I see that several manufacturers make a ribbed or free-flow type of tile. The Racedeck free-flow tile seems to be considerably less expensive than the TrueLock ribbed tile or the SwissTrax ribbed tile. Have any of you folks used these in their garage and have any user feedback? Thanks, Jim
Ribbed or free-flow tile
- Thread starter Jdriskell
- Start date
phins2rt
Well-known member
I don't think anyone here has used these products.
RaceDeck1
Well-known member
I've only used the RaceDeck, as it is what I have. As far as how it is working out, after a year and all four seasons, it is doing quite well. I don't know whether you have specific questions, and if you do, add them and I'll respond in more detail if necessary.
By the way, I live in an area of real winter [read: snow, ice, frozen road slush dripping off car undersides and tires, spring mud, autumn leaves and pine needles blowing in, and so on.] My clean-up, so far in my limited time experience, consists of a combination, depending, of using a broom, the shop vacuum, a damp rag. Eventually, I shall pull out some of the tiles to remove a bit of road dirt that has accumulated behind where each tire sits. Don't need to do so, yet, but I can see I will one day. The tiles are easy to snap out and set aside for this.
By the way, I live in an area of real winter [read: snow, ice, frozen road slush dripping off car undersides and tires, spring mud, autumn leaves and pine needles blowing in, and so on.] My clean-up, so far in my limited time experience, consists of a combination, depending, of using a broom, the shop vacuum, a damp rag. Eventually, I shall pull out some of the tiles to remove a bit of road dirt that has accumulated behind where each tire sits. Don't need to do so, yet, but I can see I will one day. The tiles are easy to snap out and set aside for this.
Ok, yes, I've on a few occasions dropped a fastener or whatever and had to fish it out from under the tile. Needle-nosed pliers work. Most of the time, the fastener does not fall completely down through the tile grid and I can just pick it up. I use saws some, so sawdust and chips can also fall through. Those are cleaned up easily with a shop vac. I actually put solid tiles in the dedicated area where I normally use the table saw, router, grinder, etc. The main part of the place is, however, Free Flow tiles. Every situation is different; for me, having most of the area in Free Flow is good. Others might prefer solid tiles. Whatever. All in all, having to fish out a screw or washer on the odd occasion is worth the comfort and so forth of the tiles.
As to liquids, I haven't the problem. When I change oil in my tractor/cars/etc., I typically place a large sheet of cardboard under the oil pan. However, I used to do this when the floor was bare concrete, so I am doing nothing different there. For my airplane, I have large, flat aluminum "cookie-sheet-like" drip pans that reside under the engines when parked, as old airplanes leak as much oil as your cars, no doubt. They would work well with cars, too.
As to liquids, I haven't the problem. When I change oil in my tractor/cars/etc., I typically place a large sheet of cardboard under the oil pan. However, I used to do this when the floor was bare concrete, so I am doing nothing different there. For my airplane, I have large, flat aluminum "cookie-sheet-like" drip pans that reside under the engines when parked, as old airplanes leak as much oil as your cars, no doubt. They would work well with cars, too.
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SteveCh, how difficult would it be to remove a freeflow tile from the center of your floor? Say if one got damaged or stained somehow. Could you remove one and snap another in place?
dubber
Well-known member
RaceDeck1
Well-known member
Here is a quick video demonstrating how you can remove a single module from anywhere in the floor
Trey T
Well-known member
Ribbed and free-flow!?!? LoL.... FREE-FLOW, man!!!!!
JohnX14
Well-known member
Slight threadjack, but with so many racedeck threads I hope nobody minds. Is racedeck at all slippery when wet?
dubber
Well-known member
I can only speak to the free flow RD tiles, and the answer would be no. Their design wicks away moisture from the top of the tile.
Garage Flooring
ALLIANCE MEMBER
JohnX14
Well-known member
Thanks. I ordered the standard diamond flooring if anyone else has input.