Epoxy flooring, also known as polymer flooring or resinous flooring, is a flooring material made from a mixture of resin and hardener. It’s a popular flooring option for store display floors and factory floors because they provide a smooth, high-performance, and durable surface that can last for many years without wear and tear from heavy loads. Unfortunately, one of the main issues facing epoxy flooring is its safety. But, are epoxy floors really slippery?
Epoxy floors are slippery when water, mud, oils, and other liquid mediums are poured on the surface. One of the main reasons why epoxy flooring is slippery is its non-porous nature. While porous floors allow liquids to flow through them more readily, non-porous floors tend to retain liquids on their surfaces.
In this article, I have explored what you need to know about the epoxy floor’s slipperiness, how to make them less slippery, and non-slippery alternatives to epoxy flooring. Read on to learn more.
Is Epoxy Flooring Slippery?
Epoxy flooring is slippery when water and other liquid materials are introduced on the surface. The non-porous nature of the epoxy surfaces retains any water thus making the floor dangerous to walk over.
How Can I Make My Epoxy Floor Less Slippery?
1. Carpet runners
One of the best ways to make epoxy flooring is to install carpet runners. These carpets come in different widths, lengths, colors, and shapes to suit all the needs and preferences. Other advantages of carpet runners include being easy to clean and stain-resistant.
2. Silica sand
Adding silica sand to your epoxy flooring can also make the floor less slippery. The sand creates a bumpy skid-resistance finish on any smooth surface. One of the disadvantages of this option is that silica sand forms small cracks when subjected to heavy loads.
3. Aluminum oxide additive
When added to epoxy flooring, aluminum oxide additive adds an extremely strong, durable, and tough anti-slip surface. The additive bonds well into the epoxy surface and do not change the surface’s physical properties. One of the downsides of this option includes being difficult to clean since the finish harbors a lot of dirt and stains.
4. Using an anti-slip coating
Anti-slip coating provides a rougher surface on epoxy floors and other smooth surfaces. These coatings have a life span of up to 5 years depending on the amount and type of traffic your floor is subjected to.
5. Shark grip
Shark grip is a patronized polymer that is mixed with concrete sealers to create a slip-resistant surface. This additive creates a non-slip surface for epoxy floor coating and improves the floor’s texturing and reduces gloss. Other advantages of this shark grp include mixes easily, easy to clean, and easy on bare feet compared to sand textured surfaces.
6. Using containment mats
A containment mat is an impermeable membrane flooring product with edging around it. These mats can protect your epoxy floors especially the epoxy garage floor from automotive fluids, oil, water, mud, and anything you might introduce on your floor. They are designed to absorb fluids and liquids, as a result, they make epoxy flooring less slippery.
Is Epoxy Resin Slippery When Wet?
Thanks to its strong adhesive properties, epoxy resin is a versatile product in many industries. For instance, one of the uses of epoxy resin is decorative flooring applications. It can be used to coat terrazzo flooring, chip flooring, epoxy flooring, and other aggregate flooring options.
One of the disadvantages of epoxy resin is that it’s slippery when wet. If you fail to mix the right amount of epoxy resin into the mixture, your surface may become wet when water is introduced to it. If your epoxy resin does not have anti-slip properties, I recommend you add one to it.
Non-Slippery Alternatives To Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring has been the most popular flooring option for commercial use as it’s considered harder, tough, and aesthetically appealing. If you don’t want to cope with spillages, below are some of the non-slippery alternatives to epoxy flooring you can consider.
1. Non-slip vinyl flooring
The top choice for a non-slippery alternative to epoxy flooring is non-slip vinyl flooring. Apart from its affordability and a wide range of styles, non-slip vinyl flooring can withstand high moisture and heavy traffic.
The material provides a 100% non-slip guarantee so you don’t have to worry about accidental falls when it comes to slip resistance. When shopping for your non-slip vinyl flooring, I recommend looking for products with extra underlayment.
2. Natural stone
If you have a bigger budget, natural stone can be a good non-slip flooring alternative. Besides its durability and aesthetic appealing benefits, natural stone is slip-resistant and safe. Manufacturers texture natural stones not only to look improve their beauty but also to mitigate the slip factor.
The only downside of natural stone flooring is the cost. It’s a higher-end flooring option, ideal for those with bigger working budgets.
3. Rubber tiles
Rubber flooring tiles are commonly designed from a recycled rubber material, synthetic rubber material, or virgin rubber material. They are a popular choice for high-traffic areas such as gyms and industries.
Rubber flooring may not be extremely appealing to feel nice under our feet or pleasing to look at, but it can be a good option when it comes to safety. The extreme protection factor for rubber tiles makes the floor a desirable option especially for seniors who fear falling.
4. Cork/bamboo
Cork or bamboo flooring can also be a good non-slippery alternative to epoxy flooring. Many homeowners and business owners prefer these two flooring products because they reduce sound travel and are available in trendy styles and designs.
They are both slip-resistant flooring products that tend to absorb moisture immediately after it is introduced on the surface.
5. Linoleum
Many homeowners mistake linoleum flooring for vinyl flooring. These two flooring products are different. Linoleum is made from materials such as mineral fillers, sawdust, ground cork dust, pine resin, and solidified linseed oil.
Linoleum flooring is not only eco-friendly but also water-resistant compared to epoxy flooring. You can choose an anti-slip linoleum resin solution to reduce the slippery nature of linoleum flooring.
