dr.k
Active member
I haven't seen any discussions about vinyl tiles like Tuff-Seal in some time. Any one using this style of flooring? If not, how come? Price, size? School me on the real world pros and cons! Thanks dr.k
Vinyl Floor Tiles
- Thread starter dr.k
- Start date
kngelv
Well-known member
Not much action on the flooring lately regarding floor tiles of any type. Searching is your friend. I have two garages with RaceDeck. I do auto and dirtbike maintenance/repair in both and would never use vinyl. Tire pick-up staining etc. If doing a wood shop the I think it's a nice choice.
James
James
kngelv
Well-known member
Shea
Well-known member
Polyvinyl garage floor tiles aren't as popular in garages, which is probably why you haven't heard back. There are a few reasons for this. They are typically more expensive than their hard plastic polypropylene cousins, they are more easily subject to expansion from direct sunlight and warm spaces, and tires will stain them where you park. If you choose black or dark grey for those areas, it's less noticeable.
The advantages of polyvinyl tiles are a very quiet surface to walk on, excellent sound absorption, and durability. They are also relatively stain-resistant and water-tight, though not waterproof.
If tile expansion is a concern, self-draining polypropylene tiles, such as RaceDeck FreeFlow or Swisstrax Ribtrax Pro, are excellent choices. They can be in direct sunlight and will rarely show signs of buckling when installed correctly. They also look clean all the time, since dirt and debris fall between the ribs and onto the concrete below. Right now Swisstrax is having a 12% off sale on Ribtrax Pro. You can check prices here.
BillK
Well-known member
I agree with you 100% on that.
In the first building my business was in we had a pretty large room that was for engine assembly and some machining. That room had commercial vinyl tiles on the floor. It held up great in the 5 years we were there and was very easy to clean and keep looking nice. Obviously we didn't drive cars in there but definitely had metal wheel engine stand rolling around. Was never a real problem.
I think as long as yours is the typical hobby garage that would be a good option. I dont think the temperature is an issue. I doubt that the concrete slab ever gets anywhere near as hot as you think.
This is very similar to what we had.
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duneslider
Well-known member
When you say vinyl tiles what are you meaning? Are you talking about VCT, or something else.
Shea
Well-known member
The OP mentioned Tuff Seal tiles, which are a polyvinyl interlocking tile. So I assumed that is what he was referring to, but maybe not? It's a good question to verify which material specifically.
Ya, Tuff Seal tiles. I like the interlocking no visible seal concept, but pretty expensive!
Any one use the Race Deck with the Shock-Tower option?
They have rubber bonded to the bottom.
Seems like that would eliminate the "clacking" of the regular tiles?
My cement floor here with the door closed reaches 100+. Way hotter with the door open, 120+.
Our low temp in the Summer is around 93. No cold water out of the tap!
Any one use the Race Deck with the Shock-Tower option?
They have rubber bonded to the bottom.
Seems like that would eliminate the "clacking" of the regular tiles?
My cement floor here with the door closed reaches 100+. Way hotter with the door open, 120+.
Our low temp in the Summer is around 93. No cold water out of the tap!
duneslider
Well-known member
I have heard of issues with expansion/contraction with the interlocking tiles in those sorts of situations. May not be the best choice for what you are doing. Might be better off with epoxy or something like that.
Shea
Well-known member
They don't make a clacking sound; it's more like a hollow, softer plock (best I can describe it)
. RaceDeck claims the ShockTower technology reduces noise by 30%, but there hasn't been much feedback on this. Inserting the ShockTowers can be a bit finicky if I recall. I recommend calling RaceDeck to discuss the temps for the environment. Unlike self-draining designs with surface gaps, solid-top designs will expand with warmer temps because of the much greater amount of material on the surface. Give them a call. Their customer service is very good and they should be able to provide you with the answers you need.kngelv
Well-known member
The shock towers come preinstalled and I have it in my new garage. My attached garage is all FreeFlow and my detached has a FreeFlow perimeter and Diamond with Shocktower in the majority and under my lift. Reduces solid tile noise by well over 50%. FreeFlow is even quieter.
James
James
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I have Tuff Seal in my 800SF garage shop. I like their pros and dislike their cons. They are quiet, comfortable, and water tight. They stain where the car tires regularly sit and they expand in sunlight. You can reduce visible staining by using a pattern with all black where the tires will be. You can reduce expansion issues by wall mounting benches and allowing room to float under baseboard trim, but if you have a bunch of heavy things all over your floor, there will eventually be bulges and you may have to reset part of the floor. I am at that point after 8 years.
Thanks for the reply pbon. Like I said before, it get really hot here and I usually have the garage door open while puttering around.
I don't care for the freeflow tiles, paint is out, no way or place to move all of my stuff out.
I guess I'm stuck for now with the old paint that was put down 25 years ago!
I don't care for the freeflow tiles, paint is out, no way or place to move all of my stuff out.
I guess I'm stuck for now with the old paint that was put down 25 years ago!
If I have the doors open and direct sun is hitting the tiles for a while on a hot day, I can see they have expanded. There is no perfect solution, and different floors work best for different uses and different environments. My garage is an old carriage house with a wood floor. Maybe I should have replaced the old wood with new wood, but the tiles look clean and modern.
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I8URSVT
Member
Can the racedeck easily be remove and reinstalled, if for instance plan to renovate/rebuild garage and dont want floor getting damaged during that work?The shock towers come preinstalled and I have it in my new garage. My attached garage is all FreeFlow and my detached has a FreeFlow perimeter and Diamond with Shocktower in the majority and under my lift. Reduces solid tile noise by well over 50%. FreeFlow is even quiter.
James
Just_Steve
Well-known member
I like these interlocking tiles just fine but my garage is more of a wood shop, I only put a car in when working on it in bad weather so don't get tire marks. The floor floats so don't worry about expansion. All of my cabinets are wall mounted.
I'm looking as well. I have samples of a competitor of RaceDeck but weighing options. Been sitting in a hold pattern for about 2years, need to do something.
I thought about the free flow style like kngelv put down around perimeter and then solid in the centers. I had them pour the slab pretty flat for my lift and now water tends to sit until absorbed by concrete and/or drain. Only an issue after a rain or snow and a wet car comes in. My worry is mold/mildew building up over time or things like rock dust (off alley entrance with white rock alley) general dust or sawdust. How do you clean under? I tend to blow the garage out fairly often from stuff tracking in. Is that an issue with the open tiles??
****hope it's ok I jumped into this thread with my own questions****
I thought about the free flow style like kngelv put down around perimeter and then solid in the centers. I had them pour the slab pretty flat for my lift and now water tends to sit until absorbed by concrete and/or drain. Only an issue after a rain or snow and a wet car comes in. My worry is mold/mildew building up over time or things like rock dust (off alley entrance with white rock alley) general dust or sawdust. How do you clean under? I tend to blow the garage out fairly often from stuff tracking in. Is that an issue with the open tiles??
****hope it's ok I jumped into this thread with my own questions****
kngelv
Well-known member
Easy to remove. You can pull it out in sections. I don't think mildew is an issue. All FreeFlow just evaporates. The channels underneath the solid tile allow water to drain. If your floor is completely flat then not exactly sure. I'm sure it will eventually evaporate.
James
James
Just_Steve
Well-known member
Interlocking Industrial Flooring Tiles - ArmorPoxy Flooring
SupraTile is excellent PVC Polymer interlocking floor tiles manufactured from the highest standard industrial-grade base materials. Great for use in hangars, warehouses, offices, gyms, and garages.
armorpoxy.com
They are a GJ site sponsor, I caught a good sale on leftover stock a few years ago otherwise they are a bit costly. If you contact them they are very responsive, maybe they have another over stock sale going.
Just_Steve
Well-known member
They behave fine in July & August in NY but don't have any direct sunlight on them, as far as tire marking I have only had cold tires on them so would not know for everyday use.