RaceDeck or Swisstrax Installation question?

[Strake]

Does anyone know if you are supposed to install Race Deck garage flooring at 72 degrees or more? I didn't notice anything on their website instructions, but I did see the following on SwissTrax installation website: I would like to do this in the next month and it's currently 32 here now

Swisstrax interlocking flooring tiles must be site conditioned at room temperature (72° F or higher) for a period of 24 hours prior to installation. It is ideal to put the tiles which will be placed at the front of the garage in the direct sunlight for a period of time prior to installation to allow the tiles to expand, especially if they will be exposed to direct sunlight when the garage door is open."

I am awaiting a quote from Swiss Trax to help determine who I order from.... I'm also leaning to a solid tile, rather than the Flow Thur, or RibTrax style as I'm thinking it's more of a pain to have to vacuum up the floor than just sweep or blow it out.

Thanks in advance

 

[bry@n]

I'm looking at both myself but really liked the ribtrax sample I received. In my limited testing, it was considerably quieter when walking on it over a solid tile.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Does anyone know if you are supposed to install Race Deck garage flooring at 72 degrees or more? I didn't notice anything on their website instructions, but I did see the following on SwissTrax installation website: I would like to do this in the next month and it's currently 32 here now

Swisstrax interlocking flooring tiles must be site conditioned at room temperature (72° F or higher) for a period of 24 hours prior to installation. It is ideal to put the tiles which will be placed at the front of the garage in the direct sunlight for a period of time prior to installation to allow the tiles to expand, especially if they will be exposed to direct sunlight when the garage door is open."

I am awaiting a quote from Swiss Trax to help determine who I order from.... I'm also leaning to a solid tile, rather than the Flow Thur, or RibTrax style as I'm thinking it's more of a pain to have to vacuum up the floor than just sweep or blow it out.

Thanks in advance

I'm looking at both myself but really liked the ribtrax sample I received. In my limited testing, it was considerably quieter when walking on it over a solid tile.

People install garage floor tile in the winter all the time. There are a couple of issues, and some brands are better at dealing with them than others:

• Freezing cold tile locks can be a little brittle.
• If you have heavy objects that don't move at all and you install in winter, when summer comes and the floor wants to expand you can get some buckling cause by the floor not being able to expand and contract as necessary

Here in Colorado, if we take the tiles on a sunny day and put them in direct sunlight we seem to be able to mitigate most of the issue. We are just very careful to leave expansion and contraction gaps.

We also tend to leave the door between the house and the garage open for the day prior and the day of installation and we get the garage warmed up that way.

 

[Strake]

People install garage floor tile in the winter all the time. There are a couple of issues, and some brands are better at dealing with them than others:

• Freezing cold tile locks can be a little brittle.
• If you have heavy objects that don't move at all and you install in winter, when summer comes and the floor wants to expand you can get some buckling cause by the floor not being able to expand and contract as necessary

Here in Colorado, if we take the tiles on a sunny day and put them in direct sunlight we seem to be able to mitigate most of the issue. We are just very careful to leave expansion and contraction gaps.

We also tend to leave the door between the house and the garage open for the day prior and the day of installation and we get the garage warmed up that way.

Thanks Justin !!!

 

[bry@n]

I can just put the heat on in the garage then. Thanks for the info.

 

[RaceDeck1]

Hi. We echo Justin, we have customers install in the cold all the time. Our tiles being brittle has never been an issue. Installing in direct sunlight and with heat on in the garage definitely helps and expansion space is a must. You might just have to make a few adjustments in the heat of summer.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Hi. We echo Justin, we have customers install in the cold all the time. Our tiles being brittle has never been an issue. Installing in direct sunlight and with heat on in the garage definitely helps and expansion space is a must. You might just have to make a few adjustments in the heat of summer.

I can't say I have ever seen it with the RaceDeck brand in specific but I have seen people take tiles off a fedex truck in sub zero weather and instead of using their hands or feet, use a mallet and have issues with the locks breaking

 

[dubber]

I installed mine in my old garage in February (Canadian Winter) without issue.

 

[Strake]

I installed mine in my old garage in February (Canadian Winter) without issue.

WOW !!!!! I just read through you Double Thread...... Nice job on the entire thing. Looks stunning. I'm very much a neat freak and have everything in it's proper place in our garage. Almost nothing on the floor, and little exposed stuff on the walls.

Question, since you've had the Flow Thru RD installed for a bit, and are back in winter...... How bad is it to clean up after driving the car in dragging all the winter road stuff they put down ? I assume you just use a shop vac a few times during the winter? Any regrets not using a solid tile instead?