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Well, I've had a stall in my shop for about 6 months now lined with race deck flooring. Long story short, I would not recommend it for an automotive shop. It is awesome for a home garage, museum/car show setting, or something like that, but not for full blown automotive work.

 

Now for the details of why. First, it expands and contracts WAY too much. Anytime you run a fuel induction service, it will cause the flooring to raise up to 6" above the floor. I heard rumors from the tool guy that a shop with a service drive had issues with it raising up when the sun would shine on it just right.

 

I had an old LS400 with an ignition coil go bad and caused it to run so rich, the cats were glowing red. The flooring raised up enough to cause it to melt... Which brings me to my second point. It's plastic. This may seem obvious, but if your doing any sort of grinding on the floor, it will burn it. If you grind off a bolt, and it falls on the floor, it will melt it.

 

Third, and this may just be me being lazy, but it's not that easy to clean. AVOID yellow like the plague. Darker colors are your friend. I think white may even be easier to keep clean than yellow.

 

PROS:

As the promised, I had no issues with any chemical reactions. I intentionally left a puddle of brake cleaner on it over night to see if it cause any damage. It didn't. Neither did any other chemical or fluid. It is tough and can take a beating. Dropped many hammers on it from various heights, had engine and trans assemblies sitting on jackstands and it did no damage. Protects some things from being damaged when they fall, better than bare concrete or hard tile. It provides fair grip with covered in oil or brake fluid. Looks great to a customer when they peak out in your shop and see some fancy flooring with a pattern or design on it.

 

Conclusion:

Again, it would be great for a personal garage or showroom. But to be pulling transmissions and doing brake jobs, etc, everyday... I think I would spend the money and go with actual tile, or save my money all together and just do your normal epoxy.

 

Anyway, just my thoughts. I do have some pics if anyone is interested. Or I'll be more than happy to answer questions.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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