Just finished my flow-through tile floor

[EvilDragon]

21x22 checkerboard. Couldn't do epoxy because of vapour issues, so sealed the concrete, painted it with some maintenance paint, put synthetic soil sheet on top and went to town. Have to paint the middle column black to match.

Got it from garageflooringllc, missed the black friday sale on here though.

 

[CJDave]

Looks great. I'm a big Free Flow fan myself. Good choice. CJDave.

 

[Garage Flooring]

21x22 checkerboard. Couldn't do epoxy because of vapour issues, so sealed the concrete, painted it with some maintenance paint, put synthetic soil sheet on top and went to town. Have to paint the middle column black to match.

Got it from garageflooringllc, missed the black friday sale on here though.

Looks great!

 

[RaceDeck1]

looks great!

 

[PT Doc]

Why the soil sheet? Will likely trap moisture, no?

 

[CJDave]

I chose not to us any type of cloth under my Free Flow. I feel that dirt and water would be trapped. The tiles are engineered to allow water to channel under them. Looks to me like the soil cloth would interfere with the water flow and trap dirt that would further interfere with water draining. I dunno. Maybe I'm off base but I have zero regrets about how my floor drains water. CJDave.

 

[EvilDragon]

Water will evapourate in any circumstance. The soil sheets allow for better traction against the concrete and also look nicer under the black and white tiles.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Well done!

 

[CJDave]

Water will evapourate in any circumstance. The soil sheets allow for better traction against the concrete and also look nicer under the black and white tiles.

Yes, water will evaporate under MOST circumstances but I feel that the soil sheet will slow that process. If I went to the time, trouble and expense to install these tiles I likely have items in my garage that do not benefit from increased humidity. Get the water out as quickly as possible is my goal. I don't understand the "Traction" point. Given the speed limit in my garage, traction is not a concern. What looks "nicer" is all personal opinion. Of the dozens of people that have viewed my garage none have said "Your floor would look nicer if there were a colored underlayment". Do you not have an opinion on dirt being trapped in a soil cloth? CJDave.

 

[abuamiri]

Any concerns about doing the install in the winter? I took advantage of their Black Friday deal to purchase Race Deck's Free Flow product for my garage in northern Virginia. I should take delivery the week after Christmas and was debating doing the install while home on R&R, or waiting until spring/summer when it's warmer out. From what I've read here, that will help avoid the buckling/curling issue some people experience when the tiles contract/expand.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Any concerns about doing the install in the winter? I took advantage of their Black Friday deal to purchase Race Deck's Free Flow product for my garage in northern Virginia. I should take delivery the week after Christmas and was debating doing the install while home on R&R, or waiting until spring/summer when it's warmer out. From what I've read here, that will help avoid the buckling/curling issue some people experience when the tiles contract/expand.

I have done winter installs of tile twice, including my current garage. It's not bad at all.

What I did was bring the tiles into the laundry room for a couple of days. Yeah my wife loved me

I started my install during the warmest part of the day and when we had sunshine I put the tiles in the sun,, even though it was cool.

Worked awesomely. 1/2" gap all around covered with harditrim

In the previous garage, we did not keep the tiles warm at all. It was fine but locks were harder to engage and you do not want to use a mallet when they are cold -- I don't anyway. I always use my feet

 

[EvilDragon]

The temperature here was still in the 50s when I installed it. I have plenty of dirt and leaves falling through the tiles, I just vacuum it up with a shopvac. The traction that I'm referring to is the sound of tiles on concrete. I don't like it and the soil sheets prevent it.

 

[CJDave]

My tiles make no sound. Glad you are happy with your installation. To each his own as the saying goes. CJDave.

 

[RaceDeck1]

looking good!

 

[Cougar]

Looks great.

 

[abuamiri]

I have done winter installs of tile twice, including my current garage. It's not bad at all.



What I did was bring the tiles into the laundry room for a couple of days. Yeah my wife loved me



I started my install during the warmest part of the day and when we had sunshine I put the tiles in the sun,, even though it was cool.



Worked awesomely. 1/2" gap all around covered with harditrim



In the previous garage, we did not keep the tiles warm at all. It was fine but locks were harder to engage and you do not want to use a mallet when they are cold -- I don't anyway. I always use my feet

Thanks boss. Not sure being away for almost a year gives me enough equity to stack tiles in the laundry room


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[SuperCat]

Wow, that looks sharp! You did a great job, looks like a pro installed that.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Thanks boss. Not sure being away for almost a year gives me enough equity to stack tiles in the laundry room


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

hahahahah

 

[Jaredmcginness]

Love the look of the black and white. Are these 24” tiles? I’m starting to think bigger is better.

 

[EvilDragon]

There are 12x12 tiles in chunks of 4. Thank you!

 

[sps4runner]

RaceDeck also has 18" tiles that mesh with the 12".