What Can I Use to Make an Anti-slip Tile Floor?

Safety Grooving

• Safety grooving involves scoring your tile floor to help improve traction, particularly when the surface is wet. This process involves attaching a diamond cutting disk to a drill motor mounted on a cart. Then, the machine operator stands over a tile and lowers the disk to the surface of the tile for up to 20 seconds, depending on the hardness of the tile. The grooves in the tile resemble a bull’s eye and offer a chemical-free, permanent anti-slip solution that will not wear.

Tile Coating

• Homeowners sometimes apply a tile coating solution to floors using a paintbrush or roller. The solution uses chemicals that improve friction and traction on tile floors. To apply the coating, paint the solution on the floor, allow it to sit for up to five minutes and mop it up with dry towels. Apply a second coat for better anti-slip results. Tile coating takes up to 24 hours to dry and can last up to 10 years.

Tile Etching

• Lasting up to eight years, tile etching solutions work by scratching the surface of tile floors. The abrasions caused by etching help increase traction and friction, particularly on slippery stone floors. When applying an etching solution to tile floors, dilute it with water, apply it with a mop, wait 15 minutes and clean the residue. You may need to use more than one application of the solution to reach desired effects.

Considerations

• Tile etching and coating solutions can cause floors like marble or ceramic to lose their glossy appearance or become duller in color. It is a good idea to see a sample of how your floor may look after applying either solution. Additionally, chemical solutions that add anti-slip properties can also contain chemicals that are harmful if inhaled or touched. Because some of the chemicals are so strong, choosing the wrong type can permanently damage your tile floor.