The key is that you were able to remove the entire section. What some (myself included) thought was that it would become such an exercise of reattaching the tiles one (or few) at a time. The moment I saw you lifting the entire section up changed my view on this subject quite a lot. Thanks for sharing.
wai wong Haha. That would be a very tiresome way of doing it. Like you might have seen in the video, the longer sections can accidentally separate but I try to do it in 3 long sections every time.
Great video! I’ve had my Swisstrax for two years and did my first clean a few weeks ago. The only issue I had was making sure to wear gloves!😂 I got a few cuts on my hands as the tile edges can be a little sharp. Locking the last group of tiles in can be a bit of a pain too but that is worth it. I love my floor!👍
Lego D17 Yeah, gloves are a must. Lining things up for refastening is equal part “art” and equal part “science”. Some days I nail it and some days it’s a real pain. Today things went very smoothly.
The ol swisstrax vs epoxy debate. They’re definitely pros and cons to both. Personally I like the look of the swisstrax. Can’t beat the aesthetics. And of course as you’ve mentioned, you don’t get your feet wet. But there is maintenance involved. And my lazy ass prefers to just squeegee the water out than let the gunk hangout underneath. That’s why I went with epoxy. 😆 Garage is looking sweet, Rick! Take care.
Yup, that’s 100% legit. There’s no definitive winner in this age-old debate. It depends on what you do in your garage, how dirty it gets, how particular you are and what you prefer the look of. They both have a place. The trick is recognizing which option will suit your needs and preferences the best.
I love it when people find my channel and bring some life to these previous uploads. I hope you'll stick and around and check out some of my later stuff. Take care man.
Been watching loads of your previous videos, the time to edit these and the quality of your work is outstanding...plus you work on plenty of RS5's. Thanks, many tips to cleaning my own cars over in GB!!!
I know this video is two years old but much appreciate the swisstrax videos. I think in another video you said you have 250 days of wet weather a year. That's rough man!
I would say that estimate of 250 days is still quite accurate. There's rarely a day between October and May where there isn't some slop on the undercarriage that gets carted in to the garage. The constant dripping of muddy water thankfully falls under the Swisstrax allowing the rest of the floor to remain dry. The average garage floor in these parts is almost always dirty and wet.
Rick just a suggestion, why don’t you elevate the tiles and drag them over your bucket device when you first lift them to pull them out the garage, this way you can drag them out and clean them at the same time and then clean your floor. Only need to pull the tiles back in then and potentially saves you cleaning the tiles over your cleaned floor.
Veng Interesting. Let me wrap my head around that for a bit. This is the best part of sharing my process, having others weigh in. I’ll report back after the next floor washing session.
I thought the same when I saw him rinsing over the clean section. I know he said the tiles aren't dirty so just a rinse will suffice but there would still be little junk coming back in. +1 for rinsing on way out.
Alex If the tiles are actually dirty I only spray the tiles that are on the descending side of the arc, on the driveway side. These tiles were actually very clean but I know what you guys are saying. Rinsing on the way out could get messy since the floor around the door is usually the dirtiest part since water flows in the direction carrying mud and debris with it.
There's probably quicker ways to clean up the floor, but this is the best way I have discovered. Thanks for the compliments. All the best to you and everyone down there in Puerto Rico!
Just finished an exam, so now it's time for your video! I already know the Swisstrax floor is not for me, since I live in the Netherlands. If we have a cold winter it snows maybe one week, and freezes for some occasional nights and a whole week. The driveway of my parents is covered in about 2 inches of pebbles, so it basically acts as a cheap Swisstrax alternative :) Still, I enjoy your cleaning process!
Hi Jaap! Even if you don't think a Swisstrax floor would work for your purposes, I'm glad to share my garage experience with others. I enjoy watching videos by other RUclipsrs even when I know it won't have a direct impact on the way I do things. It's a great community that way! I hope you did well on your exam! 👨🏽🎓
@@RADGarage I think I did alright :) By the way Rick, you mentioning the fact that the communal feeling is important to you is something that you really succeed in conveying to us, the audience. This is best explained by the fact that I don't really feel like the audience anymore, but rather part of the RAD garage gang ;) I started out watching your channel for the car detailing, but stayed because you show your garage and all sorts of projects such as the driveway sealing and the carriage door (on the website). I feel part of this community now, and feel like I know your garage in real life!
Thanks for this, had a few questions: 1)what sealer did you use on the concrete before placing the tiles? 2)Since glossy, does that make concrete wet when slippery or make the tiles move when the car brakes on it. 3) does it matter the positioning of male/female joints when placing the tiles back? Or simply just lift any side and put it back together?
1. I use a high gloss acrylic sealer on my driveway as well as the garage floor. 2. This makes the garage floor extremely slippery when wet. Once the Swisstrax floor is back in place, I obviously don't need to concern myself with how wet it is, but when I do floor cleans I am very careful. There is no movement in the floor once everything is back in place. 3. Yes, you need to consider the fact that it is easier to replace the tiles when you are putting males on top of females. I kind of messed this up with my initial install. If I could do it over, I would have been more aware of this.
Really enjoyed the video, very informative. We have a Polyurea floor in our studio and whilst it is excellent in terms of durability it doesn't maintain its initial fresh look. We are therefore getting Swisstrax flooring to preserve the floor etc..
If you decide to go the Swisstrax route, shoot the OG guys a message and see what they quote you. If you used this referral link, you'd be earning me valuable credit with them: bit.ly/2YNr5g0
Useful info Rick! I'll be sure to use this for reference. Beautiful things take time and attention. I'm excited for you to get the comet, when I switched from 1/4" to 3/8 pressure washer hose it made a world of difference. Much less kinking and less choice words at said hose!
Bucky VW That hose has taken years off my life. I’ll burn it when my new one arrives. Thanks for stopping by Bucky. I know I don’t have to sell you on the benefits of a floor like this.
A very dedicated Swiss Trax expert!! I would love to do this, but my local supplier charges $AUD5 per little square!! As we are about to do one last push to finish tidying up our 25 year home maybe its time to budget for it. Looks great. Thanks Rick
In Detail Car Care Solutions It does come at a cost and I understand that things are super expensive in Australia. It was worth it for me for more reasons than just the looks. I need to do a video that explains the benefits I get from having Swisstrax.
Alex Sometimes they advertise square footage price, sometimes they’ll advertise price for the actual 15.75” x 15.75” tile. I just ordered some solid vinyl tiles at $6.99/sq ft. Which equates to $12/tile.
@@RADGarage ok. Thanks. Yes here in Australia the cheapeest I can get for plain coloured ribtrax is $11.50 per individual square. Makes it exremely expensive for a triple garage. 😀
Yes, that would add up really quickly. If you don't have a dire need for it, I can see how it is something that isn't high up your priority list. You are the first person I have spoken to that owns a triple in Australia. Are they somewhat rare?
Like I said in a previous comment, I wish information like this was available when I was initially researching tile floor systems for my garage back in 2009-2010. I would have made the decision much quicker than I did!
Loved the video. Very professional as usual. And you already have the special tool from Obsessed Garage - nice to see it in action. I still have this floor on my to do list - maybe next summer. For now I have about a half dozen samples I got from Obsessed Garage to play with and decide on color and such.
Yeah, I was an early adopter of that tool since Shaun sent me one to try out before it became amiable for sale! It's a collectors item now! I think Swisstrax definitely has a place and it is a god send for some while just doesn't suit the needs of others. I am in the process of planning out my "10 Reasons I love my Swisstrax" video. I'm stuck on number 10, but I already have a solid 9 reasons it is the right choice for me. Figuring out the design you want to go with must be one of the most exciting parts of the process - oh, maybe I just found my tenth reason I love my Swisstrax - the fun I had conjuring up the design! A lot more satisfying to me than deciding what colour flakes to use!
I like your garage and I just subbed your channel. I have watched several of videos and honestly I enjoyed them. I am an East Coaster, Newfoundland and Labrador actually, on the island part. Look forward to your next one.
jayc5764 The garage floor has a perfect amount of pitch so the water flows in a single direction and very slowly out of the garage. It is not the most ideal system so I do have a long range plan here to rip up the front 5 or 6 feet of the floor and repour it with a trench drain and catch basin. Just need the figure out how I will finance it. Wanna donate? 😆
I'm seriously considering Swisstrax but cannot decide between ribtrax or diamondtrax. Garage concrete floor is sealed once a year and I'm in Ontario so get a lot of snow/ice, grit salt crap in the winter. I do my my car washing on the driveway rather than in the garage during warmer months. I prefer the look of ribtrax but diamondtrax seems that it will be easier to clean up as no dirt drops down to the concrete. Any thoughts? Also, with ribtrax any reason why you don't use a containment mat in the winter to keep the tiles/concrete cleaner for longer?
Great series of videos. I cannot see any drawbacks other than the cleaning required but then again, all the other benefits. They made the difference in my decision to purchase it. And I just saw the .25 rebate by using your code. When i finalize the decision with Casey or Scott, i will mention it and hope it works. Thanks...a new subscriber. Nice wheels, have the same. Roy
@@RADGarage All done other than some track gear to put on the walls. I dealt with Scott and he gave me 5% when i mentioned your videos and discount. I am not sure how to post a pic here?. But as mentioned, your videos helped immensely in taking the decision. I know i will enjoy it for years. Thanks again. Roy
The look of the vinyl pieces near your workstation is great! Do you have issues with trapped water or moisture under the vinyl tiles (since they don’t have similar airflow to as the ribtrax)?
I have been super pleased with the choice to integrate the black oak VinylTrax tiles into my scheme. I pull them up once a year and have not seen any significant signs of hidden/trapped moisture but this part of the garage doesn’t see much water. If you are getting lots of water on the solid tiles, some water will find its way into the joints but they are pretty snug. Laying a Swisstrax floor down requires a bit of a leap of faith. It has worked out nicely for me.
I used to use a paint can opener and a screwdriver, but when you twist this tool 90-degrees, you can be assured you pull the tile up every time. With those other devices you would sometimes have to repeat the motion and when you are doing is a lot, it would get frustrating. Can you live without the tool? Yes. But, if you are pulling up tiles as often as me, it is a great little investment. When my garage door closes, it just misses the ramp edges.
Have you ever tried pressure wash the swisstrack floor (not removed) at an angle in order to push the dirt to the front of garage? I know this design of tracks is made to let the water flow under it, when they are used in some labs or industrial application. Would be a good design if you could just remove the front tiles at the entrance and blow everything out..
I would do that only if there was a little bit of dirt underneath. In my experience, when you pressure wash the floor in place, water goes everywhere spreading dirt and mud with it. The only way to ensure you are evacuating 100% of the grime underneath is doing what I do in this video. But, that's my experience up here. I know guys that use. shop vac and suck up 100% of the dirt that falls through their floors, but that is NOT my life. Sadly.
@@RADGarage I use my pressure washer with a surface cleaner attachment. Works perfectly every time. No mess, no need to pull the tiles out. Huge time saver an the floor is completely clean, meaning the tiles and the concrete underneath.
So if you were going to start fresh, would you use Ribtrax again or would you consider Diamontrax? I wonder if the Diamondtrax would make for easier cleaning? I suppose the new problem would be that the dirt/water would pool on top instead of falling through as it does now?
Yeah, you nailed it. The number one function of the Ribtrax is it sallows me to be on a dry walking/working surface. That is what makes detailing in this garage so comfortable and satisfying. I have no interest in the Diamondtrax. I think that would be more at home in a garage what was getting a more serious workout.
Hi Nate. I think using a ping pong table on top of Swisstrax Ribtrax would work well. You'd want to have locking casters though, because things slide easily on the Ribtrax. And, you'd be playing in shoes, because the floor is nice to work on but not with bare or stocking feet. My son and I are obsessed with ping pong, but our table is in the basement on very soft carpet!
@@RADGarage Great, thanks for your thoughts! Shoes make sense, since the ribs focus the pressure on a smaller area. We play in shoes anyway! :) Rubbertrax is an option and I imagine more comfortable to stand on, but I'm not sure if it would be annoying for ping pong.
mike stefani Thanks Mike. Information such as this didn’t exist when I purchased my first garage floor system ten years ago so hopefully this will help others make an informed decision.
So, why couldn't you just spray the tiles in your garage? All the dirt can go to the floor, and you can pull the tiles, sweep, and replace. You would save a step
I've tried it every way imaginable over the past decade and this is the way I feel gets everything the cleanest. Spraying the floor in the garage with the pressure washer tends to shoot dirty water everywhere so I prefer to have the floor outside of the garage so no collateral damage is incurred.
Great vids, new subscriber here! Garage looks awesome! What colour of ribtrax did you use between the grey and vinyl? And also wondering how you like the rib? I’m looking at this solution and am debating on the flat vs rib.
Rib offers the advantage of making the moving of objects easier (less surface resistance) and obscures most marks. I have Pearl Grey (sometimes called Pearl Silver) as my accent band. Check out my website for more insights. www.radgarage.ca/Swisstrax-floor.html
Really good video at the perfect time for me 👌 just a question, where goes all the water during detailing? I can't see any used water evacuation on your floor 🤙
@@RADGarage does this cause a bunch of ice around your garage door? I'm in Calgary as well, and it be cool to be able to wash the car in the winter. And if you forget to knock of the ice chunks before parking in, does that slush accurate above the channels of the tiles? or do you get an icy mess at the bottom of the door? Thanks!
Wondering if trenching (someway) would help diverting the dirt away and out of the house. Don’t know if a concept would be possible. Second, did you fill in the driveway cracks before sealing?
Stoked for the Comet install. I am really entertaining the floor situation. Any idea how much weight the floor can hold? Not cutting around my shelves and rolling toolbox would dramatically speed up the install for me. 😳
John Dunnington The tiles can support the weight of anything you can throw at it. I recommend not going around things if you can avoid it. I cut my old Racedeck floor around my stairs and did it the other way with the Swisstrax. I removed the stairs, and tiles completely under them. It was much easier than tying to make all the little cuts and just looks better. That said, there would be nothing preventing you from going around large stationary items if that was what you preferred to do. I’m excited as well for the Comet install.
TerrificFlow It’s not on the way yet. For some reason I’m really struggling with pulling the trigger on a pressure washer this expensive. I don’t mind spending money but for this one I’m struggling. I am aiming at working up the courage and clicking the order button soon. You’re right though, my current PW situation is in need of an upgrade. Kranzle is way too far out of my spending comfort zone though.
@@RADGarage I'm right there with you. Previously owned Karcher K7 ( basicaly top of the line in EU except for their pro line), and now i need to get a new one since they can't get repaired without spending as much as a brand new one. Looked at kranzle, Comet, AR blue and Karcher Profesional. I love the idea of a wall-mounted pressure washer, but i need 1-2 times a year to clean pavement and walls so can't work for me. I'm not sure about your situation. If it can help your research, there's the KS1700 Extra in the Comet line that i found, sold here around 400-450eu: www.agrieuro.fr/nettoyeur-haute-pression-comet-ks-1700-extra-electrique-eau-froide-fabrique-en-italie-p-471.html In the Kranzle line, i'm really liking the A17 TST compared to the K1152 TST that Matt had. Just for the fact that you don't have to lay down the machine when you use it, which i always disliked. And they are basicaly the same machine, same price at around 650eu here.
I had no idea Comet made a stand-alone unit. That looks like it could really work well for you since you need the portability a few times each year. It seems like one of the hardest decisions a garage guy ever has to face. I think I am only a matter of days before I pull the trigger on the wall-mounted 1700. I think I will be relived when it is all said and done!
Hi. I just watched your video about your garage flooring. My question is do you find the flooring slippery, either when it's wet or dry? Thanks Grayson
Brian Sequeira I have a dozen reasons. The number one reason is my floor is wet often and I hate walking around on a wet floor. That’s not an issue with Swisstrax. Another big reason is that epoxy floors deteriorate and this floor does not. I hate the look of flakes and I would be constantly having to clean the little rocks and mud that get tracked in the garage. There’s more, but those are the main ones. My neighbour is looking to have his epoxy redone. We moved in at the same time. It just doesn’t last.
Keith’s Car detailing and fitness Yup. If I’m doing detail jobs I don’t like the feeling of a dirty floor under the tiles. The downside of being a neat freak.
I feel your pain. Luckily, I'm a bit away from the main construction of it all, but the roads in and out always have to pass by the dirt and the roads are awful. Lots of rocks on the road too that make me super nervous.
There's a little gap between the garage floor and the driveway. Most of the water drips down there, while some of it evaporates. I am going to be adding a new trench drain system at the end of this month. Stay tuned. I'm really excited about it.
When you speak to a sales representative, just be sure to mention the $0.25/square foot RAD discount. Let me know if you run into any issues. Good luck!
Thanks man. I used to use a heavy rubber mat under the jack casters and stands. A bit of a pain but it prevented them from warping under the weight and pressure. I'm in the process of putting together a video that outlines why Swisstrax works for me, but I fully recognize its not going to work in every garage.
I have no idea what Racetrax is, but I am going to assume it is one of a dozen available knock off brands. No one is saying you have to buy the best, but you’ll never hear me complain about the quality and durability of my Swisstrax floor.
The key is that you were able to remove the entire section. What some (myself included) thought was that it would become such an exercise of reattaching the tiles one (or few) at a time. The moment I saw you lifting the entire section up changed my view on this subject quite a lot. Thanks for sharing.
wai wong Haha. That would be a very tiresome way of doing it. Like you might have seen in the video, the longer sections can accidentally separate but I try to do it in 3 long sections every time.
Great video! I’ve had my Swisstrax for two years and did my first clean a few weeks ago. The only issue I had was making sure to wear gloves!😂 I got a few cuts on my hands as the tile edges can be a little sharp. Locking the last group of tiles in can be a bit of a pain too but that is worth it. I love my floor!👍
Lego D17 Yeah, gloves are a must. Lining things up for refastening is equal part “art” and equal part “science”. Some days I nail it and some days it’s a real pain. Today things went very smoothly.
the beading on that floor is crazy!!!!!! that floor cleaned up in no time thx to that sealant, great vid Rick
Mike Spina Thanks Mike. I might use that sealer on a car at some point. 😆 😝 it’ll make ceramic coating look like cake icing. 😂
@@RADGarage hahahahaha!
The ol swisstrax vs epoxy debate. They’re definitely pros and cons to both. Personally I like the look of the swisstrax. Can’t beat the aesthetics. And of course as you’ve mentioned, you don’t get your feet wet. But there is maintenance involved. And my lazy ass prefers to just squeegee the water out than let the gunk hangout underneath. That’s why I went with epoxy. 😆 Garage is looking sweet, Rick! Take care.
Yup, that’s 100% legit. There’s no definitive winner in this age-old debate. It depends on what you do in your garage, how dirty it gets, how particular you are and what you prefer the look of. They both have a place. The trick is recognizing which option will suit your needs and preferences the best.
This is great, thanks for this. I know its 2 years old but im new to your channel!!! Keep up the epic work 😎
I love it when people find my channel and bring some life to these previous uploads. I hope you'll stick and around and check out some of my later stuff. Take care man.
Been watching loads of your previous videos, the time to edit these and the quality of your work is outstanding...plus you work on plenty of RS5's. Thanks, many tips to cleaning my own cars over in GB!!!
I know this video is two years old but much appreciate the swisstrax videos. I think in another video you said you have 250 days of wet weather a year. That's rough man!
I would say that estimate of 250 days is still quite accurate. There's rarely a day between October and May where there isn't some slop on the undercarriage that gets carted in to the garage. The constant dripping of muddy water thankfully falls under the Swisstrax allowing the rest of the floor to remain dry. The average garage floor in these parts is almost always dirty and wet.
A clean garage is always good, thanks for the info and detailed demonstration on how it works.
No problem. I’m always happy to share my garage experience with others.
Rick just a suggestion, why don’t you elevate the tiles and drag them over your bucket device when you first lift them to pull them out the garage, this way you can drag them out and clean them at the same time and then clean your floor. Only need to pull the tiles back in then and potentially saves you cleaning the tiles over your cleaned floor.
Veng Interesting. Let me wrap my head around that for a bit. This is the best part of sharing my process, having others weigh in. I’ll report back after the next floor washing session.
I thought the same when I saw him rinsing over the clean section. I know he said the tiles aren't dirty so just a rinse will suffice but there would still be little junk coming back in. +1 for rinsing on way out.
Alex If the tiles are actually dirty I only spray the tiles that are on the descending side of the arc, on the driveway side. These tiles were actually very clean but I know what you guys are saying. Rinsing on the way out could get messy since the floor around the door is usually the dirtiest part since water flows in the direction carrying mud and debris with it.
@@RADGarage true.
RAD GARAGE was just a thought Rick! Might help in some form or other. Great video again 👍
Again, your garage looks beautiful and awesome.👌👏 It is great you showed everyone how to properly clean up.
Xoxo from Puerto Rico 👍🇵🇷
There's probably quicker ways to clean up the floor, but this is the best way I have discovered. Thanks for the compliments. All the best to you and everyone down there in Puerto Rico!
Just finished an exam, so now it's time for your video! I already know the Swisstrax floor is not for me, since I live in the Netherlands. If we have a cold winter it snows maybe one week, and freezes for some occasional nights and a whole week. The driveway of my parents is covered in about 2 inches of pebbles, so it basically acts as a cheap Swisstrax alternative :) Still, I enjoy your cleaning process!
Hi Jaap! Even if you don't think a Swisstrax floor would work for your purposes, I'm glad to share my garage experience with others. I enjoy watching videos by other RUclipsrs even when I know it won't have a direct impact on the way I do things. It's a great community that way! I hope you did well on your exam! 👨🏽🎓
@@RADGarage I think I did alright :) By the way Rick, you mentioning the fact that the communal feeling is important to you is something that you really succeed in conveying to us, the audience. This is best explained by the fact that I don't really feel like the audience anymore, but rather part of the RAD garage gang ;) I started out watching your channel for the car detailing, but stayed because you show your garage and all sorts of projects such as the driveway sealing and the carriage door (on the website). I feel part of this community now, and feel like I know your garage in real life!
Jaap Hoogendijk That is music to my ears my friend. I value the connections this channel has helped me make much more than any other aspect of it.
Good to know this information! Thanks for taking the time.
Glad you found the info useful.
Thanks for this, had a few questions:
1)what sealer did you use on the concrete before placing the tiles?
2)Since glossy, does that make concrete wet when slippery or make the tiles move when the car brakes on it.
3) does it matter the positioning of male/female joints when placing the tiles back? Or simply just lift any side and put it back together?
1. I use a high gloss acrylic sealer on my driveway as well as the garage floor.
2. This makes the garage floor extremely slippery when wet. Once the Swisstrax floor is back in place, I obviously don't need to concern myself with how wet it is, but when I do floor cleans I am very careful. There is no movement in the floor once everything is back in place.
3. Yes, you need to consider the fact that it is easier to replace the tiles when you are putting males on top of females. I kind of messed this up with my initial install. If I could do it over, I would have been more aware of this.
@@RADGarage Do you recall the name of the acrylic sealer?
www.nca.ca/product/premium-seal-cure-25-189l-9679
Really enjoyed the video, very informative. We have a Polyurea floor in our studio and whilst it is excellent in terms of durability it doesn't maintain its initial fresh look. We are therefore getting Swisstrax flooring to preserve the floor etc..
If you decide to go the Swisstrax route, shoot the OG guys a message and see what they quote you. If you used this referral link, you'd be earning me valuable credit with them: bit.ly/2YNr5g0
Useful info Rick! I'll be sure to use this for reference. Beautiful things take time and attention. I'm excited for you to get the comet, when I switched from 1/4" to 3/8 pressure washer hose it made a world of difference. Much less kinking and less choice words at said hose!
Bucky VW That hose has taken years off my life. I’ll burn it when my new one arrives. Thanks for stopping by Bucky. I know I don’t have to sell you on the benefits of a floor like this.
Amazing video brother! Thank you so much for making it! 🏆
I'm just happy people find it somewhat useful.
A very dedicated Swiss Trax expert!! I would love to do this, but my local supplier charges $AUD5 per little square!! As we are about to do one last push to finish tidying up our 25 year home maybe its time to budget for it. Looks great. Thanks Rick
In Detail Car Care Solutions It does come at a cost and I understand that things are super expensive in Australia. It was worth it for me for more reasons than just the looks. I need to do a video that explains the benefits I get from having Swisstrax.
Where do you get them for $5 per square in Aus? I can only find them for $11.50.
Alex Sometimes they advertise square footage price, sometimes they’ll advertise price for the actual 15.75” x 15.75” tile. I just ordered some solid vinyl tiles at $6.99/sq ft. Which equates to $12/tile.
@@RADGarage ok. Thanks. Yes here in Australia the cheapeest I can get for plain coloured ribtrax is $11.50 per individual square. Makes it exremely expensive for a triple garage. 😀
Yes, that would add up really quickly. If you don't have a dire need for it, I can see how it is something that isn't high up your priority list. You are the first person I have spoken to that owns a triple in Australia. Are they somewhat rare?
@Radgarage Great to see a video on this since it was the exact question I asked the other day good stuff guy
Like I said in a previous comment, I wish information like this was available when I was initially researching tile floor systems for my garage back in 2009-2010. I would have made the decision much quicker than I did!
Loved the video. Very professional as usual. And you already have the special tool from Obsessed Garage - nice to see it in action. I still have this floor on my to do list - maybe next summer. For now I have about a half dozen samples I got from Obsessed Garage to play with and decide on color and such.
Yeah, I was an early adopter of that tool since Shaun sent me one to try out before it became amiable for sale! It's a collectors item now!
I think Swisstrax definitely has a place and it is a god send for some while just doesn't suit the needs of others. I am in the process of planning out my "10 Reasons I love my Swisstrax" video. I'm stuck on number 10, but I already have a solid 9 reasons it is the right choice for me. Figuring out the design you want to go with must be one of the most exciting parts of the process - oh, maybe I just found my tenth reason I love my Swisstrax - the fun I had conjuring up the design! A lot more satisfying to me than deciding what colour flakes to use!
I keep forgetting to snag a lapel mic, too. Nice overview of what it's like to freshen up a Swisstrax floor!
Tyson Hugie Does your garage ever get dirty down there in AZ?
I feel like a lap mic makes you an official vlogger. I look forward to that day! 🤞
I like your garage and I just subbed your channel. I have watched several of videos and honestly I enjoyed them. I am an East Coaster, Newfoundland and Labrador actually, on the island part. Look forward to your next one.
waynefromcanada Thanks Wayne. I love sharing what I get up to with other Canadians! Hope all is well with you on the right coast.
How are you able to wash cars in your garage with out a drain in the center? Where does all the water go? Unless I didn’t see it hidden somewhere.
jayc5764 The garage floor has a perfect amount of pitch so the water flows in a single direction and very slowly out of the garage. It is not the most ideal system so I do have a long range plan here to rip up the front 5 or 6 feet of the floor and repour it with a trench drain and catch basin. Just need the figure out how I will finance it. Wanna donate? 😆
I'm seriously considering Swisstrax but cannot decide between ribtrax or diamondtrax. Garage concrete floor is sealed once a year and I'm in Ontario so get a lot of snow/ice, grit salt crap in the winter. I do my my car washing on the driveway rather than in the garage during warmer months. I prefer the look of ribtrax but diamondtrax seems that it will be easier to clean up as no dirt drops down to the concrete. Any thoughts? Also, with ribtrax any reason why you don't use a containment mat in the winter to keep the tiles/concrete cleaner for longer?
Would love to answer all your questions. Perhaps email is better. Shoot me a message at radgarageyyc@gmail.com.
Great series of videos. I cannot see any drawbacks other than the cleaning required but then again, all the other benefits. They made the difference in my decision to purchase it. And I just saw the .25 rebate by using your code. When i finalize the decision with Casey or Scott, i will mention it and hope it works. Thanks...a new subscriber. Nice wheels, have the same. Roy
Congrats on your move towards a Swisstrax floor Roy. It’ll be a great garage upgrade for you! Don’t take no for an answer with the discount. 💪
@@RADGarage All done other than some track gear to put on the walls. I dealt with Scott and he gave me 5% when i mentioned your videos and discount. I am not sure how to post a pic here?. But as mentioned, your videos helped immensely in taking the decision. I know i will enjoy it for years. Thanks again. Roy
The look of the vinyl pieces near your workstation is great! Do you have issues with trapped water or moisture under the vinyl tiles (since they don’t have similar airflow to as the ribtrax)?
I have been super pleased with the choice to integrate the black oak VinylTrax tiles into my scheme. I pull them up once a year and have not seen any significant signs of hidden/trapped moisture but this part of the garage doesn’t see much water. If you are getting lots of water on the solid tiles, some water will find its way into the joints but they are pretty snug. Laying a Swisstrax floor down requires a bit of a leap of faith. It has worked out nicely for me.
@@RADGarage Thanks so much. I’m adding the vinyl trax to my order 🙂
That's great. Be careful moving stationary objects over the vinyltrax. They can scratch.
Wouldnt a paint can opener work the same/similar to yoor popper tool? Also, does your garage door sit on the trax when closed?
I used to use a paint can opener and a screwdriver, but when you twist this tool 90-degrees, you can be assured you pull the tile up every time. With those other devices you would sometimes have to repeat the motion and when you are doing is a lot, it would get frustrating. Can you live without the tool? Yes. But, if you are pulling up tiles as often as me, it is a great little investment.
When my garage door closes, it just misses the ramp edges.
Have you ever tried pressure wash the swisstrack floor (not removed) at an angle in order to push the dirt to the front of garage? I know this design of tracks is made to let the water flow under it, when they are used in some labs or industrial application. Would be a good design if you could just remove the front tiles at the entrance and blow everything out..
I would do that only if there was a little bit of dirt underneath. In my experience, when you pressure wash the floor in place, water goes everywhere spreading dirt and mud with it. The only way to ensure you are evacuating 100% of the grime underneath is doing what I do in this video. But, that's my experience up here. I know guys that use. shop vac and suck up 100% of the dirt that falls through their floors, but that is NOT my life. Sadly.
@@RADGarage I use my pressure washer with a surface cleaner attachment. Works perfectly every time. No mess, no need to pull the tiles out. Huge time saver an the floor is completely clean, meaning the tiles and the concrete underneath.
Random question but what’s the primary color of your wall behind you when you give your final thoughts? Looking for something exactly like that
4314-3 is the code for the lightest tone in my garage. It is called “Titanium”.
I found it at Rona in Canada which is starting to close their stores since Lowe’s bought them out.
This video came just in time!
H4Hamburger You’re on the cusp?
@@RADGarage I've been debating on Swisstrax for a few weeks and wanted to see how a very meticulous person would clean it. 🤣
H4Hamburger You’ve come to the right place.
What happens with the water when you are washing inside? Bcus of the swisstrax it will go outside?
I have a floor drain system that captures the water in a deep catch basin. A lot of that water will evaporate (especially in the dry winter).
So if you were going to start fresh, would you use Ribtrax again or would you consider Diamontrax? I wonder if the Diamondtrax would make for easier cleaning? I suppose the new problem would be that the dirt/water would pool on top instead of falling through as it does now?
Yeah, you nailed it. The number one function of the Ribtrax is it sallows me to be on a dry walking/working surface. That is what makes detailing in this garage so comfortable and satisfying. I have no interest in the Diamondtrax. I think that would be more at home in a garage what was getting a more serious workout.
How do you think playing ping pong on plastic Ribtrax would work? Would rubber Ribtrax by better?
Hi Nate. I think using a ping pong table on top of Swisstrax Ribtrax would work well. You'd want to have locking casters though, because things slide easily on the Ribtrax. And, you'd be playing in shoes, because the floor is nice to work on but not with bare or stocking feet. My son and I are obsessed with ping pong, but our table is in the basement on very soft carpet!
@@RADGarage Great, thanks for your thoughts! Shoes make sense, since the ribs focus the pressure on a smaller area. We play in shoes anyway! :) Rubbertrax is an option and I imagine more comfortable to stand on, but I'm not sure if it would be annoying for ping pong.
Good video Rick! Very informative.
mike stefani Thanks Mike. Information such as this didn’t exist when I purchased my first garage floor system ten years ago so hopefully this will help others make an informed decision.
love that garage set up im taking ideas for mine hope does not bother you,looks amaziing
scoupemaster I love it when people borrow my ideas. Feel free!
So, why couldn't you just spray the tiles in your garage? All the dirt can go to the floor, and you can pull the tiles, sweep, and replace. You would save a step
I've tried it every way imaginable over the past decade and this is the way I feel gets everything the cleanest. Spraying the floor in the garage with the pressure washer tends to shoot dirty water everywhere so I prefer to have the floor outside of the garage so no collateral damage is incurred.
What is all that white stuff on your slab???? Looks like you have a moisture issue coming up
Not sure what white stuff you are seeing. The slab is in very good condition.
a little off topic. but do you remember where you got your floor squeegee or what kind it is
I picked that up at a local big box store. It is nothing special. I bet your local Home Depot has a comparable one.
Great vids, new subscriber here! Garage looks awesome! What colour of ribtrax did you use between the grey and vinyl? And also wondering how you like the rib? I’m looking at this solution and am debating on the flat vs rib.
Rib offers the advantage of making the moving of objects easier (less surface resistance) and obscures most marks. I have Pearl Grey (sometimes called Pearl Silver) as my accent band. Check out my website for more insights. www.radgarage.ca/Swisstrax-floor.html
When the Swisstrax on the floor where the water goes i didn’t see any drainer
mike cincinato The garage floor has a gentle pitch that allows water to escape. Evaporation is also happening due to dry Alberta air.
This is my next major upgrade: ruclips.net/video/dk4JuoS0MRg/видео.html
RAD GARAGE looks great. , 🤘
Really good video at the perfect time for me 👌 just a question, where goes all the water during detailing? I can't see any used water evacuation on your floor 🤙
The water drains out the garage to the driveway where most of it quickly evaporates.
@@RADGarage thanks for the reply! Perfect garage, great job and a pleasure to follow your workflow from France 🤙👌
@@RADGarage does this cause a bunch of ice around your garage door? I'm in Calgary as well, and it be cool to be able to wash the car in the winter. And if you forget to knock of the ice chunks before parking in, does that slush accurate above the channels of the tiles? or do you get an icy mess at the bottom of the door? Thanks!
Wondering if trenching (someway) would help diverting the dirt away and out of the house. Don’t know if a concept would be possible. Second, did you fill in the driveway cracks before sealing?
Alex915 Yup, a concept like that is in the long range plan: ruclips.net/video/okrPgLRXhJ4/видео.html
I did fill the cracks with an epoxy sealant.
@@RADGarage Excellent!
Stoked for the Comet install. I am really entertaining the floor situation. Any idea how much weight the floor can hold? Not cutting around my shelves and rolling toolbox would dramatically speed up the install for me. 😳
John Dunnington The tiles can support the weight of anything you can throw at it. I recommend not going around things if you can avoid it. I cut my old Racedeck floor around my stairs and did it the other way with the Swisstrax. I removed the stairs, and tiles completely under them. It was much easier than tying to make all the little cuts and just looks better. That said, there would be nothing preventing you from going around large stationary items if that was what you preferred to do. I’m excited as well for the Comet install.
There's a Comet on the way? I was just thinking we need to call Matt to hook him up with a kranzle or something.
TerrificFlow It’s not on the way yet. For some reason I’m really struggling with pulling the trigger on a pressure washer this expensive. I don’t mind spending money but for this one I’m struggling. I am aiming at working up the courage and clicking the order button soon. You’re right though, my current PW situation is in need of an upgrade. Kranzle is way too far out of my spending comfort zone though.
@@RADGarage I'm right there with you. Previously owned Karcher K7 ( basicaly top of the line in EU except for their pro line), and now i need to get a new one since they can't get repaired without
spending as much as a brand new one.
Looked at kranzle, Comet, AR blue and Karcher Profesional. I love the idea of a wall-mounted pressure washer, but i need 1-2 times a year to clean pavement and walls so can't work for me. I'm not sure about your situation.
If it can help your research, there's the KS1700 Extra in the Comet line that i found, sold here around 400-450eu: www.agrieuro.fr/nettoyeur-haute-pression-comet-ks-1700-extra-electrique-eau-froide-fabrique-en-italie-p-471.html
In the Kranzle line, i'm really liking the A17 TST compared to the K1152 TST that Matt had. Just for the fact that you don't have to lay down the machine when you use it, which i always disliked. And they are basicaly the same machine, same price at around 650eu here.
I had no idea Comet made a stand-alone unit. That looks like it could really work well for you since you need the portability a few times each year. It seems like one of the hardest decisions a garage guy ever has to face. I think I am only a matter of days before I pull the trigger on the wall-mounted 1700. I think I will be relived when it is all said and done!
How does the water that you use to wash the vehicles in the garage drain off?
It just flows out the door since the floor is pitched to allow it to do so.
@7:03 hose inlet dripping XD
reyoasian Nice catch! I had some weak fingers today.
What product do you use to seal the garage floor?
You can see the sealer in this video and links are in the description. ruclips.net/video/GUqiCL9Mky8/видео.html
Great video!
Vapor EG Thanks.
Hi. I just watched your video about your garage flooring. My question is do you find the flooring slippery, either when it's wet or dry?
Thanks
Grayson
Grayson Smith I have never found it slippery. Wet or dry.
Why not do epoxy coating ? Rinse after detailing work is done.
Brian Sequeira I have a dozen reasons. The number one reason is my floor is wet often and I hate walking around on a wet floor. That’s not an issue with Swisstrax. Another big reason is that epoxy floors deteriorate and this floor does not. I hate the look of flakes and I would be constantly having to clean the little rocks and mud that get tracked in the garage. There’s more, but those are the main ones. My neighbour is looking to have his epoxy redone. We moved in at the same time. It just doesn’t last.
I have an epoxy floor that has been redone and it’s a never ending battle. It’s also slippery. Looking for different options.
Doesn’t the stale water under the trax smell after a few days?
You'd be amazed at how fast this floor dries out in my garage. Less than a day and it is bone dry.
How much approximately does each section weigh?
pjfan173 Hard to say exactly, but they are pretty easy to pull into place. Probably 50 lbs if I had to guess.
Weekly ?!😳
Keith’s Car detailing and fitness Yup. If I’m doing detail jobs I don’t like the feeling of a dirty floor under the tiles. The downside of being a neat freak.
I highly recommend moving to America
Which part?
@@RADGarage I would not recommend any state under democratic leader ship, that's a start
NICK BROWN I have a morbid fear of snakes.
it 41c in Toronto today. You're wearing a hoodie in Calgary?
H4Hamburger A balmy 14 degrees today. 🥵
Nice videos bro. I live in Calgary too what part of the city are you in? The construction dust is brutal for sure. I am up around Bridlewood.
I’m on the West Side. Ring Road construction coming up the COP hill is causing havoc up here!
RAD GARAGE yeah its crazy i am rite by it to rite at spruce meadows.
I feel your pain. Luckily, I'm a bit away from the main construction of it all, but the roads in and out always have to pass by the dirt and the roads are awful. Lots of rocks on the road too that make me super nervous.
RAD GARAGE yeah for sure the rocks are out of control and the pot Holes 🕳 well they are another story.
PegCobra Tough city for car guys.
Can‘t see a drain there 🤔. Where does the water go when you clean the cars? Cause your driveway is dry if you drive out the cars
There's a little gap between the garage floor and the driveway. Most of the water drips down there, while some of it evaporates. I am going to be adding a new trench drain system at the end of this month. Stay tuned. I'm really excited about it.
Thanks for the video. I am going to purchase Swisstrax for a 1500 sqft garage and would appreciate it if you could post a coupon code.
If you’re in Canada there is a slight discount but I have no discount code to offer for other countries. Sorry man.
@@RADGarage Yes I am in Canada can you give me the discount code?
When you speak to a sales representative, just be sure to mention the $0.25/square foot RAD discount. Let me know if you run into any issues. Good luck!
👋👏
Glad you liked it. I find it to be a highly satisfying job.
Hola donde tienes el lavadero en que pais en que ciudad
My garage is in Calgary, Canada.
@@RADGarage me va salir un poco caro mandarte el coche desde España jajaja
Very true! 💰
Definitely not for me. I actually work on my cars using the jack, jack stands, etc. this floor would be ruined immediately
R Thanks.
I often use my Quickjack 5000 Portable lift and it is fine on this floor. I don't use jacks and jack stands.
@@RADGarage No Quickjack money here lol. but the floor does look stunning.
Thanks man. I used to use a heavy rubber mat under the jack casters and stands. A bit of a pain but it prevented them from warping under the weight and pressure. I'm in the process of putting together a video that outlines why Swisstrax works for me, but I fully recognize its not going to work in every garage.
At over $1,000 for my garage, I go with racetrax
I have no idea what Racetrax is, but I am going to assume it is one of a dozen available knock off brands. No one is saying you have to buy the best, but you’ll never hear me complain about the quality and durability of my Swisstrax floor.
The largest mfg of garage flooring
Yet, you Google it and nothing shows up. 🤷♂️
How much do I owe you?
I can't be measured in numbers.