Honestly I dont really think about it. I am not tracking in a considerable amount of dirt and dust, but if I wanted to clean it out a shop vac should be able to **** up anything through the grates.
Not the OP, but I used a 3/8" gap on my 1000 sq ft FreeFlow install and it's been fine. It definitely does not expand in sunlight like the Diamond Tiles I've had on other garages. Pro tip, if you go to Lowes or Home Despot, the little square of wood/laminate flooring they have for free make great spacers during your install! Grab a handful of samples and you're all set!
To be honest my gaps are probably a little uneven all around. I was willing to leave an inch or so gap in some areas to avoid extensive cutting. Most of my garage items (garbage cans, standing shelves, etc) are kept against the walls so much of the gap is covered up that way.
Having had both diamond tile and freeflow RaceDeck floors, I will tell you that it's not needed on the open FreeFlow tiles. On my prior solid diamond tile floor, I did use nonwoven landscape fabric and it did a nice job of quieting the "clack-clack" of the floor. On my current FreeFlow floor, there is no fabric and there is no noise at all.
If you drop a screw does it fall through? If you spill something can you open up in the middle or do you need to work to the spill from an end?Having had both diamond tile and freeflow RaceDeck floors, I will tell you that it's not needed on the open FreeFlow tiles. On my prior solid diamond tile floor, I did use nonwoven landscape fabric and it did a nice job of quieting the "clack-clack" of the floor. On my current FreeFlow floor, there is no fabric and there is no noise at all.
If you drop a screw it gets caught in one of the ribs and is easily retrieved vs. bouncing all over the place. I just tested this today when I dropped 4 1" screws and they all landed right at my feet, trapped in the tile ribs.
Definitely going this route when/if I ever have some spare time and $.
Thank you!
