Race deck several years later

[dratifk]

Hi
I have a 3 1/2 car garage and I've had Race Deck Now for 3 years. I'm dissappointed on how this product ages. The light color tiles are heavly stained. Not sure how but I can feel crackles under the tiles meaning there are tiny stones that somehow made it under. I have a draining central tile with drain underneath. How are stones getting under the product? Just spent 1 hr scrubbing the tiles with brush and soap and after its all dry tiles kind of look worn.

Considering I spent 2K on this I'm not very happy. Anyone recommend another cleaner which may help with the faded worn look?

 

[84944Redline]

Disappointed to read about your floor. I was really interested in checking the product out. I have a drain as well and one of my biggest concerns is having dirt, sand, and whatever else work its way under through cracks and under tiles. And I sure don't want to spend money on 1K sq. ft. of tile that doesn't look good in a few years. And pulling it all up to clean under isn't my idea of working in the garage. :-/

Can you please post some pictures? Curious to see so others can comment and compare to their tiled floors. And wondering what "light" color you have. I'd expect white to look like **** in time, but figured gray wouldn't dull much or at all.

 

[AndyL]

Can you post some pics? I think there's probably more than a few of us who are interested to see the wear...

 

[Matt M PA]

While I can't comment on RaceDeck tiles, I put SportCourt tiles in my attached garage. Mostly foot traffic and little car traffic as seldom used cars (show cars) are kept in there. I did a gray/black checkerboard pattern. They've been down since 2007 and I'm not happy with the way these are wearing, either.

They're not self destructing by any means...but they do look a bit dull and I hoped they'd look better longer.

 

[lcrabtree]

I seem to remember from somewhere that Race Deck has a cleaner that keeps the shine alive. Anyone know of it or use it?

Lester

 

[84944Redline]

Forgot to ask exactly what type of use the garage floor gets to make it stained?

 

[dratifk]

Here are my original Install Pics.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44323

Clearly the RaceDeck tiles have lost some of there shine and now are slightly dull appearing. The worst tiles are those along the wheel line and those that are light colored. I'll post some pics but I'm niot sure how well I can capture what I'm talking about. The most annoying thing is the poping noise from gravel under the tiles. I may have to remove sections and clean out with pressure washer but boy what a chore.

I think if I had to do it again I would go with this product.

http://www.naturestonefloors.com/

 

[fireman]

My RaceDeck floor is a black and silver checkerboard. It's almost 10 years old and still looks great. It has a few scratches from dragging very heavy items but that's my fault. I use Simple Green to clean them. I couldn't be happier with my RaceDeck floor.

 

[DRP6833]

I think if I had to do it again I would go with this product.

http://www.naturestonefloors.com/

Food for thought...we had a similar product in a courtyard at our last house. First the freeze/thaw cycle was causing sections to lift and crack; those sections had a "hollow sound" when you walked on them. Second, what we didn't realize at the time was that the manufacturer recommended re-coating the stone with an epoxy glaze every year. I'm not sure all manufacturers have the same problem, but we figured that at the cost of re-glazing we could have the concrete removed and replaced with stamped concrete in about five years time!

 

[dratifk]

Does Washington get as much snow as Upstate NY. I don't plan on changing the floor anytime soon. But I need to figure out how gravel is getting under the floor.

 

[mikeyr]

When I pulled up my RaceDeck after 8 years of abuse, there was nothing under it but mostly clean concrete there were some oil stains from under the lift but nothing serious. Moved it to my new house and cleaned it for the first time with the RaceDeck cleaner and the tiles came out looking new except for scratches and weld damage. The RaceDeck cleaner leaves them shiny again which Lacquer Thinner does not and that was my primary cleaning product for 8 years.

 

[240sxguy]

Here are my original Install Pics.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44323

Clearly the RaceDeck tiles have lost some of there shine and now are slightly dull appearing. The worst tiles are those along the wheel line and those that are light colored. I'll post some pics but I'm niot sure how well I can capture what I'm talking about. The most annoying thing is the poping noise from gravel under the tiles. I may have to remove sections and clean out with pressure washer but boy what a chore.

I think if I had to do it again I would go with this product.

http://www.naturestonefloors.com/

We had that stuff around our pool at a house my parents owned. I can't say for sure but after 5 years it still looked great when the house sold. I don't think I would want it in a garage. Good luck finding a dropped bolt on that!

 

[RaceDeck1]

I'm not going to name names but this is a good example of what our Premium Tile will not do!

To BE CLEAR - this is not a RaceDeck product or anything we manufacture.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Again, not naming names...

Again, not RaceDeck or any other product we manufacture. I believe most or all are china imports.

 

[Ryan]

Hey man, I'm not at all cool with manufacturers doing battle on this forum. I provide this joint for the readers - normal folks out to improve their garage experience. "Not naming names" and providing product shots does not help the original poster - and that's the idea here - to HELP folks, not to sell your stuff.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Jorgen and I are not doing battle. We both agree that cheap imitations are what is destroying this industry. I was posting photos to show what our products would not do. I am intentionally not naming names to avoid doing battle.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Hey man, I'm not at all cool with manufacturers doing battle on this forum. I provide this joint for the readers - normal folks out to improve their garage experience. "Not naming names" and providing product shots does not help the original poster - and that's the idea here - to HELP folks, not to sell your stuff.

Agreed

 

[84944Redline]

I think people are always looking for pictures. We can say and describe the same thing in so many different ways. A valid picture let's us all have a starting point to comment and question.

"Looks like ****" to one person may be "Been holdin' up pretty well" to another.

 

[Ryan]

Jorgen and I are not doing battle. We both agree that cheap imitations are what is destroying this industry. I was posting photos to show what our products would not do. I am intentionally not naming names to avoid doing battle.

You are not attempting to help anybody. That's the point.

In either case, you are done doing that kind of thing. If you are here to help folks, great... If not, please don't use my forum.

 

[Garage Flooring]

You are not attempting to help anybody. That's the point.

In either case, you are done doing that kind of thing. If you are here to help folks, great... If not, please don't use my forum.

WOW Ryan. I'm sorry. I truly was trying to be helpful. I have deleted the images and the posts all together.

 

[Gottspd]

Hey there. Getting back on track... My RD floor has lost its shine so I called them and they suggested I use their maintainer product. I will give it a go and report back.

 

[NitroPress]

Forgot to ask exactly what type of use the garage floor gets to make it stained?

Not parking meticulously maintained collector's cars on it comes to mind.

 

[mikeyr]

Hey there. Getting back on track... My RD floor has lost its shine so I called them and they suggested I use their maintainer product. I will give it a go and report back.

It works really well, I was surprised at how well it worked.

 

[slickgt1]

And another reason why I recommend porcelain tile all the time.

 

[drmarkr]

How much does the commercial cleaning kit cost?? Is that what you guys are crowing about working so good??

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Here are my original Install Pics.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44323

Clearly the RaceDeck tiles have lost some of there shine and now are slightly dull appearing. The worst tiles are those along the wheel line and those that are light colored. I'll post some pics but I'm niot sure how well I can capture what I'm talking about. The most annoying thing is the poping noise from gravel under the tiles. I may have to remove sections and clean out with pressure washer but boy what a chore.

I think if I had to do it again I would go with this product.

http://www.naturestonefloors.com/

We offer the binders that are used to make these river rock floors and I will tell you they are NOT for garages. Good for patios, pool surrounds, walks and maybe the odd interior room.

 

[dratifk]

OK I will post Pics tonight using my DSLR. YOu are right with looks like **** to one person looks ok to others. As I have stated most of the tile look ok except for those where the cars park.

In bay one is a Porsche Pamera Twin Turbo
In bay two is a Mercedes GL350 SUV
In bay Three is a CHEVY VOLT

The worst looking tiles are in bay 2 this may be since that is the heaviest Vehicle. Also, in Rochester we get allot of snow. The solution may be to just replace the silver colored tiles with charcole colored ones. I still have to spend hours to remove the floor in sections to get the stones out from underneath. The only way they could have gotten underneath is from the center tile which has a drain. Maybe when I wash the water backs up under the floor and takes stones with it.

Everyone is right Pics are very important. I have scrubbed the entire floor with a brush and soap.

 

[dratifk]

Some Pics:

OK Rust stain I can't get out despite Using Simply Green Cleaner.

The Tire tracks of course can be removed but the dullness and pitting can't. The Second Pic shows what I'm talking about the best. Ignore the tire marks.

The other thing I noticed is the salt between the tiles is super hard to get out. Maybe I need a industrial cleaner and I'm willing to give it a shot.

I will clean it again over the weekend and Post more Pics in the daylight right after It drys.

 

[bams50]

Could it be you are just being unrealistic about what this type of flooring can do? I got a tile sample since I'm looking at these types of flooring and while they look pretty durable they are after all just plastic! Basic common sense tells us there will be limitations. It's never going to be as durable as concrete; so it's unfair to expect it to perform like it.

I know the companies say you can work on it, and drive on it, and even stand a lift on it, but to me that's unrealistic. It's like expecting surgical gloves to protect as well as welding gloves- ain' gonna happen!

I want it for my showroom area. It will store cars, but they will be gently and carefully moved in there. If I need to jack one up there will be plywood or something under the jack. And if there's any possibility of fluid leak, there will be a mat. My reasons for wanting it is for ease of design and installation, and for something more than concrete to walk on. Also, it will be easy to change design as desired.

But for the shop, where work will be happening, and cars will be moving in and out frequently, no question it will be concrete; only decision is what coating it will start with.

Regardless of what claims we may hear, it's just unrealistic to expect plastic to perform as well as concrete; that's just common sense. That's not the fault of the product.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Cou
Regardless of what claims we may hear, it's just unrealistic to expect plastic to perform as well as concrete; that's just common sense. That's not the fault of the product.

IMHO the "fault" is in the claims of the sellers that this product can take nearly anything and still maintain shape and appearance. As you said, it is plastic (simplified), and as such simply cannot be that tough! Hell, even concrete stains, chips, discolors and otherwise does not last forever.

Jim

 

[dratifk]

Maybe I am being unrealistic. But isn't this what this forum is for discussing ideas/problems and helping others make a decision. I'm sure I can get it to look better with a better cleaner/changing a few tiles. However, Concrete can't be changed so quickly. All products have their negatives.

 

[84944Redline]

I'm in agreement with those who have commented (and those who are thinking) that because the product is "plastic" (I'm repeating the use of that as a general term, so please do not take offense), it just doesn't make sense that it can hold up to heavy use. Then again, we see manufacturers' statements leading consumers to have high expectations about performance. My concern about sand being drug in during the winter months and scratching/pitting the tiles just seems to be side-stepped when I've reached out to manufacturers. I don't want to hear "it will hold up" to salt and snow. I want to hear it'll get scratched and pitted to the point it will be noticeable, which - yes - is more of a cosmetic than performance issue. And at what point, if any, does that become a warranty claim?

It's all about detailed information. Sure, it may look great from 20 feet away, but I want to see what it looks like from 2 feet away. And the gaps/seams between tiles - things have to work their way through and at some point get trapped in the channels leading to a drain. Sand, grass clippings, small leaves, or whatever does not just flow through freely like water.

This forum is great, and there are countless members with great knowledge and experiences. I look to everyone for their individual opinions and experiences so that I can make my best educated decisions. And as I take on and complete projects, I'll share with everyone so maybe someone else can use that in making their decisions.

This form has seen feedback that RaceDeck has proven over and over that it's a great flooring solution. Not only that, but the service is commendable. The OP didn't say anything bad about the other areas of his garage - so it appears he's happy with how the product has performed there, correct? And who knows how the tire path areas will look like once a maintainer product - maybe it'll restore the tiles back to show minimal wear?

For the issues of salt between the cracks being difficult to clean, and the sand particles working underneath the tiles and causing extra noise when walking over - maybe it all comes down to cleaning and maintenance? Clean the salt with "X" product and pull up tiles to sweep,vacuum,hose, or whatever. Fixes, yes, but have people been aware and have the expectations that they may need to pull up how many square feet of tiles every so often to do so? That's valid enough for some to sway their decision.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Hi
Since the first we learned of this customer having an issue with his RaceDeck floor was on this thread, I directly contacted Draftik to help get his floor cleaned and restore any new flooring luster due to dirt, sand, mud, salt etc being ground into the floor over the years. As with all of our customers, we will go the extra mile to keep them happy in their garage

RaceDeck is extremely durable, easy to install & remove and can take a lot of abuse. But no floor is a cure all or miracle floor. - Concrete stains, cracks, chips, and hard to clean - VCT tiles can stain under tires, glues comes lose, difficult to repair etc, - Epoxy , can stain and chip, making for difficult repairs.. all of the above floors need to be cleaned somewhat regular ( except our freeflow ) The good news is that there is are many choices for everyone and you can choose what is best for your garage.

 

[dratifk]

One thing I can admit is RaceDeck Stands behind their product and have incredible customer service. I will use the Cleaner they are recommending and repost Pics after Cleaning. I guess what I have learned is that no product is Maint Free. I'll have to put the time in to get the product to look better.

 

[Doktor Schnell]

Looking to see how this cleans up with their in-house cleaner. My floor looks much like yours. I've put off purchasing the special cleaner (I've got Racedeck that's about 3 yrs old), but have tried numerous off the shelf products including acrylic floor without really satisfactory results.
I noticed you're getting whitish mineral buildup between tiles too. Hopefully the maintenance cleaner will take care of all that.
I do like my racedeck!

 

[Doktor Schnell]

I thought I'd post these pics.
The first shows the white mineral buildup. Somebody said salt...probably right, but I didn't taste it. ;-)
The second shows some discoloration of white tiles from cleaning. Last autumn I cleaned the whole floor with paint thinner, which seemed to work pretty well. The next day, I noticed that some of the paint thinner that had apparently gotten down in the cracks had come back up and stained the tiles. Now, I can't get the stain off.

 

[danieldolin]

subscribed... waiting to see the results of the maintainer treatment. How much are the cleaners? Is it the entire kit or do you purchase each seperate. And how long do they last (shelf life)? Those big jugs (look like gallon size) are going to sit quite a while on the shelf for the normal home garage unless you are mopping your floor every night. Instructions say to add 2 oz per gallon of water, so a normal size bucket is only going to be about 6-8oz of chemical. That means about 20 applications for a gallon jug.

 

[SiGmA_X]

I feel like those stains just require more cleaning product. I'd love see the cleaned up pictures. I have never considered Racedeck for myself or at least my main shop space as I know I would not be happy with the performance - I abuse my floor surface, and I don't want to have to consider being nice to it. However I have considered it for show areas or perhaps a daily driver garage, and from what I'm seeing in this thread, that could make or break it for a daily driver garage for me.

OP, the abrasions you see, are those from studs??

 

[RaceDeck1]

Ok ... Most of you know we have a long history of standing behind our products and always try to provide the best customer service possible , whether there is a real warranty issue or not..we want to make the customer happy and a lifetime customer.
Our floors are extremely durable and with just some basic periodic cleaning, they will last for years and years in the garage enviroment...They will not clean themselves, they are not made to weld on them and they are not 'bullet proof". We have 1000's of commercial garages that have RaceDeck, which take more abuse in 1 month than most dues in a year or more. As with 'any' floor, if you want it to look clean and not have gravel grind into the surface over the years, you need to clean it every now and then

Every type of floor has their +'s and -'s and we believe that our provides the best there is in modular flooring. I am not going to bash other types of flooring or brands.

If you have questions on how to clean your floor, or have any issue at all we would love to get an email from you. [email protected] / [email protected]

Below are some examples of commercial garages using RaceDeck

 

[danieldolin]

Ok ... Most of you know we have a long history of standing behind our products and always try to provide the best customer service possible , whether there is a real warranty issue or not..we want to make the customer happy and a lifetime customer.
Our floors are extremely durable and with just some basic periodic cleaning, they will last for years and years in the garage enviroment...They will not clean themselves, they are not made to weld on them and they are not 'bullet proof". We have 1000's of commercial garages that have RaceDeck, which take more abuse in 1 month than most dues in a year or more. As with 'any' floor, if you want it to look clean and not have gravel grind into the surface over the years, you need to clean it every now and then

Every type of floor has their +'s and -'s and we believe that our provides the best there is in modular flooring. I am not going to bash other types of flooring or brands.

If you have questions on how to clean your floor, or have any issue at all we would love to get an email from you. [email protected] / [email protected]

Below are some examples of commercial garages using RaceDeck

I am convinced that a company that stands behind thier product is a company worth doing business with. I have read many posts here on GJ where you go above and beyond to make the customer happy with any complaint or issue, even if the customer was at fault. I will be placing my order for Racedeck flooring in the next few weeks when I finalize my plans. For these same reasons, I will be purchasing my 4 post lift from Bendpak.

My interest in this thread is to see if your cleaning products are necessary or if regular cleaning with something like carwash soap and a mop will be sufficient. I was interested to see the results of the maintainer product on an older floor that was not kept clean to see if it is worth purchasing as well. All of the garages on the RD website look amazing, but they are all new installations. Not too many pictures floating around of what the floor looks like in 5 years. That is why I subscribed to this thread, wanted to see the before and after pics from the use of the maintainer product / cleaner.

Floors get dirty, especially garage floors. Tires drive on roads and roads are dirty, then they drive into the garage... simple as that. I am not expecting the floor to look clean unless I clean it. My question is simply if your cleaning product is necessary, and if not for regular cleaning will it bring an older faded looking floor back to life.