garage floor tile decision time

[firemailwv]

Ok folks,

The time is nearing for me to make a final decision about what type of flooring to use in my 1150 sq ft garage.

I have purchased three full kits of epoxycoat, but to be honest - the prep work and the amount of time that I would need to be out of my garage in order to do the job the way I want it (perfect) is just not feasible in my climate or my life schedule.

So... I have decided to go with a tile. I had initially planned on going with Ribtrax. But lately, the more I review, I am leaning towards RaceDeck or one of Snaplock's brands. The change in preference really came to light when I found out that you cannot commingle solid tiles with the RibTrax. My designs involve using a drainage tile under the three vehicle parking spots with solid tiles on the perimeter and in my 19x11 workshop section that seperates my garage into three sections. Two bays, the workshop and then the third bay.

I am still mixed as to use the mixed tiles or just go with all drainage tiles. My concerns with the drainage tile in my workshop area is having things fall into the tiles and just simply get gunked up under the tiles. With the solid tiles, I can just simply sweep it up like I do my concrete.

So if some of you can give me your experience with full drainage tiles in your garage - the pros and cons I would be very appreciative. And if I go full drainage, that puts Ribtrax back on the playing field. Which is better? Ribtrax or Freeflow? And why is it better?

The next thing I need help in making a decision is whether or not it worth the additional cost to install RaceDeck Diamond over the GarageTrac. I see the difference in the tread and the weight rating difference. I would love to save a good bit of money; but not if I will be disappointed in the product and kick myself in the rear for sacrificing quality for dollars.

So at the end of the day - the decisions I need to make are

1. Full drainage or mixed tiles?
2. If Full drainage - Ribtrax or Freeflow?
3. If mixed I will be using Freeflow and either RaceDeck Diamond or garageTrac. Which one? (approximately a $500 difference in price between the two)

thanks guys -

Looking forward to seeing your responses.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Ok folks,

The time is nearing for me to make a final decision about what type of flooring to use in my 1150 sq ft garage.

I have purchased three full kits of epoxycoat, but to be honest - the prep work and the amount of time that I would need to be out of my garage in order to do the job the way I want it (perfect) is just not feasible in my climate or my life schedule.

So... I have decided to go with a tile. I had initially planned on going with Ribtrax. But lately, the more I review, I am leaning towards RaceDeck or one of Snaplock's brands. The change in preference really came to light when I found out that you cannot commingle solid tiles with the RibTrax. My designs involve using a drainage tile under the three vehicle parking spots with solid tiles on the perimeter and in my 19x11 workshop section that seperates my garage into three sections. Two bays, the workshop and then the third bay.

I am still mixed as to use the mixed tiles or just go with all drainage tiles. My concerns with the drainage tile in my workshop area is having things fall into the tiles and just simply get gunked up under the tiles. With the solid tiles, I can just simply sweep it up like I do my concrete.

So if some of you can give me your experience with full drainage tiles in your garage - the pros and cons I would be very appreciative. And if I go full drainage, that puts Ribtrax back on the playing field. Which is better? Ribtrax or Freeflow? And why is it better?

The next thing I need help in making a decision is whether or not it worth the additional cost to install RaceDeck Diamond over the GarageTrac. I see the difference in the tread and the weight rating difference. I would love to save a good bit of money; but not if I will be disappointed in the product and kick myself in the rear for sacrificing quality for dollars.

So at the end of the day - the decisions I need to make are

1. Full drainage or mixed tiles?
2. If Full drainage - Ribtrax or Freeflow?
3. If mixed I will be using Freeflow and either RaceDeck Diamond or garageTrac. Which one? (approximately a $500 difference in price between the two)

thanks guys -

Looking forward to seeing your responses.

IMHO going partial drainage does not make sense. Having the ability to mix and match them is a great sales tool, and we do have products you can do it with, but it creates an issue. You pull into your garage on a wet winter day. The road salts fall off and the snow starts to melt. It takes the road salts and dirt with it and runs under the solid tiles. How do you clean it? When you have all drain (Like Ribtrax or TrueLock Plus Ribbed) yo can power wash or hose through it (if you can do so safely without worrying about drywall.) You can also use a shop vac through it.

Not to ruffle anyone's feathers, but not knowing where you live, I also worry about expansion and contraction because drain tiles and solid tiles can expand and contract at different rates.

Solid Vs Drain There are great arguments on both sides. If the most important thing to you is having an attractive, clean floor that you do not need to worry about AND not having an issue with standing water, ribbed is the way to go.

If you would prefer to keep as much of the gunk off your concrete at possible and have a textured surface, than go solid. Just keep in mind that Polypropylene tiles always let some moisture and dissolved solids through.

What's better? Whatever the person responding to you sells or has in their garage In all seriousness the only big advantage I see with the TrueLock Plus or Ribtrax product is they are 3/4" thick instead of 1/2" so they actually keep you out of the water AND the 6 locks.
I can't help you on three

Not to give you one more thing to think about but this clearance ribbed tile is a heck of a deal. http://bit.ly/1ug41Az

 

[firemailwv]

IMHO going partial drainage does not make sense. Having the ability to mix and match them is a great sales tool, and we do have products you can do it with, but it creates an issue. You pull into your garage on a wet winter day. The road salts fall off and the snow starts to melt. It takes the road salts and dirt with it and runs under the solid tiles. How do you clean it? When you have all drain (Like Ribtrax or TrueLock Plus Ribbed) yo can power wash or hose through it (if you can do so safely without worrying about drywall.) You can also use a shop vac through it.

Not to ruffle anyone's feathers, but not knowing where you live, I also worry about expansion and contraction because drain tiles and solid tiles can expand and contract at different rates.

Solid Vs Drain There are great arguments on both sides. If the most important thing to you is having an attractive, clean floor that you do not need to worry about AND not having an issue with standing water, ribbed is the way to go.

If you would prefer to keep as much of the gunk off your concrete at possible and have a textured surface, than go solid. Just keep in mind that Polypropylene tiles always let some moisture and dissolved solids through.

What's better? Whatever the person responding to you sells or has in their garage In all seriousness the only big advantage I see with the TrueLock Plus or Ribtrax product is they are 3/4" thick instead of 1/2" so they actually keep you out of the water AND the 6 locks.
I can't help you on three

Not to give you one more thing to think about but this clearance ribbed tile is a heck of a deal. http://bit.ly/1ug41Az

Great points and exactly the type of info I am looking for. I actually have a drain in both parking bays with the concrete finished with an ever so slight drainage slope. Anything the drips will by design, remain under the ribbed tile and flow to the drain. The solid tiles would only by in my workshop area and perimeters. I had not given a thought to the expansion issue of having both styles of tiles. My garage has HVAC, but I still get some fluctuation in temps out there based on the outdoor temps and of course the concrete changes temps with the seasons, but not to a large degree. I live in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. So we definitely experience four distinct seasons. (Deer/Football season, Winter, Spring and Highway Construction season)

I would not be happy with having all black, but that is a very good deal on those tiles you suggested.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Great points and exactly the type of info I am looking for. I actually have a drain in both parking bays with the concrete finished with an ever so slight drainage slope. Anything the drips will by design, remain under the ribbed tile and flow to the drain. The solid tiles would only by in my workshop area and perimeters. I had not given a thought to the expansion issue of having both styles of tiles. My garage has HVAC, but I still get some fluctuation in temps out there based on the outdoor temps and of course the concrete changes temps with the seasons, but not to a large degree. I live in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. So we definitely experience four distinct seasons. (Deer/Football season, Winter, Spring and Highway Construction season)

I would not be happy with having all black, but that is a very good deal on those tiles you suggested.

You can mix them with the regular ribbed, the special price is only on the black.

If you are running HVAC in the garage expansion and contraction should not be a major issue UNLESS you work with the bay door open

 

[RaceDeck1]

Ok folks,

The time is nearing for me to make a final decision about what type of flooring to use in my 1150 sq ft garage.

So... I have decided to go with a tile. I had initially planned on going with Ribtrax. But lately, the more I review, I am leaning towards RaceDeck or one of Snaplock's brands. The change in preference really came to light when I found out that you cannot commingle solid tiles with the RibTrax. .........
I am still mixed as to use the mixed tiles or just go with all drainage tiles. My concerns with the drainage tile in my workshop area is having things fall into the tiles and just simply get gunked up under the tiles. With the solid tiles, I can just simply sweep it up like I do my concrete.

So if some of you can give me your experience with full drainage tiles in your garage - the pros and cons I would be very appreciative. And if I go full drainage, that puts Ribtrax back on the playing field. Which is better? Ribtrax or Freeflow? And why is it better?

The next thing I need help in making a decision is whether or not it worth the additional cost to install RaceDeck Diamond over the GarageTrac. I see the difference in the tread and the weight rating difference. I would love to save a good bit of money; but not if I will be disappointed in the product and kick myself in the rear for sacrificing quality for dollars.

So at the end of the day - the decisions I need to make are

1. Full drainage or mixed tiles?
2. If Full drainage - Ribtrax or Freeflow?
3. If mixed I will be using Freeflow and either RaceDeck Diamond or garageTrac. Which one? (approximately a $500 difference in price between the two)

thanks guys -

Looking forward to seeing your responses.

Hello -
Thank you for your interest in RaceDeck... I will try to answer some of your questions and concerns for your garage.

We engineered our RaceDeck garage flooring systems to have the ability of all styles interlock with one another for both design options and function. From what you are describing, the ability to interlock our Diamond Tread and FreeFlow Rib style garage flooring ( only possible with RaceDeck) is exactly why we engineered our system this way.

here are some examples

 

[firemailwv]

Thanks for the response and photos. I received a quote from SwissTrax today and that made some of the decisions a little easier for me.

 

[LivHrd]

Jump over to the thread regarding the flooring poll. I just put in a long opinion on my usage of a tile floor. Check it out.