race deck durability

[sierradmax]

I've seen alot of really nice garages with race deck installed but in immaculate garages. My garage is a working garage with welding, spilled fluids, etc. is it worth $2000 to install this type of floring in my garage?

 

[camarojoe]

While I don't have racedeck flooring, I think "durability" is a relative term. ANYTHING can get screwed up/ruined if you don't take care of it... Heck, you can screw up a plain concrete floor if you set your mind to it. (I've seen people do it) It may be durable, but I wouldn't want racedeck on a floor i was doing a full body off restoration in. I have 2 garages, and have VCT tile in one garage i do very light work in, and one with a good old fashioned bare concrete floor that I'm not afraid to use. I know many people put fancy garage floors down and still do work in their garage, but I would think it would a constant worry and hassle to try to do your stuff and also not screw up the pretty floor. For me personally, i wouldn't want anything but a plain concrete floor in the I'm doing "real" work in...I keep the fancy stuff for my storage garage... and if I didnt have a second garage, ( I didn't until this fall) I wouldn't make the only garage I have too fancy to work in without worrying constantly about screwing up all the expensive decorating i did. Regardless of what you do for a floor, be in epoxy, tile, or racedeck, if youre welding, cutting, painting, grinding, etc. you will have to be careful to not mess up the floor. If that doesn't bother you, go for it.

 

[wythors]

I have had Race Deck for about a year now. Spilled fluids are no problem. Oil, transmission fluid, gasoline. None of these have harmed the tile. I haven't welded on it, so I can't comment there. The only problem I've encountered is that jack stands cut into the tile and the wheels on my floor jack dent it when supporting a car. I've gotten around that by using 1/8" aluminum plates under the jack and jack stands. For the amount of stuff I do, Race Deck is great. It gives me a clean, comfortable place to work on my cars. If I was doing much more, I'd probably go with epoxy for durability.

 

[dboat]

I have had Race Deck for about a year now. Spilled fluids are no problem. Oil, transmission fluid, gasoline. None of these have harmed the tile. I haven't welded on it, so I can't comment there. The only problem I've encountered is that jack stands cut into the tile and the wheels on my floor jack dent it when supporting a car. I've gotten around that by using 1/8" aluminum plates under the jack and jack stands. For the amount of stuff I do, Race Deck is great. It gives me a clean, comfortable place to work on my cars. If I was doing much more, I'd probably go with epoxy for durability.

very well put.. I have been thinking and thinking about a Racedeck floor.. this post may just put me over the top and get one.. thanks
Dana

 

[CoolNSX]

You might check with Costco, they had material very similar to Race Deck but much cheaper.

 

[tah81]

I asked the vendor who sold me my Race Deck about the Moto-tile at Costco. He said it was made by the same company but has more filler in the plastic that makes it less resistant to oil and solvents, and could stain. This could be true or just a bid to seal my deal...who knows.

I have read of folks who have melted the tile by welding on it, so I wouldn't try that.

 

[mikeyr]

I love my racedeck floor !!!

It has not been harmed during 2 body-off restorations and has held up wonderfully. Thinners, solvents, brake fluids, etc. have not harmed it in any way. It looks great, its warm on your back, or your backside if you are sitting on the floor. Wife loves it because she can go out and do laundry in her bare feet because its not cold concrete. Tool chests, welders, etc. stay put when you stop rolling them due to the diamond plate. Oh yeah, it looks great

Now for the bad...you can't weld on the racedeck, especially mig, all that splatter will burn holes all over the place. I ended up having to buy a welding blanket to protect the floor, its a pain to have to do that but at least I don't weld that often and frequently prefer to weld in the driveway anyway when I can.

I have had a few dimples put in from heavy small castered items but the dimple goes away in a few days (weeks if cold).

 

[dboat]

I love my racedeck floor !!!

I have had a few dimples put in from heavy small castered items but the dimple goes away in a few days (weeks if cold).

Mikeyr,
thanks for that last comment.. I did buy jack stands with pads on them for this very reason.. I plan to do this soon, most likely, this spring..
Dana

 

[wythors]

Mikeyr,
thanks for that last comment.. I did buy jack stands with pads on them for this very reason.. I plan to do this soon, most likely, this spring..
Dana

Good plan. The "angle iron" type feet actually cut through the material.

 

[batmbl]

very well put.. I have been thinking and thinking about a Racedeck floor.. this post may just put me over the top and get one.. thanks
Dana

I agree, esp. after getting a look at wythors floor.

 

[wythors]

I agree, esp. after getting a look at wythors floor.

:blush:

 

[zen garage]

I have had a tile similar to racedeck in my garage for a few years now and couldnt be happier. My garage is a working garage, a few resto's, lots of heavy equipment and lots of spilled stuff. the floor has held up great and looks as good as when it was installed. The floor is priced between motofloor and racedeck and made by sportcourt. I have a combination of their Daytona and Tylon.

 

[lkirchner]

I asked the vendor who sold me my Race Deck about the Moto-tile at Costco. He said it was made by the same company but has more filler in the plastic that makes it less resistant to oil and solvents, and could stain. This could be true or just a bid to seal my deal...who knows.

I have read of folks who have melted the tile by welding on it, so I wouldn't try that.

I spent a few years running a company that had a plastic division. Trust me the salesman has no idea as to what plastics are and how they are made..

This product is a polypropylene plastic and there are no fillers. The raw material is either virgin or recycled plastic of which there is no difference. I love these sales people who spout off facts as though they are experts and in fact do not have the foggiest idea . There will not be any stain resistance problems with either of the brands. The main difference is the pattern and variety of colors. Moto tile come only in black, white or grey.

 

[Roadster]

Now for the bad...you can't weld on the racedeck, especially mig, all that splatter will burn holes all over the place. I ended up having to buy a welding blanket to protect the floor, its a pain to have to do that but at least I don't weld that often and frequently prefer to weld in the driveway anyway when I can.

Why don't you just temporarily remove the tiles in the immediate area where you are welding, and then put them back when you're done?

I can't do that with my epoxy-coated floor!

 

[mikeyr]

Why don't you just temporarily remove the tiles in the immediate area where you are welding, and then put them back when you're done?

I can't do that with my epoxy-coated floor!

I have thought of clearing a section but my garage is too tight on space. And its too much work anyway, I purchased a welding blanket that works great. Plus the car finally wheels on it so it can roll out to the driveway now.

 

[dman302]

Racedeck flooring was absolutely the best decision I have made for the garage. Not only did it completely change the overall appearance of the garage, it makes working in there just easier long term. I use diamond plate cut 18" square on the floor under the jacks or stands when needed and have NOT had any issues with chemicals or scratches...which is very impressive considering my two dogs (100LBS eas) more often than not fire through there clawing for traction while playing indy 500 with each other.

 

[JGson]

I´m a swedish guy that´s interested in getting a Racedeckfloor for my garage. There are no distributors of Racedeck in Sweden so I have to import one myself. But there is one thing I´ve been thinking about.
In Sweden the winters can get really cold and snowy. Your car must have studded tires or at least M+S wintertires in the wintertime. It´s a traficviolation if you don´t.
Are my future Racedeckfloor going to be totally messed up by the studs after a while or can it handle it? Does anyone know? You maybe don´t use studded wintertires in the U.S?

I apologize for my english but hopfully you understand me anyway.

 

[BoostAddiction]

In the US, many states outlaw studded tires, and relatively few people use them in the places where they are allowed. So I doubt if there is much experience here in the US with studded tires on Racedeck or similar floors.

I suspect you'll find that studded tires will tear up the plastic flooring if you drive on them. Perhaps during the winter you could lay down thin wooden or plastic slats or runners to drive on, then remove them during both summer weeks .

Or, if you can just use M+S-rated tires without studs, they will be fine.

 

[wythors]

In the US, many states outlaw studded tires, and relatively few people use them in the places where they are allowed. So I doubt if there is much experience here in the US with studded tires on Racedeck or similar floors.

I suspect you'll find that studded tires will tear up the plastic flooring if you drive on them. Perhaps during the winter you could lay down thin wooden or plastic slats or runners to drive on, then remove them during both summer weeks .

Or, if you can just use M+S-rated tires without studs, they will be fine.

(ahem)

Studs are legal throughout the western US and many people in the mountainous states (like Washington) use them each winter. Studded tires will mar a Racedeck or other plastic tile floor in very short order. In my case, my Mustangs never drive in snow so it's not a worry for me and my daily driver Crown Victoria sits in the driveway. If I did have to park my car with studded tires in there, I'd probably use a runner of cheap carpet over the areas the tires run in during the winter.

 

[dboat]

one thought came to mind.. but I could be crazy.. I would put freeflow under the cars, then buy extra for the non-winter months. In the Spring, after you change the tires, swap out the winter tiles for the spring/summer/fall tiles. You will want to pop the tiles out to clean underneath anyway. This way you limit the wear to a set of a few tiles that you drive on and the rest of the year, you have a nice surface to look at.. hope this makes sense.. I didnt say this would be the cheapest way to go, but you limit the scratching to one set of a few tiles for just the winter.
Dana

 

[camarosource]

I have had a tile similar to racedeck in my garage for a few years now and couldnt be happier. My garage is a working garage, a few resto's, lots of heavy equipment and lots of spilled stuff. the floor has held up great and looks as good as when it was installed. The floor is priced between motofloor and racedeck and made by sportcourt. I have a combination of their Daytona and Tylon.

Where is the cost of Daytona? Any pics of the finished product? Pics of the underside?

 

[Hiker]

Keep in mind for what you'll pay for a complete Race Deck floor you can get a high quality epoxy flooring installed that will add value to your house. A Race Deck floor is considered personal property and an appraiser will not give any value to it. IMO, comparing vinyl Race Deck flooring to a good epoxy flooring job is like comparing Pergo flooring to hardwood flooring. There's fans of both, but one if far better then the other in quality.

 

[wythors]

Keep in mind for what you'll pay for a complete Race Deck floor you can get a high quality epoxy flooring installed that will add value to your house. A Race Deck floor is considered personal property and an appraiser will not give any value to it. IMO, comparing vinyl Race Deck flooring to a good epoxy flooring job is like comparing Pergo flooring to hardwood flooring. There's fans of both, but one if far better then the other in quality.

I did not install RaceDeck with even the slightest thought of increasing the value of my house in the eyes of an appraiser. I laid it down to improve the way my garage looks and works for me. Your post is the first time I've ever considered the concept of a garage floor adding or detracting from the value of the house.

Further, I paid about $1200 for my RD floor. The commercial epoxy company that I spoke to about doing my floor wanted just about $2000.

 

[dboat]

Keep in mind for what you'll pay for a complete Race Deck floor you can get a high quality epoxy flooring installed that will add value to your house. A Race Deck floor is considered personal property and an appraiser will not give any value to it. IMO, comparing vinyl Race Deck flooring to a good epoxy flooring job is like comparing Pergo flooring to hardwood flooring. There's fans of both, but one if far better then the other in quality.

I just dont agree on this one. Its like comparing apples and oranges. There is a big difference in functionality. With RD I can get the type of flooring that will allow the snow to melt and have the water run under it to the drain, or the water run to the drain under when I was the car. The best part of RD is that I can take it with me if I move. I cant take a epoxy floor with me. Lastly, the value of an epoxy floor will be in the view of the new owner of the home. If they arent car or garage oriented people, it will something nice to have but they may not really care whether its there or not..

Dana

 

[Hiker]

You guys have a great point about the water run off with the snow melt, we just don't have that down here. Plus we don't have drains here, so the last thing you want is water sitting under plastic tiles for days end. Epoxy flooring would be way easier to wash off. Down here 99%+ of the nice garages whether the homeowner is a car guy or homeowner value nut, I've seen epoxy finished flooring. All high end homes i've seen, $750K+ are epoxy. Of the 4-5 homes with RD applications i've appraised, they were 2-3 car garages, under $500K homes. I guess RD is just not popular out here. I see it at all the shows and looks like a tough sale for the staff trying to selling the stuff. I bet it's great in cold weather laying on the floor.

 

[jaredwb]

Sorry, no experience w/ RD, but if durability is what you need, polished concrete is definately the way to go. It will definately last longer than either RD or epoxy.
Good luck

 

[speadrider]

I put racedeck in my house about a year ago and it still looks really great. i used it to cover the epoxy paint that was peeling up in my new house, after just 6-7 months. I am not sure that an epoxy floor that has stains & chips will ad value to the house and I am also not sure if an appraiser would really be able to tell my floor is not permanent, we trimmed it wall to wall. I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how

 

[GTrain]

Keep in mind for what you'll pay for a complete Race Deck floor you can get a high quality epoxy flooring installed that will add value to your house. A Race Deck floor is considered personal property and an appraiser will not give any value to it. IMO, comparing vinyl Race Deck flooring to a good epoxy flooring job is like comparing Pergo flooring to hardwood flooring. There's fans of both, but one if far better then the other in quality.

I sold my house in June, and every appraisal was very specific on the floor. I had a racedeck installed in a 3 car garage, and I had them completed without including the floor. I told them the price of the floor, and when I sold the house, if they wanted the floor, I negotiated the price of the house up....and the floor was one of the biggest selling points. I had some people walk through the house and make offers just on the floor, so I could have sold it as well....

 

[jskco]

Just because two items are “made by the same manufacturer” does not mean that they are of the same quality. I can think of many automotive manufacturers who have some very high end and some very low end products.

I do not sell the Racedeck product; I sell tiles that compete with it. Given the option of buying the ‘off the shelf’ tile from the big box store or buying the racedeck tile, I would but the Racedeck tile.

I have purchased the off the shelf products from many of the major retailers. They are thinner and brittle. I have also not been impressed with the expansion and contraction and how they react to UV rays.

When garage floor tiles are done right, they can be a blessing. When they are done wrong they are a major headache. Most companies will provide you with free samples. My suggestion, order some samples and compare the quality.

If I was going to buy racedeck tiles, knowing what I know about many of my competitors, I would buy them from Kim Wilson at Elite Xpressions http://www.elite-xpressions.com/ . Next to my own company, if I had to buy garage flooring, I would buy it from her or Wilde Mats.

 

[Dave88LX]

Great thread, answers some of my questions I was wondering about. My main concern is spilled fluids on the floor, how difficult is that to clean up? I do a lot of engine work and done some stupid things and end up dumping 1/2 quart of oil or trans fluid on the garage floor. I just curse a bit, toss down some kitty litter, grind it in and sweep it up.

With a tiled floor, I assume there are cracks between tiles? What do you use to absorb the majority of the fluid up? What about the rest of the clean-up? Towel? Or is it easy to just lift up the dirty tiles, take them out and clean them up?

That's my concern for now...that and cost. I'm looking at about 1200-1300 sqft, so that's going to be between $3000-$4000 @ $3/ft!

 

[mikeyr]

Same thing, I just throw kitty litter on the spill and sweep it up. Yeah, some stuff "might" get in the cracks between the tiles but they are pretty tight and its very little. I have actually purchased a 1/2 gallon on laquer thinner and mopped up the floor with that twice now to get it really clean (make sure wifey is not home and garage door is wide open)

My floor has been down 3 motor rebuilds, 2 gearboxes and has seen a LOT of spills, no worries, it looks great.

The only thing I would worry about under the tiles would be moisture, I suppose it could cause mold/mildew but they have slots for ventilation, one winter when my garage flooded, it was fun to walk on, the tiles were floating on about 2" of water, looked great and dry until you walked on it. I did nothing, let it drain naturally and 4 years later I still have no smells from mold/mildew, it took about 5 days from the time the outside of the garage was dry until water stopped weeping out from under the tiles at the doorway.

Oil and stuff like that will not mold/mildew so if that stuff gets between the cracks, I don't care.