Race Deck Quality Issues

[TRCarbone]

I've ordered 3 batches of tiles now from Race Deck... all diamond pattern in the alloy color.

The last batch I received had what I feel is a manufacturing defect. There is a DISTINCT cross in the tile.

I have attached photos of a "good" tile vs. a "bad" tile.

Race Deck claims this a normal, and just the "nature of the metallic effect."

Does anyone else have these same issues with Race Deck? I previously held their product in high regard, but this new bach of tiles looks awful.

If this is a temporary manufacturing issue, then fine. Otherwise, I just cannot use this product again.

 

[volvo]

....
You got the X's, Now have them send you some O's....Sure looks like a poor manufacture batch to me & certainly would stick out like sore thumb against a garage floor full of #1 tiles.

 

[TRCarbone]

....
You got the X's, Now have them send you some O's....Sure looks like a poor manufacture batch to me & certainly would stick out like sore thumb against a garage floor full of #1 tiles.

LOL!

I'll give them kudos for customer service... they are sending new tiles and are going to try to pick ones that "match" my old ones. That is very nice of them and I do appreciate that.

What I don't appreciate is that they have to "match" tiles with no defect. I simply am amazed that they don't think this is a problem, and that the tiles are of acceptable quality.

 

[ilovevocs]

I wouldn't install that.

 

[89MustangGX]

I also agree with RD having great customer service.

I will also say, that I received tiles with similar marks on them. I did install them. I went into my garage after reading this thread and I couldn't find them. I really did try looking. I'm sure there are some manufacturing variances, but RD has decided these are acceptable. Based on my experience, I would agree with them. And that's saying a lot for an unusually picky guy.

I'm glad you are getting different tiles and will be happy with them.

Adam

 

[TRCarbone]

I also agree with RD having great customer service.

I will also say, that I received tiles with similar marks on them. I did install them. I went into my garage after reading this thread and I couldn't find them. I really did try looking. I'm sure there are some manufacturing variances, but RD has decided these are acceptable. Based on my experience, I would agree with them. And that's saying a lot for an unusually picky guy.

I'm glad you are getting different tiles and will be happy with them.

Adam

I'm trying to be fair to Race Deck, as I've always loved their product, and there support is first rate.

I've put down some of the tiles, and it is NOT a subtle difference. I can certainly understand that there will be some mounding imperfections, but these are really noticeable.

 

[jordan369]

Good call on not using them. That would bug that **** out of me every time I saw it.

Mike

 

[TRCarbone]

Just an update...

RaceDeck sent me replacement tiles at no charge. They are perfect... just like my first two batches.

I'm just so happy with their customer support that I'm left now with a good feeling about them, and will not hesitate to use their product in the future.

I'm still puzzled by manufacturing calling this normal though. Go figure.

 

[Parc Ferme]

The depressions you see on the surface are called sink marks. They occure when you have a thick section in a molded plastic part. I haent seen the back of a Race Deck tile, but i would bet there is a rib in those locations. The cross section is very thick when you add a rib. Ribs also direct the flow front of the resin durring the filling phase of the molding process. All those little lines that look like hair line cracks are where flow fronts have converged, called weld lines. These are areas of weakness and they exist in any molded part with a molded in hole or multiple injection points. A properly optomized molding process will mitigate the affects.

Bottom line is that those are definately manufacturing defects. In some products theay are acceptable. Definately not in a cosmetic application. At lease they took care of you. Quality assurance at the manufacture droped the ball.

If anyone is wondering, that batch was molded with a tool (mold) that was not up to temp and possibly not set up with the right pressures and hold/cooling time. The color of the material makes no difference.


Cheers,
your resident Plasitcs Engineer

 

[justsam]

The depressions you see on the surface are called sink marks. They occure when you have a thick section in a molded plastic part. I haent seen the back of a Race Deck tile, but i would bet there is a rib in those locations. The cross section is very thick when you add a rib. Ribs also direct the flow front of the resin durring the filling phase of the molding process. All those little lines that look like hair line cracks are where flow fronts have converged, called weld lines. These are areas of weakness and they exist in any molded part with a molded in hole or multiple injection points. A properly optomized molding process will mitigate the affects.

Bottom line is that those are definately manufacturing defects. In some products theay are acceptable. Definately not in a cosmetic application. At lease they took care of you. Quality assurance at the manufacture droped the ball.

If anyone is wondering, that batch was molded with a tool (mold) that was not up to temp and possibly not set up with the right pressures and hold/cooling time. The color of the material makes no difference.


Cheers,
your resident Plasitcs Engineer

I am always amazed at the level and diversity of knowledge of the Garage Journal Brotherhood!

I don't know squat about plastic injection molding but what Parc Ferme explained makes perfect sense.

I too have always held Race Deck in high regard as a top tier product. It does make me wonder just how many eyes should have seen this defect, be their job QC or not.

Clearly Race Deck made it right, it just should have been corrected much further upstream, rather than let the customer do QC for them.

 

[darkk]

I Just installed almost 900 sq ft of red/black/grey Race Deck flooring. It's a garage and will get well used. I'm not concerned in any way about minor color variations or the sink lines as long as the floor holds up to 5 gazzillion 459 bazzilion 322 and a half years of use...

 

[RaceDeck1]

I am always amazed at the level and diversity of knowledge of the Garage Journal Brotherhood!

I don't know squat about plastic injection molding but what Parc Ferme explained makes perfect sense.

I too have always held Race Deck in high regard as a top tier product. It does make me wonder just how many eyes should have seen this defect, be their job QC or not.

Clearly Race Deck made it right, it just should have been corrected much further upstream, rather than let the customer do QC for them.

You are right, we should have caught it and anytime we do not, we put systems in place for it not to happen again ( not a fun meeting for those responsible) . We are an ISO quality certified manufacturer that produces more modular garage floor tiles in a month than all of our competitors do in an entire year and all under one roof here in Salt Lake City.
Thank you for letting us know and making it right.

 

[darkk]

No matter how much quality control or micro inspectors there are at the door, something always slips out. I know it's frustrating for the people on the receiving end. Call and see what can be done about it. Getting all indignant about it in public before they get a chance to rectify the problem won't help the issue. The manufacturer makes good on your problem, they made a mistake, they corrected it, you're happy...YAY!!!!

 

[graffix000]

I'm always amazed at how race deck steps up to the plate in instances like this. Props to their customer service and making things right!

I would not have been happy with those tiles as well.

 

[philip_g]

I'm always amazed at how race deck steps up to the plate in instances like this. Props to their customer service and making things right!

I would not have been happy with those tiles as well.

and for doing it all from the USA.

 

[Bonefishmak]

This is why I will be getting RD!

 

[Mr.A]

I was thinking of doing RD but how will they hold up under real life use? I weld/cut and spill stuff all over the shop. Will they hold up to floor jacks and stands? They look very cool! Thnaks

 

[RaceDeck1]

I was thinking of doing RD but how will they hold up under real life use? I weld/cut and spill stuff all over the shop. Will they hold up to floor jacks and stands? They look very cool! Thnaks

Welding is tough one on any surface other than raw concrete with Hot molten chunks of steel dripping on it . Most RaceDeck customers who weld a lot in their garage will use a welding mat/pad or have a special areas with our our RaceDeck Pro ( aluminum diamond plate topped RaceDeck).