What Can Be Applied To a Polished Floor To Gain Traction?

Polished floors are very smooth, making most people wonder what they can apply to make them safe to walk on. Although polished concrete floors are safe to walk on, certain factors affect their reliability, for example, wetness or muddy residue.

Follow these tips to gain traction on a polished floor:

• Use an anti-slip conditioner – the conditioners have special additives to improve traction.
• Use a sealer coat – the best coats contain anti-slip grit additives.
• Ensure polished floors are free of standing water, oil, and grease. Therefore, clean the floor regularly to guarantee safety.

Slip and falls cause serious injuries, leading to lifelong health problems. Therefore, thorough care and maintenance routine of polished floors is recommended. Here are crucial things you need to know about polished floors:

Are polished concrete floors slippery?

Although polished concrete floors appear smooth, they are not slippery. They are safe for people to walk on, provided they are clean and dry. There is a misconception that polished concrete floors are slippery eliciting fear.

You can use rugs and rubber mats in high-traffic areas to avoid slips and falls when wet.

Why is a polished floor so slippery?

Polished floors are not slippery. However, they become so slippery after you apply a polish or wax coating. Most polished floors are slippery when wet or if you have something slippery, for example, mud or water at the bottom of the shoes.

Another difference in relation to a polished floor to other ceramic floors is that, although a polished floor in normal conditions is not slippery, having no separations or joints, the friction that is created with the footsteps can be less than that of a ceramic floor, the less friction the more risk of slipping.

Keeping the floors clean and dry is the only remedy to avoid a slippery floor. If you have children or pets, keep an eye on them because they pose a slip and fall risk.

The glossy finish of polished concrete implies that it is inherently slippery. But as long as the polished concrete floor stays dry, it is just as secure as any other concrete flooring.

In fact, polished concrete is actually safer than linoleum, for example.

They are also usually less slippery than waxed parquet or polished marble. In public facilities with heavy pedestrian traffic, the prevention of slip and fall accidents has the highest priority.

How do you roughen a slippery floor?

If you have a slippery floor at home or work, consider making it rough to avoid related injuries. Fortunately, you can roughen slippery floors without spending a fortune. Here are some of the ways to roughen a slippery floor:

• Use an anti-slip solution to increase traction.
• Add anti-slip stickers and threads, especially in high-traffic areas in your home. You can do it yourself or hire a professional if you have limited time or skills.
• Cover the floor using non-slip rugs. Research online, read reviews, or get referrals from friends to do it right. Remember, what works for your friend might not work for you. Ergo, always consider your friend’s recommendations while researching to make the right choice.
• Install non-slip tiles – since slip and fall injuries can cause serious injuries, you can switch to non-slip tiles if you plan to do a full renovation. Depending on the severity of the problem, doing a full renovation might be the ideal solution instead of trying to implement temporary solutions. For example, a slippery floor at the workplace can attract numerous slip and fall claims, thus causing huge financial loss. Instead of using rugs and erecting signs in the hallway, switching to non-slip tiles seems like the best solution.

Applying the anti-slip formula on your polished floor is simple and effective, although it has two main drawbacks. First, it is labor intensive, unlike laying door mats, rugs, carpets, adhesive threads, or foam floors.

You need to prepare the formula, apply and then clean the floor. Second, most anti-slip formulas contain harsh chemicals which corrode the tiles. Therefore, if the formula is prepared or applied incorrectly, it can damage the tiles.

Can you make a polished floor non-slip?

Most people install polished floors because of their aesthetic nature and durability. However, most people are surprised by the fact that polished floors are slip resistant too.

It is possible to make polished floors non-slip using vinegar or rugs. Using door mats, area rugs, or an anti-slip treatment are some of the ways you can avoid slip and fall injuries. Alternatively, you can replace some sections with anti-slip floor panels or use non-skid paint for wooden floors.

Does vinegar help slippery floors?

Yes. Vinegar is excellent in making slippery floors anti-slip. Vinegar cuts grease and wax build-up, the two main culprits that cause slipperiness. Vinegar can be used on hard surface floors, including wood, laminate, and tiles.

How do you do it? Start by vacuuming the floor thoroughly to remove dirt and dust. Mix a ½ cup of white vinegar solution in a gallon of warm water. Use the vinegar solution to clean the floor.

If you are cleaning hardwood floors, rig the mop to get the best results. You do not need to rinse vinegar moping solution from the floor. Leave it on the floor to air dry. Never mix vinegar with bleach because the two produce toxic fumes, which can cause serious health problems.

Are polished concrete floors slippery when wet?

Yes. It is crucial to keep polished concrete floors clean and dry at all times, It is very easy to slip on a wet floor because in the former the coefficient of friction is almost zero. Therefore, friction is zero.

How do you make sealed concrete less slippery?

Using grit additives reduces slipperiness. Although you can hire skilled labor, you can do it yourself by mixing grit additives into the sealer and then applying the mix to the sealed concrete.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions before use. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to seek help from an expert.

Does sealing concrete make it slick?

It all depends on the type of concrete sealer used. Sealing concrete does not necessarily make it slick. However, the surface might become slick/slippery if you use a low-quality concrete sealer.

Some concrete sealers have a high solid content that fills the small pores of the concrete. When such sealers are used, they form a solid layer on the floor’s surface, making it slick when wet.

Conclusion:

Numerous methods can be used to make polished floors gain traction. Using carpet runners/mats, anti-slip chemical formulas, anti-slip adhesive, or foam flooring are easy, affordable, and reversible solutions.

However, rugs and mats can change the room’s appearance, while anti-slip chemical formulas can change the floor’s appearance if misapplied. Installing non-slip tiles or floating floors is labor intensive and expensive.

Therefore, later solutions are recommended when planning to renovate your home. Be that as it may, take time to research and weigh the pros and cons of each solution before committing.

Seeking professional help or opinion is recommended, especially if you do not know where to start.