
| Texture | Smooth/semi-gloss | Gritty, slip-resistant |
| Thickness | Thin-film (0.01″–0.02″) | 1/8″–1/4″ multi-layer |
| Durability | Moderate | High (abrasion & impact-resistant) |
| Best For | Homes, offices, light traffic | Garages, industrial, commercial |
| Installation | Usually faster | Multi-step, professional install recommended |
Choosing between a basic epoxy coating and a broadcast floor system ultimately comes down to performance needs, safety requirements, and budget. If your environment demands traction, toughness, and longevity, broadcast sand floors are in a league of their own.
When choosing a base coat for broadcast sand flooring, two of the most common options are epoxy and polyurethane. Both have their strengths, and selecting the right one depends on your project”s specific needs.
Epoxy Base Coat:
Polyurethane Base Coat:
Choosing the Right Base Coat:
For indoor technical rooms, garages, and industrial settings, epoxy is often the preferred choice due to its toughness and affordability. For outdoor applications or areas with strong sunlight exposure, polyurethane provides better longevity and color stability.
Our experts at AD Technology can help you select the optimal base coat for your broadcast sand flooring project based on your specific environment and performance needs.
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