RaceDeck...The Details

[Babalu]

Needless to say if i'm looking at a RaceDeck type tile flooring I'm concerned about the appearance and function of the flooring. I've got a few questions that some of you experianced users may be able to answer. I'm a **** former home builder/contactor. Thanks in advance for your help!!

1. How do you detail the flooring against the garage foundation walls (my concrete foundation walls extend approximately 6" above the floor level). Some users have commented that the expansion gap along the walls does no cause a issue. I think it will look unfinished ( the gap will be uneven and not straight) and will catch debris etc. I'm thinking I can trim this off with rubber base/cove mold (see pic.) glued to the wall. I can't nail any baseboard/trim into the perimeter wall as it is concrete. What do you think?

2. Another issue. I have a four car garage - I know..poor baby - back on task (2-16' OH doors) and the openings are staggered/jogged (not straight across in line with each other- see pic.). If I start with a full tile and allowances for the beveled edge trim pieces at the opening of one door, how do I make it align with the other door if the full tile math doesn't work? The jog may cause me to have to cut the tiles along the 16' length of the door and I won't have a factory edge to attach the beveled edge trim to. I haven't done the exact measuring yet, but imagine others have run into this issue before. Oh...what to do?

Thanks again for the help,

Bob

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Not sure what the difference in depth with your two garage doors... but Racedeck supplies the standard 12"x12" squares, but also offer Racedeck XL which is 18"x18" squares. These will apparently interlock with the 12"x12" ones. So although not totally customizable, you have options in 6" increments, so possibly that will help you line it up closer.

 

[danieldolin]

I would give RD a call once you get your exact measurements, they may be able to create something for you as a solution... I remember when I was creating my pattern they had a picture on thier website of a person who did a diagonal tile layment in thier design so the edge was a triangle piece of tile and there was a factory edge piece attached so they are able to do some custom stuff if need be. I am sure they have run into this situation before.

As for the edges, I can tell you that mine are just left with a gap all around the edges. I am pretty OCD and thought it would bother me but it does not. If you are going to do any trim pieces, I would wait until the floor is installed for several weeks before you trim it out just to allow for all expansion to occur first. I had to pull up some tiles and re-cut smaller once they expanded. The recommended gap allowance was not large enough.

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

The recommended gap allowance was not large enough.

Do you have any recommendations here? I was planning on 3/4" gap. My garage width is 22' which I wasn't too worried about but my depth is 41' and figured I may see more expansion on that direction.

 

[darkk]

We left about a 3/4" at the rear and the sides for expansion and started the front edge a few inches from the door openings and used the tapered transition edges for the cars to drive up on. The cut edges look fine if you use a guide on your saw to get the cuts all the same. As for the noise, we used landscaping material under the flooring. The clacking noise as you call it is not bad at all, we don't even notice it.

 

[Babalu]

I would give RD a call once you get your exact measurements, they may be able to create something for you as a solution... I remember when I was creating my pattern they had a picture on thier website of a person who did a diagonal tile layment in thier design so the edge was a triangle piece of tile and there was a factory edge piece attached so they are able to do some custom stuff if need be. I am sure they have run into this situation before.

As for the edges, I can tell you that mine are just left with a gap all around the edges. I am pretty OCD and thought it would bother me but it does not. If you are going to do any trim pieces, I would wait until the floor is installed for several weeks before you trim it out just to allow for all expansion to occur first. I had to pull up some tiles and re-cut smaller once they expanded. The recommended gap allowance was not large enough.

Thanks for the tips. Good idea on allowing the floor to stabilize for a few weeks before applying any trim to the wall edges or considering the job done. I need to make up a little floor plan and send it to RaceDeck/others for advice.

 

[kartracer23]

Thanks for the tips. Good idea on allowing the floor to stabilize for a few weeks before applying any trim to the wall edges or considering the job done. I need to make up a little floor plan and send it to RaceDeck/others for advice.

You can do your floor plan right on their site:



http://www.racedeck.com/designer.php

 

[danieldolin]

Do you have any recommendations here? I was planning on 3/4" gap. My garage width is 22' which I wasn't too worried about but my depth is 41' and figured I may see more expansion on that direction.

I think it has more to do with weather... if a majority of that 41' depth does not see sunlight, it will not be a big deal. My expansion all occurred where sunlight hit the floor, just the first few feet inside the garage.

 

[Stee6043]

I think the amount of gap you leave around the edges is entirely dependant on the temperature the day you do your install and whether or not you have heavy items along the entire perimeter of your garage.

I installed my RaceDeck on a 90 degree day (tiles were out in the garage for a week prior). On one side of my garage I have a 4 poist lift and on the other I have several shelving/cabinet units and a riding lawn mower. In my case a 1/2" gap has been more then enough and I really think I could have installed the floor with zero gap based on the way I did it.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the only reason you need a gap is to allow for thermal expansion. If you install your floor on what should be one of the hottest days your garage will typically see your floor should never "grow" more than it does that day.

Install it on a hot miserable day, put weight around the edges and enjoy.

 

[florentinoworkz]

To get the exact amount I would recommend using Google Sketchup. Very simple program to use plus its free. Just measure then draw everything to scale in Sketchup. I just put my order in today! Dunja from Racedeck was very helpful and patient through my ordering process. Don't forget to ask for the forum discount. Can't Wait!

 

[Babalu]

kartracer23,


Love the Pic of you and Mario. I got his autograph about 30 years ago when I was a kid and still have it.