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Near Knoxville, Tenn., Flatrock Motorclub is redefining what a motorsports destination can be. This members-only club is in its second phase of development and is unlike anything else nationwide. Flatrock boasts a legendary racetrack designed by architect Hermann Tilke alongside opulent residential options that let car enthusiasts live at the track they love. When it came time to outfit the Phase 2 Paddock Garages and Garage Loft residences with flooring and tile, Flatrock turned to Dan Leuciuc and Lee Leuciuc of HomeChoice Flooring.
HomeChoice brought more than skilled installations to the project. Their established working relationships with Louisville Tile and TEC Specialty Products proved critical to maintaining a steady pipeline of premium materials on a schedule without room for delays. Louisville Tile supplied the tile, and TEC provided the installation products needed for the luxury units. With challenging designs and timelines, the HomeChoice team relied on high-performance, time-saving TEC installation products.
Showcase garages
Every unit at Flatrock is built around the automobile. The Paddock Garages sit trackside and are offered in five sizes, accommodating up to 12 cars per unit. Owners can build out their Paddock Garage to include full living quarters. The Garage Lofts, located close to the clubhouse, offer 2,400 sq. ft. of living space and a four-car garage. In both unit types, the garage is not just a storage space; it is a showroom.
HomeChoice began all garage flooring work by installing an uncoupling membrane with TEC® Ultimate 6+ Mortar. Ultimate 6 Plus is a high-performance, polymer-modified, full-coverage mortar known for exceptional installation properties for any tile size or type. Its extended open time and ability to set up perfectly under uncoupling membranes made it the ideal choice for the expansive garage floor surfaces in both unit types.
For the garages’ floor tile, Flatrock’s designers selected striking 24” x 48” Crossville Beljn Black Iron tile, a large-format choice that elicits the dramatic impression the designers wanted. Garage square footage across the units ranges from a sizeable 1,080 up to the 12-car, 4,320-sq.-ft. option. HomeChoice’s Leuciuc chose TEC® 3N1® Performance Mortar for these large, heavy tile installations. Its non-slump and non-sag characteristics kept the tiles firmly in place during installation, and its extended open time gave the crew the adjustability they needed to work efficiently across such substantial areas. Installers on the job noted how smoothly 3N1 trowels—a detail that matters when working with large tile and large spaces.
Flatrock Motorclub offered each owner a custom touch: a “golden” engraving of their name in the tile as a centerpiece on the garage floor. HomeChoice used TEC® Multipurpose Primer to prime the custom engravings and then precisely set these custom brass fittings into the tile with 3N1 to complete the blending of personalization with exacting craftsmanship.
Power Grout was the grout of choice even before Phase 2 Paddock Garages and Garage Loft tile installations. Power Grout’s unique formulation delivers increased stain protection and stain resistance to many common stains*, which is especially important for the showplace garage areas that receive frequent auto and foot traffic. It delivers strong, color-consistent joints that resist shrinking and cracking, and will not contribute to efflorescence. For the owners of these units, who are investing in vehicles and residences at this level, the long-term cleanliness and visual consistency of the floors matter as much as the finishes of the cars parked on them.
Luxury bathrooms
The bathroom tile installations called for a different aesthetic but the same performance standards. HomeChoice’s residential team installed uncoupling membrane with TEC® Ultimate 6 Plus in each unit’s bathrooms. Then, they used 3N1 Mortar to set Artisan Faro 16″ x 24″ x 5/8″ limestone tile on the bathrooms’ floors and walls. Again, 3N1 Mortar delivered the non-sag, non-slump control needed for the artisan large-format wall tile, and Power Grout precision grout joints finished the installations beautifully.
Phase 2 wrap-up
The installation for the Flatrock Motorclub Phase 2 Paddock Garages and Garage Lofts’ residential units offered up the challenge of a tight schedule, large surface areas, luxury large-format tile, and clients with high standards. HomeChoice Flooring met those demands by having excellent craftsmen, using proven TEC products, and securing a reliable supply chain through Louisville Tile. From the dramatic Black Iron garage floors to the serene limestone bathrooms and living spaces, each surface was installed to deliver long-term beauty. Flatrock’s car-enthusiast owners will benefit from the high level of craftsmanship and performance every time they look at or walk on their floors.
*Grout should be cleaned immediately. Prolonged exposure to any stain will increase the likelihood of permanent staining or discoloration of a grout surface.
Mark Tupek (MBA)
Product Marketing Management professional with over 13 years of experience in product marketing and sales. Experience managing product forecasts, strategy, planning, and pricing. Skilled in Marketing Management, Sales, Strategic Planning, Business Development, and Marketing Strategy. Strong product management professional with a MBA focused in Marketing and Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University.
