High Traffic Garage - Epoxy vs RaceDeck.. Plus RD questions..

[FearThisInc]

Ok.. So this is a two part post.. here is the background.. We are building a brand new construction house which includes a 26x25 garage.. The garage will be mostly for keeping the daily drivers plus motorcycle.. Being that it will be such a high traffic area would you recommend Epoxy or RaceDeck Tiles? We live in NJ so we do get snow which will obviously get brought in with the vehicles.. I have reasons for wanting both products but trying to get input on what others out there recommend for this type of situation..


Now on to the second part.. Questions on the RaceDeck Free Flow design.. One of the reasons that I like the RaceDeck Tiles is that it is something that I can do.. I am not a very handy when it comes to construction but I feel like RaceDeck tiles is something that even I can do and put my mark on the house.. Plus it looks amazing with all the different designs that can be done.. Even with that in mind I have to think about everyone in the house.. So just a few questions:

1) Specifically regarding the Free Flow design, how easy is it on the feet if walking barefoot? We have plans for putting a separate fridge/freezer for extra storage in the garage as well as other items which will result in frequent runs with no shoes..

2) I know it will be a large area (26x25) but has anyone had problems with the tiles sliding when braking in the garage? Obviously I have no plans to do a 60-0 brake test but was talking with a coworker who used some cheap product that he picked up and he said it would constantly move on his vehicle..

3) This one is from wifey.. Is the Free Flow design "high heels" friendly? Wifey regularly wears high heels and I fear that she will be getting stuck or tripping all over trying to walk on these.. Can't tell form the pics how spaced out everything is..

4) As far as installation goes.. I have heard that some guys put a rubber underlay down to help with noise issues as well as seeing through the tiles.. Anyone have input with using the rubber underlay?

 

[BeachBoy]

re the high heels, anyone has comment son a dog walking on them?

I want to have a small enclosure in the garage for the dog during the day, a dog usually won't like any grill/mesh type surface so I'm wondering how they would like it (or not).

=====

For the snow, I drive my 2 vehicles in everyday in Montreal, with tons of snow and ****... My floor is "bare".

It puts **** all over the garage from melting gunk going to the drain, it also rusted anything metallic touching the floor (metal storage, etc). I am putting racedeck freeflow in my new garage for that exact reason, I will be able to walk in the garage without shoes to get to the freezer. Currently I always need to wear shoes as the water and dirt gets on the floor from the cars.

I won't have feedback but if you haven't used a garage daily in the winter, you will regret the epoxy if you use the garage for anything other than parking.

 

[vectorw8015]

There are several threads with a lot of race deck information in them. You will find positives and negatives in all of them. Just like any flooring you choose there are things it does well and things that it doesn't do well.

Drop a tool or hammer on racedeck and no issues, drop it on porcelain or ceramic tile and you have a major repair ahead of you.

Walking on it with bare feet or sox it is pretty comfortable.

No issues with my GF walking in heels on it. We have the diamond plate tread design in our garage.

I have a 120 lb Pit Bull and he walks on the floor all the time. You can hear his foot steps. Mostly his nails tapping on the plastic.

Rolling loads, cars and other normal items no issues with deformation. Large items like a 10000 lb tool box with tools added in (15,000+ lbs) racedeck doesn't do well supporting this with a 6 wheel foot print. A lot of pressure per square inch.

The biggest item I have had issues with is expansion and contraction. I live in northern Michigan and the winters and summers are one extreme to the other. The floor if installed per racedecks instructions with the proper clearances and nothing on it at all, it should expand and contract without issue.

Start to constrain the floor with heavy objects, 3 cars a large tool box etc... and during hot summer days you will find the expansion to be extreme enough to cause the floor to heave and buckle.

I have mine installed without underlayment and it is a little loud when walking on it with shoes most people have put underlayment like you would use for gardens to prevent weeds from coming through and that seems to solve any noise concerns, but I have never been bothered by the noise.

The other item that does bother me about the racedeck is how dirt has effected the finish. It does dull over time with cars tracking dirt in and out and there is nothing you can do to get the original shine or look back.

Tile on the other hand seems to hold its patina a little longer. But over time I think it would begin to show similar ware.

What ever choice you make really will depend on your application.

There are pros and cons to all of them. Good luck with your choice.

 

[BeachBoy]

Porcelain (or even ceramic) does not crack if you drop a tool or hammer... Proved many times here with videos.

I am looking for feedback for dogs on free flow specifically.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Ok.. So this is a two part post.. here is the background.. We are building a brand new construction house which includes a 26x25 garage.. The garage will be mostly for keeping the daily drivers plus motorcycle.. Being that it will be such a high traffic area would you recommend Epoxy or RaceDeck Tiles? We live in NJ so we do get snow which will obviously get brought in with the vehicles.. I have reasons for wanting both products but trying to get input on what others out there recommend for this type of situation..


Now on to the second part.. Questions on the RaceDeck Free Flow design.. One of the reasons that I like the RaceDeck Tiles is that it is something that I can do.. I am not a very handy when it comes to construction but I feel like RaceDeck tiles is something that even I can do and put my mark on the house.. Plus it looks amazing with all the different designs that can be done.. Even with that in mind I have to think about everyone in the house.. So just a few questions:

1) Specifically regarding the Free Flow design, how easy is it on the feet if walking barefoot? We have plans for putting a separate fridge/freezer for extra storage in the garage as well as other items which will result in frequent runs with no shoes..

2) I know it will be a large area (26x25) but has anyone had problems with the tiles sliding when braking in the garage? Obviously I have no plans to do a 60-0 brake test but was talking with a coworker who used some cheap product that he picked up and he said it would constantly move on his vehicle..

3) This one is from wifey.. Is the Free Flow design "high heels" friendly? Wifey regularly wears high heels and I fear that she will be getting stuck or tripping all over trying to walk on these.. Can't tell form the pics how spaced out everything is..

4) As far as installation goes.. I have heard that some guys put a rubber underlay down to help with noise issues as well as seeing through the tiles.. Anyone have input with using the rubber underlay?

Let's get two things out of the way. I don't wear high heels and I don't sell RaceDeck

1) PM Jorgen and ask him for a sample of the Racedeck product. If you search Racedeck you will find his posts. I believe he is Racedeck2. Personally I have no issues walking barefoot on our drain tiles. I think it is important to gain some perspective on the size of the gap in the tile. See image (NOT RACEDECK SHOWN)

2)VERY VERY rarely is this an issue in a wall to wall installation. I have seen it happen maybe 2x is 14 years. When it does, it is not a tile issue. Real smooth floor or a coated one, and typically not wall to wall. There are solutions for this.

3) See the picture

4) Generally rubber underlayment is only used when you have exhausted other options. Noise can be deadened with landscape fabric and other methods.

Epoxy versus Tile. Its kind of like asking should you buy a high end jeep or a high end Mustang. Both can be awesome, but for very different reasons. Right about now, with my six kids and snow on the ground, a rear wheel drive Mustang might not make sense for me

Coatings, generally, are more labor intensive to install and require significant concrete prep. When finished they protect the concrete, which in your case may be important.

Tiles are quick, easy and awesome, Drain tiles mean you are always walking on a dry floor. It also means whatever you spill goes through. Everything is a tradeoff.

We are getting ready to launch a new (to us) urethane product that has incredible results with little surface prep (assuming no sealer on concrete) and no mixing. I will be looking for before and after shots of two jobs and will provide a 33% rebate on those two jobs for the pics. I just need to finish playing with the product first

 

[firemailwv]

wow, I was asking myself many of those same questions. (well, my wife was asking the high heels question thanks for the closeup photo and responses Justin!

 

[Garage Flooring]

wow, I was asking myself many of those same questions. (well, my wife was asking the high heels question thanks for the closeup photo and responses Justin!

My wife will hate this idea, but maybe I need to hire a model and have her stand on the floor in heels.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

I've seen some of these tiles and I would imagine that any brand draining tiles and 6" stilettos are an ankle accident waiting to happen. Depends on the heels that your wife wears, of course, but I've seen some pretty narrow heels.

 

[FearThisInc]

Thanks for all the replies.. I have been tossing what I want to do with the garage for a while.. I always thought I would go epoxy but after seeing some of the designs and ease of install I started looking into the tiles.. I have actually been looking into the RaceDeck, Swisstrax, and True Lock.. I just got done placing some sample orders so I can see each up close and test them out.. We do get our fair share of rain and snow so the ribbed/free flow would be great to keep the garage dryer and not have everything puddling up.. I guess in the end I could do a mix and match between free flow and solids if I have to, but the free flow style looks a lot better then the solids.. At least in my opinion..

 

[BeachBoy]

Great idea, I could do solid for the 4ft along the sides and freeflow where the car sits. The drain is on the center so it would work.

Yeah the more I think about it the more I believe it would be great. Are they the same thickness / locks?

 

[Godzilladude]

Re your question 2, my RD floor DOES move when I pull in. At first I guessed it was the landscape cloth under it, that allows it to slide so easily on the floor. Pulled it all back out, that was fun, only got cuts maybe four places on my arms. That took care of most of it. What helped more was switching to the slanted end pieces where the tires roll in, so you don't get so much "push" on the tile as the tires come in. That took care of most of the issue. Though, when I pull in my Vette, it STILL pushes up the tile every time, making a nice wave that is several inches high at the front of the garage. My wife keeps saying she is going to cut off an inch or two from the front of that section, and I suppose I might be that, though then I have a chunk of bare floor I don't want.

The current answer, after I pull in, I set the car in reverse, let it roll just an inch or two and then step hard and quick on the brakes. Yanks it right back down.

The other thought is I may nail down the tiles at the door, so the whole thing cannot move.

My experience.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Re your question 2, my RD floor DOES move when I pull in. At first I guessed it was the landscape cloth under it, that allows it to slide so easily on the floor. Pulled it all back out, that was fun, only got cuts maybe four places on my arms. That took care of most of it. What helped more was switching to the slanted end pieces where the tires roll in, so you don't get so much "push" on the tile as the tires come in. That took care of most of the issue. Though, when I pull in my Vette, it STILL pushes up the tile every time, making a nice wave that is several inches high at the front of the garage. My wife keeps saying she is going to cut off an inch or two from the front of that section, and I suppose I might be that, though then I have a chunk of bare floor I don't want.

The current answer, after I pull in, I set the car in reverse, let it roll just an inch or two and then step hard and quick on the brakes. Yanks it right back down.

The other thought is I may nail down the tiles at the door, so the whole thing cannot move.

My experience.

I am not sure your install details and I don't like to give specific advice for modification on other peoples product, BUT what you should do is either PM Jorgen or call RD. There are several good solutions