Flow through vs solid

[dtoumb]

Hey everyone, new here and about to overhaul by garage. Buying a new truck which has motivated me to get everything else in order. I’m considering something like Racedeck or Swisstrax. I like the looks of the ribbed see through style. However will concrete dust continually stir up? Or does it do a good job at trapping dust? I want to have the garage as my detailing space and want dust at a minimum. Maybe I would be better off with a solid tile to keep concrete dust from the door coming up?

 

[CSRPenFab]

I can't speak to dusting since my 1,000 sq. ft. concrete floor had a sealer applied when the house was built. I do a lot of car detailing and haven't had any dust issues. I've had both the FreeFlow and Solid diamond RaceDeck floors, and personally I like the FreeFlow better for several reasons.

 

[dtoumb]

Thanks for the response, what is you like better on the FreeFlow?

 

[CSRPenFab]

Thanks for the response, what is you like better on the FreeFlow?

My short list:

• Appearance of the tiles
• Zero noise when walking on the open tiles
• Winter slush drains through and doesn't pool on the floor

Since you mentioned car detailing, I've noticed that many detail shops use FreeFlow tiles with no issues. Here in Boise I have "The Rag Company" and their detailing studio where they film lots of videos is full of open tiles. Although they're not FreeFlow, it's a similar brand/style.

 

[Wiz02]

I prefer the look of the solid tiles, and stuff not falling in the openings of the free flow. My Racedeck solid tiles are down close to 20 years and the side that had seen a lot of vehicle maintenance still look OK. Admittedly there are some scuffs and gouges compared to the floor on the other side of the garage which looks brand new.

It's really personal preference.

 

[drx2]

Swisstrax without question for me. Looks great easy to keep clean and no dust. I do a fair amount of detailing with no dust issues. Only cons, and they are minor are 1) kneeling down for a while can be uncomfortable. I just use knee pads if I'll be doing that. 2) sometimes a my cart around can be a pain.

 

[Shea]

Hey everyone, new here and about to overhaul by garage. Buying a new truck which has motivated me to get everything else in order. I’m considering something like Racedeck or Swisstrax. I like the looks of the ribbed see through style. However will concrete dust continually stir up? Or does it do a good job at trapping dust? I want to have the garage as my detailing space and want dust at a minimum. Maybe I would be better off with a solid tile to keep concrete dust from the door coming up?

Do you have a major concrete dusting problem now?

 

[CombatNinja]

If you have issues with your concrete dusting, address it first. Densifier and sealer is not hard to do.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I have solid tiles at home and flow through in my detail shop and my showroom. I LOVE the flow-through tiles. Always look clean, clean right through them. Eliminates most of the expansion and contraction concerns

 

[SJMaye]

Zero noise when walking on the open tiles

I am trying to understand why the free flow tiles would not have the click clack noise of the the solid tiles. Can you explain?

 

[CSRPenFab]

I am trying to understand why the free flow tiles would not have the click clack noise of the the solid tiles. Can you explain?

The open spaces in the tiles simply don’t produce the noise the way the solid tiles do. Having owned both, it’s not a huge deal either way. My prior Diamond tile install had landscaping fabric underneath and that helped with noise, but they still were not as quiet as my current FreeFlow floor.

 

[kngelv]

Your entire foot is on a solid tile while the FreeFlow tiles have less surface area thus less noise. A guy in my sub has solid tiles and they are definitely louder than mine. I don't know if you would notice after a while.


James

 

[SJMaye]

Interesting. Very interesting. I have a shop in my garage. Although I try to contain it, I don't have good dust collection. What do you recommend for situations like mine?

 

[budget76]

Interesting. Very interesting. I have a shop in my garage. Although I try to contain it, I don't have good dust collection. What do you recommend for situations like mine?

for wood or for general shop use?

i've decided in this house most of my wood projects will be done outside. I had a shop setup in the basement and moderate dust collection efforts didn't work. especially that one time you grab the circ saw. I had the shop vac with a dust deputy on a 55gal drum, and one of the WEN airborne dust collectors. still had dust everywhere

for my current garage I may just stick the WEN airborne in a corner to run if I'm grinding and stuff. Other than that, vacuum and leaf blower usually do it for the garage

 

[SJMaye]

for my current garage I may just stick the WEN airborne in a corner to run if I'm grinding and stuff. Other than that, vacuum and leaf blower usually do it for the garage

Do you have the free flow style tiles in that area? If so, is it difficult to keep clean underneath?

 

[CSRPenFab]

Interesting. Very interesting. I have a shop in my garage. Although I try to contain it, I don't have good dust collection. What do you recommend for situations like mine?

In my prior garage, before I went with FreeFlow in the new house, I had all diamond tiles in a pretty busy woodturning shop. I had a ShopFox dust collector for the lathe, but still produced tons of dust. The solid floor was easy to vacuum up. If I was still doing woodwork, I'd go with solid tiles.

 

[SJMaye]

In my prior garage, before I went with FreeFlow in the new house, I had all diamond tiles in a pretty busy woodturning shop. I had a ShopFox dust collector for the lathe, but still produced tons of dust. The solid floor was easy to vacuum up. If I was still doing woodwork, I'd go with solid tiles.

Thanks for that insight. It helps me alot.