Free-Flow or TuffShield or Diamond

[Godzilladude]

Hey, new member, down in Houston. I just moved here, new house, and I want to do something with the floor. After lots of reading on here, and my own past experiences, I believe I am going to go with RaceDeck, it's just a matter of picking which tiles, colors and patterns.

The first challenge, which tile. Four car garage, in a weird configuration. Three of the spaces are for cars that will be going in and out every day, the other space will be used as workspace, with toolboxes, workbenches, power saws, etc. I'm thinking since it is all one floor, I'll pick a similar style tile to use throughout.

QUESTION: Any reason I should consider different styles of tiles in different parts of the garage?

I work on the cars on occasion, though mostly smaller projects. But things like motor oil, brake fluid, methanol, etc. may end up on the floor. I also hand-wash all the vehicles, usually outside. Sawdust, bits of pvc, etc., will also be hitting the floor on occasion in the workspace.

Houston is hot and humid, most of the time. Does rain a fair amount. There is virtually never snow here (and when it does snow, the whole city shuts down anyway).

QUESTION: Which type of tile is going to be easier to keep clean, as well as keeping the concrete underneath unstained and clean?

QUESTION: Does anyone have experience with putting some kind of breathable liner (like landscape liner) under the tiles, and does it make it hard to dry when wetted?

QUESTION: How hard is it to pull up a single tile in the middle of the floor?

QUESTION: Does the TuffShield keep that shine even after lots of traffic on it?

QUESTION: What other issues should I be considering in picking which tile?

Thanks much. Slowly I move the project along. I suppose I need to hurry up and post some photos. On the list!

 

[Godzilladude]

AND, what do you guys do with the little step-up at the back of the garage? Mine is about 2"X3', all the way across. Do you tile it as well? What about the face of it?

Thanks.

 

[RaceDeck1]

AND, what do you guys do with the little step-up at the back of the garage? Mine is about 2"X3', all the way across. Do you tile it as well? What about the face of it?

Thanks.

most people I have seen with that set up either paint or carpet to match the garage theme

 

[Shea]

QUESTION: Any reason I should consider different styles of tiles in different parts of the garage?

Free-Flow is great for wet dripping cars and the solid tiles are good if you are worried about spilling or dripping liquids.

QUESTION: Which type of tile is going to be easier to keep clean, as well as keeping the concrete underneath unstained and clean?

Free Flow is the easiest to keep clean but will allow stuff to get on the concrete. The solid tiles will not let most liquids get to the floor but will show the dirt more and require a little more cleaning effort. Not hard though.

QUESTION: Does anyone have experience with putting some kind of breathable liner (like landscape liner) under the tiles, and does it make it hard to dry when wetted?

Yes. RaceDeck tiles breathe and allow airflow underneath. The synthetic landscape liner will dry out and will not smell.

QUESTION: How hard is it to pull up a single tile in the middle of the floor?

Easy. Just use an opener for a paint can to pull it right up.

QUESTION: Does the TuffShield keep that shine even after lots of traffic on it?

In our experience yes, but scratches do stand out much more.

QUESTION: What other issues should I be considering in picking which tile?

Tile expansion from direct sunlight in the hot humid Houston sun. The Free-Flow design handles expansion much better in direct sunlight.

 

[Godzilladude]

Thanks for the responses!

Thankfully, no direct sunlight, the garage opens to the north.

Well, I suppose if I use Free-Flow and spill chemicals, I can pull the relevant tiles, removed the landscape cloth, clean up whatever else, and drop in some fresh cloth and snap it back together.

Think a generic shop vac could pull sawdust, etc., off the floor under the Free-Flow? I may have to think about solid in the workspace, Free-Flow where the cars are.

The Free-Flow is safer to walk on, less slippery when wet?

Thanks again.

 

[David Paul]

Welcome,
I used the FreeFlow through out most of the garage and the solid diamond under the lift area along with landscaping fabric under the whole floor. Having lived with the floor for a couple months, this is what I have found.
The FreeFlow tile is very easy to keep clean.
The solid tile does contain any spills, making for easier clean ups.
The landscaping material dries quickly.
I'm happy with my set up:

 

[RaceDeck1]

Great looking garage!

 

[Godzilladude]

Welcome,
I used the FreeFlow through out most of the garage and the solid diamond under the lift area along with landscaping fabric under the whole floor. Having lived with the floor for a couple months, this is what I have found.
The FreeFlow tile is very easy to keep clean.
The solid tile does contain any spills, making for easier clean ups.
The landscaping material dries quickly.
I'm happy with my set up:

That looks really good!
I cranked up a spreadsheet, so I could create a grid with 3" intervals, to fit all the various weirdness of my garage, make it a lot easier to sort it all out. Also had the wife help pick colors (and hence get her buy-in, ahem). I'm going to remeasure everything one more time, then pull the trigger.

I'll try to remember to set up a project on here, to let everyone see the fun. I really appreciate the feedback, it has been VERY helpful. Thanks!

 

[ontcanuck]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I live in Ontario, Canada and this is my solid snap together PVC floor, easy to put down, durable, water does not penetrate under the tiles, easy to clean, not slippery when wet. My wife's daily driver goes in it year round. I do very little work in the garage except for oil changes and minor engine work and some motorcycle repairs so its a little easier to keep clean.
The downside is that it cost me $ 3700.00 for my 22 X 30 floor but well worth it.
By the way my tiles are Tuff Seal sold by Garage Flooring LLC

 

[Croixboy]

Step #1 order racedeck freeflow
Step #2 put a quick layer of concrete sealer on your floor if desired
Step #3 install Racedeck freeflow
Step #4 crack a beer and enjoy

 

[Godzilladude]

Yeah, I looked at the Tuff Seal, it would indeed hit all the marks easily enough. But dang, it would cost a buck or two. Well worth it, no doubt, but I do have a budget to hit.

Another likely dumb question. What does everyone who tiles do with the facings of raised areas at the back? I have 2" raised areas for the back three feet of the garage. Do I just paint it? What color, matching the tile next to it, or offset to show? I'd be curious to hear what others did that they liked or didn't like.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Step #1 order racedeck freeflow
Step #2 put a quick layer of concrete sealer on your floor if desired
Step #3 install Racedeck freeflow
Step #4 crack a beer and enjoy

we should adopt your instruction manual to ours

 

[Godzilladude]

Tiles have been ordered.

Couple questions:

What do you do with the facings on raised areas? Paint them to try to match the neighboring tile, or go with a complementary color, say one of the other three, to make it show? My inner designer is coming out . . .

When one puts landcaping cloth under the floor, how many layers? One, two, three? That stuff is pretty thin, after all.

Thanks.

 

[dubber]

Tiles have been ordered.

Couple questions:

What do you do with the facings on raised areas? Paint them to try to match the neighboring tile, or go with a complementary color, say one of the other three, to make it show? My inner designer is coming out . . .

When one puts landcaping cloth under the floor, how many layers? One, two, three? That stuff is pretty thin, after all.

Thanks.

To your first question, do you mean the transition between the floor and the wall or at the entrance of your garage? For the transition between the floor and the wall i've just painted about an inch continuation from the footer onto the floor. This helps to hide the transition between floor and wall.

You can see what i mean in this pic.



The result: Hard to tell but under the white painted wall, there is about a two inch cement footer before the wall reaches the floor. I painted this black and you cant tell where the floor ends and the wall starts.

To your second question, i'll have to leave that to someone who went that route. I opted to not use the landscape fabric as i didn't think it was necessary.

 

[Godzilladude]

To your first question, do you mean the transition between the floor and the wall or at the entrance of your garage? For the transition between the floor and the wall i've just painted about an inch continuation from the footer onto the floor. This helps to hide the transition between floor and wall.

You can see what i mean in this pic.



The result: Hard to tell but under the white painted wall, there is about a two inch cement footer before the wall reaches the floor. I painted this black and you cant tell where the floor ends and the wall starts.

To your second question, i'll have to leave that to someone who went that route. I opted to not use the landscape fabric as i didn't think it was necessary.

Thanks Dubber!
No, I mean at the back of the garage, there is are three sections of floor that are raised an inch or two, each of them 3'X10'. So they each have a little vertical face. I am bad enough tripping over them now, I'm a bit concerned painting to hide them.