Single vs Double Quartz Broadcast: How Much Aggregate You Need
What separates the two systems, and why "broadcast to refusal" means a specific rate, not a guess.
Single broadcast is one epoxy coat, quartz broadcast to refusal, then a clear topcoat — the standard for most residential and light commercial floors. Double broadcast repeats the whole cycle twice for extra film build and slip resistance, typically for high-traffic commercial or outdoor areas. Either way, “broadcast to refusal” means a specific rate, not a guess — the industry standard is 0.5 lb/ft² (2.44 kg/m²) per coat.
How to read the inputs
Floor Area
- The total area getting the quartz broadcast, in ft² or m²
Broadcast Coats
- Single (one epoxy coat, one broadcast) or double (two full coats, each broadcast to refusal) — double simply doubles the quartz needed
Broadcast Rate & Waste
- Defaults to the 0.5 lb/ft² full-saturation rate, editable to match your product’s TDS, plus a waste allowance for overspray and edges
Bags to Order
- Defaults to a 50 lb bag with common presets — always rounded up to a whole bag
Worked example
A 1,000 ft² floor, single broadcast, at the default 0.5 lb/ft² rate: net quartz = 1,000 × 0.5 = 500 lb. With a 10% waste allowance: 500 × 1.1 = 550 lb total — exactly 11 bags at 50 lb each. Switching to double broadcast would double the net figure to 1,000 lb before waste.
Try it with your own floor
Enter your floor area and choose single or double broadcast — the rate and bag size are both editable.
Full result gives total quartz, net quantity, and bags to order.
Open the live calculator →Common mistakes
- Using a light accent-broadcast rate as if it were the full-saturation rate — 0.5 lb/ft² is specifically the refusal rate, not a light dusting
- Treating double broadcast as one thicker coat with extra quartz instead of two full, separate broadcast cycles
- Not accounting for aggregate size or broadcast technique shifting the actual consumption rate
- Rounding bag count down instead of up — always order the full bag the calculator gives you
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need double broadcast instead of single?
Double broadcast is typically used for high-traffic commercial floors, outdoor areas, or anywhere that needs extra slip resistance and film build. It means two full epoxy coats, each broadcast to refusal — not one thicker coat with extra quartz.
Does "broadcast to refusal" mean exactly 0.5 lb/ft²?
0.5 lb/ft² (2.44 kg/m²) is the typical full-saturation rate for standard broadcast-grade quartz, and the calculator’s default. Actual consumption varies with aggregate size and broadcast technique, so always confirm the rate against your specific product’s data sheet.
What’s the difference between a quartz system and a flake system?
Quartz uses colored sand-like aggregate broadcast to full saturation for a uniform, slip-resistant, commercial-grade texture. Flake uses larger vinyl chips broadcast at a lighter rate for a decorative, less uniform look — different materials, different broadcast rates, different typical markets.
Can I blend quartz colors like a custom flake blend?
Not with this calculator — quartz is normally ordered as a single pre-blended color from the manufacturer rather than custom-blended on site the way flake colors are.