Full Broadcast vs. Random Broadcast Garage Floor Coatings
We are often asked, “What is the difference between a full broadcast garage floor coating and a random broadcast floor?”
There are a couple of key differences, including the amount of flake used, the installation process, cost, and overall durability.
What Is a Full Broadcast Floor?
With a full broadcast floor, the goal is to completely cover the base coat with decorative flake.
The flake is broadcast until the floor reaches what is called rejection, meaning you continue adding flake until you can no longer see the coating underneath.
Once the coating has cured, the excess flake is scraped or sanded to remove loose pieces and smooth the surface. A clear topcoat is then applied, typically followed by a second clear coat.
The result is a floor where the decorative flake covers essentially the entire surface. When you look at the finished floor, you primarily see the flake rather than the base coat.
For example, on a 600-square-foot garage floor, a full broadcast system may use approximately 100 pounds of decorative flake.
What Is a Random Broadcast Floor?
A random broadcast floor uses considerably less flake.
Instead of covering the entire base coat, the flake is broadcast across the floor at a lighter coverage rate. This leaves portions of the base coating visible between the flakes.
For the same 600-square-foot garage, you might use around 6 pounds of flake with a random broadcast system.
The finished appearance is noticeably different. With a random broadcast floor, you see more of the base coat, with the decorative flake spread throughout the floor.
Neither appearance is necessarily better. It really comes down to the look you want and the type of floor you are installing.
Is a Full Broadcast Floor Harder to Install?
A full broadcast floor is definitely more time consuming, but I would not necessarily call it harder.
One advantage of a full broadcast system is that you don’t have to figure out exactly how much flake to put down in each area.
You keep broadcasting until the base coat is covered.
Random broadcast requires a little more control. You are trying to achieve a consistent amount of flake across the floor without overdoing it in one area and leaving another area too bare.
That takes some experience and a little more attention during installation.
Full Broadcast Uses More Material
This is one of the biggest differences between the two systems.
A full broadcast floor requires considerably more decorative flake. It also typically requires an additional clear topcoat.
That adds material cost as well as labor.
There is also a practical consideration that doesn’t always get discussed: shipping.
Decorative flake is bulky and heavy.
Using approximately 100 pounds of flake instead of 6 pounds makes a significant difference when you are purchasing and shipping materials for a project.
That additional material is one of the reasons a full broadcast floor generally costs more than a random broadcast floor.
Is a Full Broadcast Floor More Durable?
Generally, yes.
Because a full broadcast system uses more flake and typically has an additional clear topcoat, it provides more protection and creates a thicker overall system.
That does not mean a random broadcast floor is not durable.
With the right products and proper surface preparation, a random broadcast floor can work very well in a typical residential garage.
For many homeowners, either system will provide a significant improvement over bare concrete.
Which One Should You Choose?
It really depends on what you want from the floor.
A full broadcast floor is a good choice if you want:
- A heavier flake appearance
- Maximum flake coverage
- A thicker coating system
- Additional durability
- A more premium finished floor
A random broadcast floor may be a better choice if you want:
- Less flake
- More of the base coating showing through
- A different overall appearance
- Lower material costs
- A simpler, more economical coating system
There is no reason to choose a full broadcast system simply because it uses more material.
If you are coating a typical residential garage, a properly installed random broadcast system using quality products can provide excellent results.
On the other hand, if you want the look and additional durability of a full broadcast floor, the extra material and labor can be well worth it.
The Bottom Line
The biggest difference between full broadcast and random broadcast is really how much flake you use and how much of the base coat you want to see.
A full broadcast floor is covered with flake until the base coat is no longer visible. The excess flake is then removed and the floor is typically finished with two clear coats.
A random broadcast floor uses much less flake, leaving some of the base coating visible.
For a 600-square-foot garage, that could mean roughly 100 pounds of flake for a full broadcast system compared with around 6 pounds for a random broadcast system.
Full broadcast systems cost more and take more material to install, but they also provide a more heavily built coating system.
For the average residential garage, however, both systems can be excellent choices when they are installed correctly with the right products.
The important thing is choosing the system that fits the look, budget, and intended use of the garage.
