RaceDeck & Foam Liners

[onyxhawk]

Planning on getting RaceDeck flooring and have heard about the 'hollow' sound. Need some real world advice.

1. Has anyone installed RaceDeck flooring with foam liners beneath? Does it affect the stability or weight carrying ability of the floor?
2. Does turning the steering wheel while a car is packed buckle the floor?
3. Does it cause moisture to get trapped between the flooring and concrete?
4. Any downsides to installing the liner?

Thanks in advance

 

[mikeyr]

Where are you located ? come by my house and walk on my floor, the noise is really a non-issue.

1. Foam underneath would not affect the weight carrying ability of the floor,

2. No, the tiles are locked in and do not move

3. I would think the liner would prevent water movement under the floor and cause moisture issues by staying wet. My old garage flooded twice in the years I had Racedeck, the tiles just floated on top of the water (fun to step on the middle of the night in bare feet) and when the rain stopped the water just went out the front of the garage over the next few days, with foam underneath you will have to lift the floor to dry it out because it will trap water. YES you can use non-absorbing liner but it is still going to affect the air flow under the tiles.

4. See number 3

I really don't understand the issue of noise with Racedeck, its NOT a issue, just a old wives tale that keeps being spread around, yes, they are noisier then walking on concrete but certainly NOT bad at all. Its a garage, the compressor, the lathe, the mill, the tablesaw, the shaper, heck even my TIG will make more noise than me walking.

 

[onyxhawk]

Located in Atlanta, GA.

Thanks for the response

 

[MSG C5]

If you know anyone who has pergo floors, the RaceDeck tiles have a similar sound.

I don't think it's a big deal either. I think any type of foam or material underneath will defeat the purpose of the suspended tile design allowing airflow and any liquid runoff.

 

[onyxhawk]

Surfing other posts RaceDeck1 had suggested a polyurethane weed barrier/ underlayment.

eg. Lowes Underlayment

As an option to still allow the floor to breath, but would decreased the hollow sound. I believe more Pergo floor have/ recommend the padding/underlayment.

 

[les_garten]

I noticed after laying some down on my floor that a little fabric goes a long way to suppress the "clack clack" sound. I just ordered this today for my install.

http://www.amazon.com/PBK4300-300-Feet-3-Ounce-Barrier-Landscape/dp/B000WEIJTI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1301026872&sr=8-3

It adds to the price, but breathes and is supposed to allow water to move in and out. It's a little heavier than your average weed barrier. Ordering my RaceDeck by Monday.

 

[MSG C5]

I noticed after laying some down on my floor that a little fabric goes a long way to suppress the "clack clack" sound. I just ordered this today for my install.

http://www.amazon.com/PBK4300-300-Feet-3-Ounce-Barrier-Landscape/dp/B000WEIJTI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1301026872&sr=8-3

It adds to the price, but breathes and is supposed to allow water to move in and out. It's a little heavier than your average weed barrier. Ordering my RaceDeck by Monday.

Good luck with the install. Let us know if there is any difference in the sound. (Hopefully you will test run a section without the barrier material to compare).

 

[onyxhawk]

Si, Let us know.

Awaiting delivery on RD flooring. Will try the same things.. no underlay vs. using an underlay. But my test is 1.5 weeks out.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Si, Let us know.

Awaiting delivery on RD flooring. Will try the same things.. no underlay vs. using an underlay. But my test is 1.5 weeks out.

Thanks for choosing RaceDeck!
If you decide that you want under-layment, we recommend the synthetic type landscape felt over foam. Foam can react to petroleum products and it also does not allow the concrete floor to breath very well. With the landscape material, it allows moisture to pass through...you can find this at most any Lowes or Home Depot for very cheap.

Thanks again

 

[MSG C5]

Thanks for choosing RaceDeck!
If you decide that you want under-layment, we recommend the synthetic type landscape felt over foam. Foam can react to petroleum products and it also does not allow the concrete floor to breath very well. With the landscape material, it allows moisture to pass through...you can find this at most any Lowes or Home Depot for very cheap.

Thanks again

I understand that the landscape felt is designed to allow moisture to pass through, however, since I have only used it on landscaping projects and not inside, will it smell as a result of the rain water, moisture, etc. that seeps through the tiles?

 

[onyxhawk]

Thanks for choosing RaceDeck!
If you decide that you want under-layment, we recommend the synthetic type landscape felt over foam. Foam can react to petroleum products and it also does not allow the concrete floor to breath very well. With the landscape material, it allows moisture to pass through...you can find this at most any Lowes or Home Depot for very cheap.

Thanks again

Thanks. PS. Any particular brand or thickness recommended? As much as I have a concern about the sound, I would hate to ruin the investment by having mold or moisture build-up.

I understand that the landscape felt is designed to allow moisture to pass through, however, since I have only used it on landscaping projects and not inside, will it smell as a result of the rain water, moisture, etc. that seeps through the tiles?

Great question. The material doesn't seem to have any baseline 'smell' to it. Not sure how it does long-term after installation (indoors).

 

[RaceDeck1]

Thanks. PS. Any particular brand or thickness recommended? As much as I have a concern about the sound, I would hate to ruin the investment by having mold or moisture build-up.



Great question. The material doesn't seem to have any baseline 'smell' to it. Not sure how it does long-term after installation (indoors).

We do not recommend using any underlayment with our our floors and 99.9% of our customers do not. In the event a particular customer chooses to use one, we have found the landscape felt works the best over time. I am not aware of any odor issues. Rubber and Vinyl can really smell awful and foam may react to petroleum products over time. Plus, landscape felt is very inexpensive.

 

[onyxhawk]

We do not recommend using any underlayment with our our floors and 99.9% of our customers do not. In the event a particular customer chooses to use one, we have found the landscape felt works the best over time. I am not aware of any odor issues. Rubber and Vinyl can really smell awful and foam may react to petroleum products over time. Plus, landscape felt is very inexpensive.

Thanks for the feedback/ response. Waiting on the flooring. Plan to try a section with nothing and then make a decision. Will try to post some feedback either way.

Thanks again.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Thanks for the feedback/ response. Waiting on the flooring. Plan to try a section with nothing and then make a decision. Will try to post some feedback either way.

Thanks again.

We also have our patent "Shock Tower" system which are shock absorbing inserts within the understructure. The purpose is for anti-fatigue in commercial applications, but also serves as a sound muffler. However, that may be overkill for what you are looking for and the cost is much higher then the Landscape material .

 

[smcrae]

I have a small section of my race deck on the floor - used it to match paint colors so I can paint before the floor goes down.

I put a piece of landscape fabric under one half and it does reduce the 'click' as you walk on it a bit. I will probably put fabric under the main work areas but not the entire floor.

The section I have down looks really good - i think I'm going to be very happy with it. Customer service and delivery was great!
Poor UPS guy that had to unload it - but said he wants to see it when its done...

 

[Fargin]

When I first put my tile down I thought the sound would bother me as well. After having it down for a couple weeks, the only time I notice it is in the morning when I walk out to go to work. And that is only because it is so quiet that early in the morning.

When I am working in the garage or there is even a little background noise, I don't hear the floor at all.

 

[mikeyr]

Same here, I really don't understand the issue with the noise, it has never bothered me but I have had my Racedeck longer then most people, coming up on 10 years now (I am not really sure how long, I think 8 years, wife says I installed in 2001 and she would know since she keeps track of how much I spend on the garage vs. the house )