Polished stone and porcelain look wonderful and are lethal when wet. If someone has already slipped — in a bathroom, a lobby entrance that streams in the monsoon, a ramp, a poolside, a commercial kitchen — you don't have to rip the floor out and re-tile. An anti-skid (anti-slip) treatment raises the wet grip of the existing surface.
How it works
On stone and porcelain, a controlled chemical process micro-etches the surface at a microscopic level. The change is invisible to the eye and to a dry foot, but it gives a wet shoe or bare foot something to key against. On surfaces that can't be etched, an invisible grip coating or an aggregate additive is used instead.
The key word is controlled. Over-applied, the treatment dulls the finish and can still fail a slip test. Applied to spec — right product, right dwell time, then neutralised — it raises grip while keeping the floor looking the same.
What it changes and what it doesn't
- Changes: wet slip resistance, meaningfully.
- Doesn't change: the colour, the sheen, the texture you can see, or how the floor feels underfoot when dry.
It should be measured
Slip resistance is a number, not an opinion. A proper job includes a pendulum or SCOF reading before and after, with a written report. The aim is to move the floor above the accepted wet slip-resistance threshold for that area. For anything safety-critical — a care home, a clinic, a public building — that documentation is what your insurer and any auditor will ask for.
How long it lasts
Typically 1–3 years depending on traffic and cleaning. Safety-critical areas should be re-tested annually and re-treated when the reading drops toward the threshold. It's far cheaper than re-laying with a textured floor, and it can be done in a day.
Also worth doing
- Keep entrance matting in place — most of the water and grit that makes floors dangerous walks in on shoes.
- Fix leaks, condensation and pooling. A floor that's permanently wet is a floor someone will slip on.
- On stone steps, a discreet anti-skid line can be added to the nosing.