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Race Deck sliding issue

graffix000

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Nov 23, 2007
Messages
872
Location
Philly
If I had a sliding issue with RD floor I'd be inclined to fasten the front and back edges down to the concrete with drop-in anchors.

The tiles need the ability to move as they expand and contract with heat (sun). I guess it would depend on the angle of the driveway and if it gets hit by sunlight.
 
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doorfx

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Oct 7, 2016
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708
Location
Calgary ab. Canada
Wow it's pretty expensive to purchase already. Now we are talking about more costs to make the floor less slippery before we put it down ? Yikes !!
 

thehighwayman

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Jan 30, 2016
Messages
42
OP, did the company in question ever give you any advice, or just stop by to attack others' opinions?
 

Denwood

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Sep 22, 2014
Messages
4,186
Location
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
The white EPDM I'm using has a white material laminated to it...after quite a few oil changes, a brake flush or two, and various other work..there is no damage to it. I can guarantee that at least with motor oil and brake fluid, there is no effect..again, I'm using white material.

I removed the Racedeck in sections to mop it out after a winter of parking..no issues. So the white may in fact be a better bet than the standard black EPDM. Other than the normal vehicle fluids, the only one I have on that list is tolulene..and I'm pretty careful with it as my floor has a drain.

This is the material, sourced from Brock White (commercial supplier) locally: http://firestonebp.ca/roofing/epdm-roofing-systems/ecowhite-epdm/

RubberGard™ EcoWhite EPDM Membrane is a bi-laminate, white-on-black cured membrane that can be used in conjunction with the comprehensive RubberGard™ EcoWhite EPDM line of accessories for rapid, consistent and cost-effective fully-adhered installations. It is available for UL- and FM-rated systems, exceeds ASTM D 4637 standards and is eligible for a 20 and 30 year Firestone Red Shield™ Warranty.

Btw, the Racedeck Freeflow in my shop is not coddled whatsoever. Floor jacks, wood working tools and tables dragged over etc. It's holding up quite well. The drain aspect of the tiles makes my shop usable for wood work etc, even if there is snow melt on the floor. I do like the product. The only thing I won't do on it is weld...for that I would use a welding blanket. I did try a few tiles from HD..and they were absolute ****.

If you have not top coated your epoxy floor with clear urethane, you might consider doing that and adding sharkbite in the parking areas. My guess is that this would work very well to stop slipping too. This is not a flaw in the product IMHO...it's just something you need to consider if your floor has a smooth surface.

If I was doing a new shop, I'd likely tile it completely with porcelain, but drop the parking area about 1/2" and lay RD free flow tiles (with a floor drain) in the parking area. Snow melt is an issue here, so the dropped floor and drain tiles would ensure you were never stepping in a puddle. A single row porcelain tile "border" around the parking area (properly bonded) with thinset) would lock floating free flow tiles in place..and might look pretty cool too. Just a few ideas for you :)

Be careful... EPDM is not very friendly with garage floors and oil/fuel etc... It will attack and swell.


Chemicals and their compatibility with EPDM

Aromatic Hydrocarbons D-Severe Effect
Asphalt D-Severe Effect
Diesel Fuel D-Severe Effect
Fuel Oils D-Severe Effect
Gasoline (high-aromatic) D-Severe Effect
Gasoline, leaded, ref. D-Severe Effect
Gasoline, unleaded D-Severe Effect
Grease D-Severe Effect
Hydraulic Oil (Petro) D-Severe Effect
Kerosene D-Severe Effect
Lacquer Thinners D-Severe Effect
Lubricants D-Severe Effect
Mineral Spirits D-Severe Effect
Motor oil D-Severe Effect
Naphtha D-Severe Effect
Petroleum D-Severe Effect
Stoddard Solvent D-Severe Effect
Toluene (Toluol) D-Severe Effect
Turpentine D-Severe Effect
Xylene D-Severe Effect
 
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NitroShark

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Jan 8, 2010
Messages
518
Location
Greenville, SC
I would reference the Technical precautions in the link you posted. The Manufacture even tells you petroleum products should be avoided.

All EPDM regardless of color will Not tolerate petroleum products.


TIS #115

TECHNICAL INFORMATION SHEET
Firestone Building Products • 250 W. 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260 • Sales: (800) 428-4442 • Technical (800) 428-4511 • www.firestonebpco.com
S723-RFS-229
9.4.2012

RubberGard™ EcoWhite™
EPDM Membrane

Precautions:
• Take care when moving, transporting, handling, etc. to avoid sources of punctures and physical damage.
• Isolate waste products, such as petroleum products, greases, oils (mineral and vegetable) and animal fats from the RubberGard EPDM membrane.

• Refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for safety information.
Compliance:
Post Consumer Recycled Content: 0%
Pre Consumer Recycled Content: 0%
Manufacturing Location: Prescott, AR
 
OP
T

Theruse

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Aug 12, 2012
Messages
341
Location
Maryland
I re-read Denwood's comments and he mentioned a surface prep called 'sharkbite" to increase friction. When I googled sharkbite all that came up was plumbing supply. Anybody familiar with a paint product like he mentions?
 

NitroShark

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Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
518
Location
Greenville, SC
http://www.google.com/search?q=shar...ane&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari/.


Description
Shark Skin is a micro sized polymer additive for epoxies, urethanes, and other floor coatings when a finely textured anti-slip surface is required. The semi-transparent particles suspend on the surface of the coating adding skid-resistant properties. Use for inclines, steps, garages, patios, warehouses, pool decks. Mix 3-4 ounces of Shark Skin per gallon of paint and apply with roller. Can be used in both basecoat and topcoat applications, clear or pigmented. Shark Skin will not affect color of topcoat. Use one (1) 16 oz container for each 5-gallons of paint or coating.
 
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Denwood

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Sep 22, 2014
Messages
4,186
Location
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Theruse...sorry about that...SharkBite is a plumbing fitting..SharkSkin is the non-skid additive: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HXP2P9O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

EPDM is obviously not the best choice if you regularly expose your floor to nasties...however a few pieces of polyvinyl roll out flooring likely would work similarly. On an existing epoxy floor, the SharkSkin product and Urethane top coat make sense to me as A it would protect the epoxy floor from scuffing, and B stop the sliding as well. There would no need to do the whole floor..just the parking area.

Nitro, I have the bi-laminate EPDM on my floor in use now for over a year..it has been exposed to oil, brake fluid, trans fluid etc. and has no issues. My guess is that the manufacturer is covering their **** as the base of the bi-laminate is black EPDM. Not sure what the white top laminate is composed of..however this is what it looks like after a winter of use. I was surprised how tough it is as the drain tiles + vehicles parking on it haven't damaged it physically either. This is a roofing product used as a drain pad with a car parking on it so obviously falls out of the intended use category :)

a366k.jpg


rdclean1.jpg


rdclean2.jpg


rdclean3.jpg


As an aside, I had a few tiles left over which work very, very well as an entry mat. I cut a section of entry way carpet (rubber base) that sits under the RD "mat" to keep it from sliding around. This works much better than just a mat as the mud/dirt falls through the tiles. I just hit it with the vacuum every now and then.

2015_11_20_4.jpg
 
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