Underlayment under tiles? Seeking advice

[kram71]

My friend was telling me to go with epoxy because tiles are too noisy but I like the thought of tiles.

Did you put anything under your tiles for noise?

If so what do you recommend and where did you buy it?

Will it get soggy from liquids?

Edit: Also how thick should it be?

 

[benwah]

Well first off, what tiles do you plan on using?

 

[kram71]

Well first off, what tiles do you plan on using?

Probably the coin style. I'm waiting on samples before choosing a brand.

 

[CJDave]

I have 500 sf of RaceDeck Free Flow and after 5 years I still have no regrets. I used NO underlayment and there was a slight clicking noise at first but after some time that stopped. Seems like the tiles took a set to the slight contour variations of the concrete floor. Maybe after the cars rolling across the floor? I live in sw Ohio and the rain, snow, ice, slush, grit and whatever else her daily driver drags in just goes thru the slots and oozes under the tiles to the overhead door opening. This style tile allows me to wash my classic Mustang in the shade of the garage. The tiles are easily cleaned. I'm curious if the smoothness of the concrete dictates the amount of clicking. Good luck. CJDave.

 

[kram71]

I have 500 sf of RaceDeck Free Flow and after 5 years I still have no regrets. I used NO underlayment and there was a slight clicking noise at first but after some time that stopped. Seems like the tiles took a set to the slight contour variations of the concrete floor. Maybe after the cars rolling across the floor? I live in sw Ohio and the rain, snow, ice, slush, grit and whatever else her daily driver drags in just goes thru the slots and oozes under the tiles to the overhead door opening. This style tile allows me to wash my classic Mustang in the shade of the garage. The tiles are easily cleaned. I'm curious if the smoothness of the concrete dictates the amount of clicking. Good luck. CJDave.

Thanks Dave. I have been doing some searches on this board. Some folks say they did not need any underlayment. Others regretted not using it. If I can buy some for $50 or less I think it will be worth it but I'd like to find out what kind to buy for sure.

 

[Garage Flooring]

My friend was telling me to go with epoxy because tiles are too noisy but I like the thought of tiles.

Did you put anything under your tiles for noise?

If so what do you recommend and where did you buy it?

Will it get soggy from liquids?

Edit: Also how thick should it be?

Open tiles such as free flow. NO
Solid tiles: I used landscape fabric -- weed barrier

 

[kram71]

Open tiles such as free flow. NO
Solid tiles: I used landscape fabric -- weed barrier

Do you have a suggestion on brand? Thickness? Where to buy?

As we are speaking I'm looking at your tiles.

 

[66HertzClone]

I installed the RaceDeck coin top in my garage, I used this product under the tiles. In my previous garage I didn't use the cloth and was sorry I had not.

 

[kram71]

I installed the RaceDeck coin top in my garage, I used this product under the tiles. In my previous garage I didn't use the cloth and was sorry I had not.

Thank you so much for posting the product. I have seen many people speak of it but very few links to the actual choices.

 

[Garage Flooring]

any weed barrier

 

[kram71]

any weed barrier

Well that makes it easier. I thought thickness might matter. Ditto type of material.

 

[RaceDeck1]

...most people do not put anything under RaceDeck solid topped garage flooring, but if you do... We recommend a thin synthetic landscape type material that allows the sub floor to breath

 

[CJDave]

I installed the RaceDeck coin top in my garage, I used this product under the tiles. In my previous garage I didn't use the cloth and was sorry I had not.

66HertzClone, why were you sorry for not using the cloth in your first install? CJDave.

 

[kram71]

...most people do not put anything under RaceDeck solid topped garage flooring, but if you do... We recommend a thin synthetic landscape type material that allows the sub floor to breath

Thank you but thin is a relative term that is why I was looking for either a specific product or a thickness.

 

[66HertzClone]

66HertzClone, why were you sorry for not using the cloth in your first install? CJDave.

It was noisy, a definite clomp like noise with each footstep. It was annoying, it may have been because the concrete did not have a super smooth service, which allowed some air space across the underside of the tiles.

 

[CJDave]

66HertzClone, as I said above, mine did have a slight noise at first but with time and wear that disappeared. Guess I was just lucky. Your floor looks great. CJDave.

 

[yeldogt]

It was noisy, a definite clomp like noise with each footstep. It was annoying, it may have been because the concrete did not have a super smooth service, which allowed some air space across the underside of the tiles.

Why did you mix tile types -- are not some open? I keep going back and forth on what I want to do in my garage.

 

[CJDave]

The tiles come in solid and open types allowing for tailoring the floors to fit your needs. RaceDecks tiles all interlock with each other so you can use solid and open tiles within the same floor. I chose to use all Free Flow tiles in my garage. CJDave.

 

[66HertzClone]

Why did you mix tile types -- are not some open? I keep going back and forth on what I want to do in my garage.

Take a look at the photo of my floor, I put the Free Flow tiles where the tires of my daily driver rest when the car is parked. Then one days like this when I return home with snow on the wheels and packed in the wheel wells the melting snow drips into those tiles. I have a 2 foot wide by 3 foot long area for the tires.

 

[yeldogt]

Take a look at the photo of my floor, I put the Free Flow tiles where the tires of my daily driver rest when the car is parked. Then one days like this when I return home with snow on the wheels and packed in the wheel wells the melting snow drips into those tiles. I have a 2 foot wide by 3 foot long area for the tires.

I see -- and you have the fabric under that area .... I assume the water just evaporates eventually?

That's always been my concern w/ tiles .... you can hose things out the same as concrete.

 

[SteveCh]

I have a mixture of solid and Freeflow RD in my garage and workshop. Never a bit of "clacking" or noise. No underlayment, just tile atop bare concrete.

 

[66HertzClone]

I see -- and you have the fabric under that area .... I assume the water just evaporates eventually?

That's always been my concern w/ tiles .... you can hose things out the same as concrete.

Yes I left the fabric in place, my thoughts were that it would help with getting any liquids to evaporate quicker as it would be less likely to migrate under the adjacent tiles. They are easy to pop out, so if/when it gets looking sloppy I can do that.

 

[nealric]

I installed some landscaping fabric from Home Depot. A pretty easy step, and the tiles are silent despite some unevenness in the concrete.

 

[kram71]

I installed some landscaping fabric from Home Depot. A pretty easy step, and the tiles are silent despite some unevenness in the concrete.

That is good. I figure it might even help if a tiny drop of oil gets through the tile. Care to give us a link to what you used?

 

[nealric]

That is good. I figure it might even help if a tiny drop of oil gets through the tile. Care to give us a link to what you used?

This stuff:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-...Hho7FPiTWUEzqnvLNdBoC5kwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi
Solid PCV tiles such as our www.supratile.com are super quiet and do NOT require any underlayment fabric and such. The joints are virtually watertight.

 

[kram71]

This stuff:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-...Hho7FPiTWUEzqnvLNdBoC5kwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thank you. I have occasional very small oil drops so this has been on my mind. I will put down something like you put down. In the meantime I'm going to pour some water on my sample tiles to have some idea how much gets through.

 

[AJG]

Open tiles such as free flow. NO
Solid tiles: I used landscape fabric -- weed barrier

Why do you say no for open tiles and yes for solid tiles?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I JUST installed my True Lock HD free flow tiles (same thing/manufacturer as Race Deck) yesterday and put nothing down before placing them. Doesn't make a sound.

In SoCal there is no snow, barely any rain and even if there is my '55 Chevy truck isn't going out in it so drips aren't a consideration. I specifically did it to avoid the noise others have complained about.

 

[kram71]

I JUST installed my True Lock HD free flow tiles (same thing/manufacturer as Race Deck) yesterday and put nothing down before placing them. Doesn't make a sound.

In SoCal there is no snow, barely any rain and even if there is my '55 Chevy truck isn't going out in it so drips aren't a consideration. I specifically did it to avoid the noise others have complained about.

With the good barrier I bought from Amazon under my solid tile I barely notice any noise. In fact if I hear anything out of norm that you would hear anywhere it is unusual.