Effective Ways To Make A Tile Floor Less Slippery

Tiled floors are a practical solution in many cases. Because there are so many different styles of tiles available you can create virtually any look you desire. They are spill-resistant, easy to clean, and work very well in high-traffic areas. However, tiled floors are also cold and can be very slippery. That can be a safety issue. 

Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash

Fortunately, there are several ways you can deal with this. 

Add A Rug

The simplest, and perhaps the cheapest option, is to add a rug to your tiled floor. You’ll need to choose one that is either rubber or foam-backed, this ensures the rug stays in position and doesn’t add to the slipperiness of the floor. 

These are effective although you’ll need to add rugs to all the main walking sections of your tiles. In other words, you’ll be covering your tiles and changing the look of the floor. It’s not necessarily for the better. 

An Anti-Slip Compound

Head to your local store and you’ll find there are several options for your tiled floor. Anti-slip compounds can be sprayed onto clean floors and polished into them. They are transparent so won’t change the look of the floor. But, they do increase the grip, helping you and your loved ones to stay upright. 

You’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying this and, it will need to be redone periodically. This can be a chore.

It’s also possible that you miss a small section and that still remains slippery.

Replace The Floor

If your tiled floor is looking tired or you simply fancy something different then the best idea is to replace your floor. There are several options but one that is rapidly gaining in popularity and should be considered is epoxy floor coatings.

The tiles will need to be lifted as epoxy flooring goes on top of concrete. Naturally, after removing the tiles the floor won’t be smooth, a screed will need to be installed. This will give a smooth finish to which the epoxy coating can be added. It is advisable to let the professionals handle this. Cheapest Tiles European tiles are the perfect modern replacement that will also prevent slipping.

Epoxy flooring can be done in various colours and styles, it is non-slip, waterproof, and stain-resistant. You can even drop heavy items on it without breaking it. 

While it’s a more expensive option it is also very durable. In other words, you won’t need to replace it for many years, if ever. 

The alternative to removing the floor for epoxy coating is to add a floating floor. This means using batons of wood fixed to your tiles. These create a new floor slightly higher than the original. You can then choose a new flooring, such as hardwood flooring or even carpet.

However, adopting this approach means the floor is higher, potentially creating a step up to it and a trip hazard. Alongside this, everything else in the room will need to be adjusted as the floor height has changed. It makes it a very complicated job while epoxy is essentially straightforward.