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Another racedeck question

ManorGarage

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Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
50
Location
Manorville, NY
So I've gone back and forth on what to do with my floor. I really love the look of race deck. I have a 720 sq ft 3 car garage and I'm in Long Island NY and park 2 cars that see the elements daily. I can't figure out if I should go with free flow or with just the plain diamond.

I am fairly convinced with the diamond I can clean it by just using their cleaning solution but with free flow I will end up with trapped dirt and salt where I have to remove the floor in sections every spring.

I don't mind a little maintenance but I'd hate to add to my spring prep list.

What's everyone's thoughts who has race deck? Which is the way to go?


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Garage Flooring

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Joined
May 21, 2011
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5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
So I've gone back and forth on what to do with my floor. I really love the look of race deck. I have a 720 sq ft 3 car garage and I'm in Long Island NY and park 2 cars that see the elements daily. I can't figure out if I should go with free flow or with just the plain diamond.

I am fairly convinced with the diamond I can clean it by just using their cleaning solution but with free flow I will end up with trapped dirt and salt where I have to remove the floor in sections every spring.

I don't mind a little maintenance but I'd hate to add to my spring prep list.

What's everyone's thoughts who has race deck? Which is the way to go?


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In my 600 Sq. Ft detached we are doing Diamond, but that is because it is just a really bad fit for free flow. What it really comes down to is where you want the dirt and moisture.

We have everything installed in the office. In the showroom portion it always looks clean and stays dry. Nothing ever gets trapped. We just shopvac through it.

If you use a creeper often, RD diamond is a good choice. You may find this helpful https://www.garageflooringllc.com/2017/02/20/livestream-differences-garage-floor-tiles-tile-basics/
 
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ManorGarage

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Joined
Apr 8, 2017
Messages
50
Location
Manorville, NY
Thank you that video was helpful in still a bit stumped tho as to the differences between keeping the diamond vs free flow clean. A showroom environment can be controlled and shouldn't get beat on as much from a snow/ice/salt standpoint as en everyday garage. Any input there?

Also what are the pros and cons on the diamond vs say the circle?

Sorry for the "newb" questions just beginning my research as I finally painted my garage this past weekend and ordered some NEWAGE cabinets so now I'm going floor crazy. I'll get pictures up soon


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Garage Flooring

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
5,288
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Thank you that video was helpful in still a bit stumped tho as to the differences between keeping the diamond vs free flow clean. A showroom environment can be controlled and shouldn't get beat on as much from a snow/ice/salt standpoint as en everyday garage. Any input there?

Also what are the pros and cons on the diamond vs say the circle?

Sorry for the "newb" questions just beginning my research as I finally painted my garage this past weekend and ordered some NEWAGE cabinets so now I'm going floor crazy. I'll get pictures up soon


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We did the floors before we finished the walls because of some contractor issues. HUGE mistake. But the free flow always looked clean. Both products are easy to clean, the biggest difference is free flow looks cleaner in-between. Free flow we vac and mop. Diamond usually just mop.

For the most part diamond v circle is an aesthetics thing. I find the coin easier to clean and much easier to roll on. RaceDeck is not your typical diamond, it rolls great. But coin is still better for that.
 

CJDave

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Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
578
Location
Fairfield, Ohio
I've had my 500 sq. ft. of Free Flow down for 2 1/2 years and 3 winters. The **** that falls off her car, winter and summer, just flushes out with a garden hose. No need to pull up the tile. I have a '69 Mustang Mach 1 that I wash several times a year in the garage. The shade of the garage makes that a nicer job. When I'm done with the Mach 1 I squirt the floor. A soft bristled long handled brush using the car wash soap and the floor looks good as new. Good luck. CJ Dave.
 

mikeyr

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Joined
Sep 16, 2005
Messages
1,971
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
the tiles fit so tightly that not a lot of slush will go through. I have the diamond because that is all they made when I first got the floor but also because I do a lot of woodworking in my shop along with metal work, I don't want things to fall through the tiles.
 

James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
I have the diamond as well, I do mostly woodworking. It is easy to sweep up and I do a damp mop whenever it gets a bit dirty, which isn't all that often.
 

CJDave

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Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
578
Location
Fairfield, Ohio
Based on my limited experience, if my intended usage was a lot of woodworking or metal working I would choose one of RaceDeck's solid tiles. I imagine that lots of saw dust and metal filings would require the Free Flow to be shop vac'ed to lift the crud out rather than just using a broom. For my purpose I couldn't be more pleased with my Free Flow but different uses call for different flooring. Dave R.
 

James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
Based on my limited experience, if my intended usage was a lot of woodworking or metal working I would choose one of RaceDeck's solid tiles. I imagine that lots of saw dust and metal filings would require the Free Flow to be shop vac'ed to lift the crud out rather than just using a broom. For my purpose I couldn't be more pleased with my Free Flow but different uses call for different flooring. Dave R.
That's pretty much the way I looked at it too. At times I make a lot of sawdust and wood chips so the solid tiles make it easy to sweep up. I do, however, use a shop vac to clean up in areas where the broom doesn't reach so well.
 

Jetmanflyhigh

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2017
Messages
5
Location
San Francisco Bay area
I went with Diamond pattern RaceDeck 'TuffShield' I use Armor All car wash/wax once a month, for an awesome shine.
 

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Sarki

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Joined
Mar 2, 2010
Messages
225
Location
NY-Lower Hudson Valley
So I've gone back and forth on what to do with my floor. I really love the look of race deck. I have a 720 sq ft 3 car garage and I'm in Long Island NY and park 2 cars that see the elements daily. I can't figure out if I should go with free flow or with just the plain diamond.

I am fairly convinced with the diamond I can clean it by just using their cleaning solution but with free flow I will end up with trapped dirt and salt where I have to remove the floor in sections every spring.

I don't mind a little maintenance but I'd hate to add to my spring prep list.

What's everyone's thoughts who has race deck? Which is the way to go?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I recently installed RaceDeck diamond tiles in my 820 Sq. ft garage. Had them sitting in the boxes they shipped in (18 boxes) for nearly 6 years. Must have moved those dang boxes at least a 1/2 dozen times!
Have to say I love the diamond tiles and they are a breeze to clean and move stuff around.......floor jacks, tool boxes, etc. I park my cars in the garage, perform auto maintenance/repairs and some light woodworking.
No problem at all so far. Give a quick sweep with the broom or fire up the shop vac. Haven't had to use a mop yet but a quick swipe with a damp towel does wonders.
 

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Ol'WhiteCap

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Jan 26, 2016
Messages
134
Location
Henderson, CO
I am a procrastinator, particularly because I can't make up my mind and because I tend to be lazy. I want the perfect floor. Easy to install, never needs to be cleaned, and always looks brand new. I am also a realist and know that floor won't be available until after I put something other down first.
You say to vacuum sawdust etc. with the free flow racedeck. I don't make much sawdust, but I do make some, and don't always clean up right away. What if the sawdust and dirt gets wet, will it vacuum up. Or will I have to pull some tiles up?
With the free flow design, letting rain and snow to flow to and out the garage door. Do the transition pieces allow the water to flow also or does it "dam" up and eventually just evaporate?
I've read that the clicking noise can be lessened by putting landscape fabric under the tiles. Is that only the free flow, or all of the racedeck tiles?
Or do I want to go with an epoxy floor? Like I said, I can't make my mind up.
 

CJDave

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Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
578
Location
Fairfield, Ohio
Ol'WhiteCap, wet sawdust allowed to get wet down in the FreeFlow may not vacuum well. I don't know for sure but my guess is a good stream from a garden hose will wash the saw dust away. I think that most people considering these Race Deck floors fail to realize that there is a series of tabs or nubs on the back(bottom) side of the tiles. This allows dirt, grit, dust, salty slushy ****, etc. to flow under the tiles. I have the beveled edge pieces along the overhead door side of the floor. They also allow the drainage to flow under them and out under the door bottom seal. No pooling. The clicking noise is practically non-existent on my floor. My buddy's Race Deck diamond plate pattern does make more noise than mine. Squeaks more than clicks. We just laid his about 10 months ago and it may quiet some with time. I think that mine makes less noise now than it did 30 months ago when we laid it. Possibly the weight of the cars have caused the tiles to conform to the undulations of the floor, I have no complaints of any kind. One more thing about the beveled edge pieces, I feel, just a feeling no proof, that the edge pieces allow tires to enter the garage with less possibility of the tiles scooting as the tires strike the tiles. I can see where the landscape fabric would lessen the clicking but wouldn't the fabric trap dirt and such thus lessening the ability of the tiles to let moisture flow under the tiles? Seems to me that at least some dirt would be trapped by the fabric. I only swept and scrubbed my garage floor, it had no oil stains or such, and installed the FreeFlow. 20 x 25 and we love it. My neighbor has DIY'ed epoxy on his floor. At least twice as it wears and pisses him off. Numerous horror stories on here about epoxies. The Race Deck is portable, if you move or you can sell it and replace it. Using a floor jack, rolling my tool box, or using jack stands has not been a problem. I do use some plywood scraps under the jack stands due to their bottom design. Some guys worry about creepers. I haven't used any type of creeper but would guess that the old style narrow steel wheels would not roll well on the FreeFlow tiles but the modern urethane or what ever would be fine. Another guess. Hope this helps. Good luck. CJDave.
 
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