Is Epoxy Flooring Slippery?

Epoxy floors are becoming increasingly popular for many reasons. They work well with underfloor heating, have a beautiful look, are easy to maintain, and are incredibly resistant to damage. However, some people have one concern about the slipperiness of epoxy floors. Are epoxy floors slippery? Let’s take a look. 

Are Epoxy Floors Slippery?

Epoxy floors are made from a mixture of resin and hardener, which gives them a smooth, high gloss look. In fact, this shiny look may lead people to think that epoxy floors look slippery. However, is an epoxy floor slippery? 

Epoxy flooring is designed to prevent slips and skids. Fortunately, when an epoxy floor is dry, it is not slippery. This is particularly true with certain types of epoxy flooring, such as flake epoxy floors. 

However, when epoxy flooring gets wet, it can become quite slippery. In reality, this trait is true of high gloss flooring. This means that some environments should not be an issue and others where it might. For example, epoxy flooring in a garage or patio is probably not an issue. However, epoxy flooring in a bathroom will have a greater likelihood of slipperiness.

How Do I Reduce Slipperiness of Epoxy Floors?

Fortunately, many ways can reduce the slickness of epoxy flooring. These are things that should be considered in places where epoxy flooring will regularly come into contact with water or other fluids. 

Silica. Silica is a type of sand that can be integrated into epoxy flooring to make it less slippery by creating more traction on the surface. The one drawback of this is that it reduces the glossy look. 

Aluminum Oxide. Aluminum oxide can be added to the surface of epoxy flooring to generate an anti-slip surface. It bonds well and doesn’t change the properties of epoxy. However, the downside is that it does make it a bit more challenging to clean.  

Carpet Runners. If you install epoxy flooring in a highly trafficked area, you may want to add some carpet runners. In addition to providing a slip-resistant surface, this can also help you add to the overall aesthetic of a particular room. 

Final Thoughts

Epoxy flooring provides a beautiful, glossy look for flooring and is increasing in popularity. While epoxy flooring is not inherently slippery, it does become quite slippery when wet. However, several solutions to this issue can provide slip resistance to epoxy flooring. If you expect your epoxy flooring to frequently encounter water or other fluids, investigating these options is worth considering.