How To Make Epoxy Floor Not Slippery

Are you worried about your floor being slippery? If yes, then how to make epoxy floor not slippery? Is the epoxy garage floor slippery when wet? How to make your epoxy garage floor less slippery? What are the slippery garage floor solutions? These are questions that people often ask.
But, don’t worry. there are easy solutions to this problem. Well, almost any type of floor can get slippery when they are wet. In this article, you will learn how to make epoxy floor not slippery and also the causes of slippery floors.how to make epoxy floor not slippery

There are a lot of advantages of epoxy flooring, but very few disadvantages of epoxy flooring. And a slippery floor is one of the major disadvantages of epoxy flooring. One of the most common concerns with epoxy flooring, or any other garage coating, is how slippery it may be when wet, and what can be done in terms of anti-slip additives to produce a non-skid surface. Is it really essential in the first place? Manufacturers advocate a broad range of additives, from sand to aluminum oxide, or a tiny polymer-based grit like Shark Grip, which might be perplexing.

Are Epoxy Floors Slippery?

Every homeowner wants to know: are epoxy floors slippery? and are epoxy floors safe? Don’t worry, epoxy floors are not naturally slippery. But epoxy floors can be slippery when they are wet just like any other floor coatings.

Epoxy floors are not slippery when they are dry. But, resinous floor coatings like epoxy are non-porous. This means they make smooth surfaces, almost as smooth as glass. So, epoxy flooring is slippery when it is wet and can be dangerous. Everybody wants anti-slip coating epoxy floors in their house, business, or garage. There are, however, a variety of options for making your epoxy garage floor less slippery.

What Makes A Floor Slippery?

As we all know, Epoxy floors are not naturally slippery. Any kind of flooring becomes slippery when they are wet or from some other factors. Residential epoxy floors get slippery mainly because of your carelessness. A slippery floor is a safety hazard, especially in places like bathroom floors, and should be fixed as soon as possible to avoid accidents. So, we are going to list the things that make a floor slippery.

Water

It is no-brainer that having water on the surface of your epoxy floor or any other flooring will make it slippery. Wet floors are always slippery and can cause serious accidents if someone slips on them.

Grease

If you have an Epoxy garage floor, it is very likely that it will get exposed to grease. Grease itself is a super slippery substance as it is used for the same purpose. If there is grease spillage on the epoxy garage floor and it spreads, it creates a very slippery environment. Hence, spilled grease on garage floors makes them slippery.

Excessive Floor Polish

Sometimes people overdo floor polishes. It looks super beautiful to have a polished nice floor but using too much floor polish will make it slippery. So, it is advisable to use floor polish in an appropriate amount.

Soap Residue

While cleaning floors, people sometimes do not wash up properly which leaves soap residue on the floor surface. Soap being a super slippery substance makes the floor slippery as well. So, these are the common reasons that make your floor slippery. Now, let’s learn how to fix slippery epoxy floor.

How To Make Epoxy Floor Not Slippery

I have explained the main reasons that will make epoxy flooring slip resistant. You can avoid these things to make your epoxy flooring not slippery. But it is not that simple because people will make mistakes. Water spillage is quite common, and it is not humanly possible to completely avoid all types of unwanted chemical & liquid spillage throughout the lifespan of an epoxy floor.

Fortunately, there are some permanent solutions for non-slip epoxy flooring. You can use Anti-slip additives like shark grip, aluminum oxide additive, silica sand, anti-slip grit, sparkle tuff, etc. These additives should be completely integrated into your flooring system and will not be a separate entity. Other solutions like containment mats and carpet runners can be added above the floor surface, but they will be separate from your flooring system and may not look nice. Continue reading to learn about these solutions in detail.

How To Make Epoxy Floor Non Slip?

There are many anti-slip additives for epoxy paint available on the market. Using them is the best way to make the garage floor less slippery. But, they will cost extra. The most affordable way to fix the issue of slippery garage floors is to be careful and make sure that the garage floor never gets wet. Instead of using an anti-slip additive, you can also keep non-slippery objects above the surface of the garage floor. This solution will look unnatural. Unlike additives, they will not naturally blend with the floor surface. These are the ways how to make epoxy floor non slip.

Does your garage floor need anti-slip additives?

Anti-slip additives are not required for every epoxy garage floor. They are absolutely needed in an environment where there is excessive moisture. On the other hand, if your garage floor is in a plan that sees mostly dry weather, anti slip additives are not absolutely necessary as long as you are not prone to frequent liquid spills. But, some people may still choose to add anti-slip additives just to be sure.

How To Use Anti-Slip Additives

When you’re installing an epoxy coating on your floor, mix the anti slip additive with the top coat before the coating is applied on the floor to get the best results. It’s best to take advice from an expert to make sure that the anti slip additive is mixed in the proper ratio. Or, you can let a professional do the job for you. If you are looking to add the anti-slip additive on top of the already existing epoxy coating, you have no other option than sprinkle them on top of the surface. But, when you do this, they can pull away creating wear and tear on the surface.

Best Slippery Garage Floor Solutions

These things are the best solutions for slippery epoxy garage floors.

  • Shark Grip
  • Aluminum Oxide Additive
  • Silica Sand
  • SparkleTuff™
  • Add Anti-Slip Grit
  • Use Containment Mats
  • Indoor Outdoor / Carpet Runners

1. Shark Grip

Shark Griphow to make epoxy floor not slippery is an easy-to-use means of providing non-slip epoxy floor coating and fine texturing and reducing gloss at the same time. It is an anti-slip additive for epoxy paint. You can add shark grip to almost any paint or coating. It easily stirs into most stains and oil-based and latex paints. The lack of sharp edges allows for easier cleaning and the less abrasive texture makes it comfortable to walk on with your bare feet. When used on a thicker final coat, Shark Grip is not effective, because the small beads will sink below the surface. Other than that, It is one of the most effective slippery garage floor solutions.

2. Aluminum Oxide Additive

Aluminum Oxide AdditiveThis additive is used mainly in an industrial setting, where maximum grip is required, or where there are extremely slippery conditions. Aluminum oxide is an additive to water-based urethane finishes. Its application has definite benefits, with some disadvantages. In some instances, the softer polyurethane is more appropriate than the glassy, hard surface offered by aluminum oxide urethane. Since Aluminum Oxide is coarse, it is not friendly to bare feet and the skin. Its coarse nature makes it hard to clean because it catches mop strings and a lot of dirt.

3. Silica Sand

silica sand

Sand is added on top of a final floor coating to create a bumpy surface that’s less slippery. This helps in delivering a non slip epoxy flooring to your garage. Since sand is visible with a clear coat, you need to have a colored top-floor coat to make it more attractive. Mopping problems, forming small cracks after some time, and breaking down after being trampled on, are some drawbacks of silica sand. The sharp points of silica are brittle, therefore, they can break off, especially under heavy foot traffic.

4. SparkleTuff™

For non slip epoxy floor coating, this anti-slip floor coating is applied on top of epoxy floors. SparkleTuff™ is easy to apply because it does not require any primers or treatments. The anti-slip floor coating contains the right quantity of aluminum oxide (alumina) to offer abrasive properties. SparkleTuff™ Anti-Slip floor coating is safe and easy to apply (just one coat needed!) and is also fairly easy to clean.

sparkle tuff

This super-tough anti-slip floor coating has outstanding wear and chemical resistance. It also has added resistance to acids and alkalis and can be used for underwater applications. It has excellent weathering and dirt pickup resistance and strong anti-corrosive characteristics.

SparkleTuff™ Anti-Slip is a transparent, durable high-gloss anti-slip floor coating that is HIGHLY SLIP-RESISTANT wet or dry. It is very resistant to liquids (including chemicals) and stains. It can be used indoors or outdoors and on any ADA-accessible surface. Working time is 1.25 hours after mixing a batch of the two components. One gallon will cover 400-500 square feet. Drying time is 6-8 hours for light foot traffic. It contains no VOCs or solvents. It can be used as a nonslip garage floor coating. It is one of the most effective slippery garage floor solutions.

Also read: How To Clean & Maintain Epoxy Floors

5. Single coat epoxy with anti-slip grit added

Anti-slip Grit

The easy solution to get a non-slippery garage is to add non-slip garage floor paint or an epoxy garage floor coating with anti-slip grit. The anti-skid additive is applied to the mix of the final coat in order to create a surface that is soft enough to walk on with your bare feet but gritty enough to prevent slip accidents in slippery conditions. So, applying an anti-skid additive to the mix of the final coat helps in creating a slip-resistant surface. There are other quick remedies you can use if you are not planning on making huge changes to your floor.

6. Using Containment Mats

Containment Mats

These are recommended for those people who live in snowy climates. These mats collect a lot of water, road salts, and snow. They help absorb the water, which would otherwise create a mess and facilitate slipperiness. You can line them up next to your car to offer a non-slip surface to walk on.

As these mats get wet, you can hang them to quicken their drying process. This is a temporary quick-fix option that requires at least two sets: you need a spare set to use while the wet mats are drying. This is an easy and temporary way how to make epoxy floors not slippery. 

7. Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Runners

Indoor-Outdoor Carpet Runners

 One of the major benefits of using these carpets is that they are available in different lengths, widths, and shapes. All these options help you choose the carpets which will make your garage flooring look attractive, while still making it less slippery. They are mainly stain-resistant, easy to clean, and available in a wide range of colors to choose from. Alternately, you can use synthetic rubbers and PVC vinyl, if your floor has a lot of water and snow. These are the 7 best slippery garage floor solutions.

Also Read: 5 Useful Flooring Facts You Need to Know

How to Make Epoxy Floor Less Slippery?

As we all know that no floors are naturally slippery. It is due to certain reasons that they become slippery. So, one of the best ways to make your floors less slippery is to not let them be wet. There are other ways as well to make your concrete floors less slippery. The ways to make the epoxy flooring less slippery are as follows:

1. Keep your floor dry

Keeping your floors dry is the easiest way to avoid slippery floors. Dry floors are equal to non-slippery floors. Don’t let water or any liquid spill on your floors and you are good to go.

2. Use Degreaser for Oily areas

degreaser for oily areas

Use a proper degreaser to clean off oily areas on your garage floor. Your garage floor is a place that can encounter grease and other oil spillage. Since oil and grease are super slippery, they have to be properly degreased with a degreaser as simple mopping with water won’t be enough for them.

3. Select suitable chemicals for cleaning

Sometimes incompatible cleaning chemicals also lead to slippery floors. Also, incompatible cleaning chemicals can also lead to color fading, causing cracks and other faults on the floor. So make sure to choose suitable cleaning agents that are compatible with your floor.

4. Wash soap residues properly

wash soap residue properly

It is very necessary to have a properly clean surface. Residues of soap or other cleaning components also make floors slippery. So make sure to wash down properly and leave no soapy residues.

5. Use a dry mop after cleaning

dry mop

Finally, use a dry mop after washing the surface. It ensures that your floor is dry and safe to walk on. Hence, these are the ways how to make epoxy floor not slippery.

Conclusion

There are both quick remedied, and permanent solutions to make your garage floor less slippery. However, your choice may be determined by your financial situation and the floor conditions – if you expect your floor to be slippery quite frequently, we recommend going for more permanent solutions. For a more permanent solution to a slippery garage floor, you need to consider garage flooring options that will create a non-slip surface.

Single-coat epoxy with anti-slip grit added will eliminate the need for non-slip mats and carpet runners. If you cannot solve the problem permanently, it is advisable to use quick remedies first as they are inexpensive and widely available. When possible, you should start planning a more permanent solution.

An anti-slip floor allows for a safer garage environment as well as a more functional garage throughout the winter and rainy seasons. So, whether you have a single-vehicle garage or a multi-car garage, utilize this advice and solutions to make the safest garage floor for your needs.

 I hope this blog answered your questions regarding “ Is epoxy flooring slippery?” and also provided you with slippery garage floor solutions. And after reading about those simple slippery garage floor solutions you must now know how to make epoxy floor less slippery.

Remember to give Best Coast Epoxy a call for installation questions! Better safe than sorry, folks!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Epoxy floors non-slippery?

When wet, any high-gloss surface, even epoxy floors, will be slick. This may not be an issue in a garage or workshop where water is unlikely to be present on a frequent basis.

What makes a floor to be slippery?

When smooth surfaces become wet, they become slippery. Leaking equipment (e.g. freezers, pipes), moping, spilled drinks, and weather (snow/rain) brought in from outside cause our surfaces to become moist. A small amount of moisture is all it takes to change a dry surface into a dangerously slippery surface.

How to make the Epoxy garage floor less slippery?

We can use various solutions to make epoxy garage floors less slippery:
· Shark Grip
· Aluminum Oxide
· Additive Silica Sand
· Sparkle Tuff™
· Single coat epoxy with anti-slip grit added
· Using Containment Mats
· Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Runners

What makes Epoxy Floors slippery?

Epoxy is a non-porous resinous floor coating that has a tendency to become super smooth. This kind of floor coating works well when dry but can get slippery with the introduction of water, oil, or grease.

How to prevent slippery garage floors?

Slippery Garage floors can be prevented in the following ways:
Keep your floors dry
Use a degreaser for grease and oils
Clean soap residues
Dry mop the surface after cleaning

Is the epoxy floor too slippery for a bathroom?

It depends on various factors, such as the type of epoxy used, the substrate surface, and the level of foot traffic in the bathroom. However, slip resistance can be improved by using certain additives and textures in the epoxy.

Will water ruin an epoxy floor?

Normally water doesn’t affect epoxy floors but it can cause damage to an epoxy floor, especially if it is left on the surface for a longer period of time.

What is anti-slip epoxy?

Anti-slip epoxy is a type of epoxy coating that is designed to prevent slips and falls in areas that are slippery or wet.

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Author

Ryan Pepple

My name is Ryan Pepple and I am the founder/president of Best Coast Epoxy Coatings Inc. I do all the residential jobs myself and use a crew to complete commercial jobs. You can call the number mentioned on the site to talk to me.

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