Free Flow Tiles vs Solid? Just dont Get It

[davidless]

I still don’t understand the benefits of a free flow tile vs a solid tile, please help.

Cost? FF cheaper, (+)

Snow and salt from cars? Isn’t it easier to squeegee or broom the melting snow and salt from your solid tile flooring out the door rather that have it melt and go under the tiles and stay on the concrete until you vacuum the tiles and hose to clean the concrete in the Spring? (-)

No standing water with FF (+) but an easy fix with using a push squeegee.

If doing an oil or fluid change on your autos or other toys, again, isn’t it easier to wipe up any spillage on top of the tiles right away rather than allow it to soak through to the concrete? Now you have to prey up the FF tiles and wipe the oil, an extra step IMO. (-)

Small parts dropping through (-)

Appearance wise, FF tiles allow exposed concrete to be somewhat visible. (-)

Not as comfy to walk on as solid (-)

What am I missing?

Thanks for you input

David

 

[BeachBoy]

most garages up north have a drain in the center (mandatory here in Quebec), so it's a no brainer to get FF for snow, it just melts and diseappears.

No one here would squeegee the water out, you'd have to do it every single morning!

 

[Shea]

Are you trying to decide what type to purchase? If so, it sounds like you already made up your mind. Many times the decision is based on looks. Some people just like the look of one tile more than the other.

One thing you did not compare was which tile is easier to keep clean. In that category the FF tile is the clear winner. They show dirt and debris much less than the solid tiles and require less cleaning maintenance. Either tile is nice to walk on as well.

Other than that, the other things you mentioned are valid concerns that could make the difference for you - but maybe not someone else who doesn't work on their car as much or maybe doesn't live in snow country.

Which ever way you go, interlocking tile will make for a very nice garage flooring.

Good luck and have fun with it!

 

[Chris05gto]

If you have floor drains in your floor and you wash your cars in the garage FreeFlow is a must.

 

[davidless]

Hi all
Thanks for the reply’s
No I don’t have floor drains
One thing I thought about while driving to work is the dirt and debris (form keeping my garage open) collecting on the solid tiles where I don’t think that will happen on the FF. Another plus with the FF is that the dirt that does get through you vacuum once a year (as people here do) compared to sweeping and vacuuming the solid tiles once a week because the dirt has nowhere to go.

Just another thought

David

 

[ontcanuck]

easy solution for me solid floor with no drain

 

[ontcanuck]

my shop vac takes away all the water and leaves all the ****, spent about 10 min a week to do that. No **** or water ever gets underneath the tiles.

 

[Ohio Auto]

I've gone back and forth about whether or not to tile my shop. The more I read about it...I think I'm just going to stay with concrete. I wrench in my shop...I spill stuff....waterpumps leak...oil gets spilled...etc...etc.. I wash and detail my cars.

I don't want to spend time vacuuming my floor between the grids or popping tiles to clean.

Too bad because I really like the look of a tiled floor.

 

[dubber]

Sounds like you know the pros and cons, just have to make a decision. Its a no lose, but i vote for FreeFlow!

 

[SteveCh]

There are reasons to choose either style. In my case, I went with FreeFlow where the vehicles are parked and solid where the table saw, etc. are used. I find that, with all the snow and etc. here, the FreeFlows are safer for me because, while any smooth tile will be slippery when wet or dusted with snow, the FreeFlow style is less slippery. I still have to be careful getting out of the car, but before the tiles, I had to be careful due to the slippery concrete. Not much difference. The solid tiles stay wetter longer, obviously.