How Textures Solve the Problem of Slippery Concrete Floors

Imagine this: You've got a concrete floor with a coating or titles or linoleum, and maybe it looks fantastic! But then it rains, or there is a spill, or any kind of a leak, and you realize how slippery the surface becomes. This is a common problem with some concrete flooring solutions when they get wet and it can be a real safety hazard for you and your employees.      

Any business owner knows that slippery floors are more than just an inconvenience. They can cause serious accidents with serious liability costs.  We understand, at CustomCrete we have been in business for 20 years. The good news is that there's a simple solution for when you have had enough and are ready to upgrade your concrete floors: adding texture. By building in materials like quartz aggregate during the application process, you can create a non-slip surface that's much safer. 

In this article, we'll explore how adding texture to concrete coatings can solve the problem of slippery surfaces and which coatings benefit most from this solution.  If you are looking to upgrade your flooring, thinking about adding texture is a great way to add an extra level of safety to your new flooring. 

Three Key Problems with Coated Concrete Floors Solved by Textures 

Adding texture to your new concrete coating does more than just make it safer. It also helps with wear and tear and can even make your floor look better. Let's take a closer look at the problems that texture can solve.  

1. Without Texture, Coated Concrete floors are prone to Slips and Falls

The biggest problem with smooth, shiny concrete coatings and other options like tiles or vinyl flooring is that they can be very slippery. In places where water, oil, or chemicals are present, like kitchens, bathrooms, and factories, spills are bound to happen. This makes smooth floors a safety hazard.  

• Adding texture to your concrete coating creates a rougher surface that provides more grip.  
• This helps prevent slips and falls, even when the floor is wet.  
• Materials like quartz , aluminum oxide, glass beads or polypropylene,built into the coating, act like tiny grips that help you stay on your feet.

Whether you're in a busy kitchen, a factory, or your garage, textured coatings help keep people safe by giving them better traction.  

2. Texture, Prevents Wear and Tear on Coated Concrete Floors

Smooth concrete coatings can wear down over time, especially in high-traffic areas like warehouses, stores, or garages. Constant foot traffic, heavy equipment, and dropped objects can all damage the surface, making it even more slippery.  

• Textured coatings are tougher and more resistant to damage.  
• The added texture helps to add wearability, so the floor doesn't wear down as quickly.

This means your floor will last longer and stay slip-resistant, which is really important in busy workplaces.

3. Texture Can Add an Aesthetic Appeal to Coated Concrete Floors

While safety is the most important thing, how your floor looks, matters too..  

• Adding texture to your concrete coating can make it look more interesting. 

This means you can have a floor that's both safe and attractive.

Types of Concrete Coatings That Benefit from added texture

You can add texture to many different types of concrete coatings. This makes them safer and more durable. Here are the main types of coatings that benefit from a textured finish:

Urethane Cement

Urethane cement is a popular choice for places that need a tough, chemical-resistant floor, such as food processing plants, factories, and laboratories.  

• Urethane cement is strong and can handle harsh conditions, but it can be slippery when wet.
• Adding texture makes it safer and helps it last longer by protecting it from wear and tear.

Urethane cement is a top choice for areas that need a floor that can handle tough conditions, like factories and labs. It's strong and can handle chemicals, but it can be slippery when wet. Adding texture makes urethane cement safer, especially where spills or moisture are common. This texture also helps the floor last longer by making it more resistant to damage. Whether it's in a factory, a commercial kitchen with lots of temperature changes, or any other demanding environment, textured urethane cement provides a safer and more durable surface.

Epoxy Coatings

Epoxy coatings are a popular choice for a wide range of applications thanks to their durability, chemical resistance, and aesthetic appeal. However, like other smooth coatings, epoxy can become slippery when wet. This is where texture comes in.

• Enhanced Safety: Adding texture to epoxy coatings significantly improves slip resistance, reducing the risk of accidents in areas prone to spills or moisture. This is crucial in environments like commercial kitchens, restrooms, and healthcare facilities.

• Maintaining Performance: Textured epoxy coatings retain all the benefits of standard epoxy, such as their strength, ease of cleaning, and resistance to chemicals and abrasion. The texture simply adds an extra layer of safety without compromising performance.

• Versatile Applications: Textured epoxy coatings are suitable for a wide range of environments, including commercial and industrial spaces.

Epoxy coatings are a popular choice because they are durable, chemical-resistant, and look good. However, epoxy can be slippery when wet, so adding texture makes it safer. Textured epoxy coatings are still strong, easy to clean, and resist chemicals and abrasion. They are suitable for garages, workshops, retail spaces, showrooms, restaurants, and cafes.

Shop Floor Epoxy

Shop floor epoxy is a specialized type of epoxy designed to withstand the heavy demands of industrial and commercial settings. Garages, workshops, and manufacturing facilities often choose this coating for its durability.

• Increased Traction: In workspaces where heavy machinery, tools, or foot traffic are common, a textured shop floor epoxy provides crucial slip resistance. This helps prevent accidents and ensures a safer work environment.

• Durability Boost: The added texture further enhances the durability of the shop floor epoxy, making it even more resistant to impacts, abrasion, and heavy loads.

• Ideal for Demanding Areas: Consider textured shop floor epoxy for industrial settings or places with heavy machinery usage.  

Shop floor epoxy is a tough type of epoxy used in garages, workshops, and factories because it's so durable. Adding texture to shop floor epoxy makes it less slippery, which is important in areas with heavy machinery or lots of people walking around. The texture also makes the floor even tougher and more resistant to damage. Textured shop floor epoxy is a good choice for warehouses, auto repair shops, manufacturing plants, and areas with forklifts.

Acrylic Coatings

Acrylic coatings are known for their quick drying times, affordability, and aesthetic versatility. While they might not be as inherently durable as epoxy or urethane cement, they still benefit from added texture.

• Safety Without Compromise: Textured acrylic coatings offer improved slip resistance without sacrificing their quick-drying properties or visual appeal.

• Extended Lifespan: The texture helps protect the acrylic coating from wear and tear, extending its lifespan and making it a more cost-effective flooring solution.

• Applications: Textured acrylic coatings are well-suited for industrial and commercial settings where traction is required but traffic is low.  

Acrylic coatings dry quickly, are affordable, and look nice. Adding texture makes them safer without changing how they look or how fast they dry. The texture also helps the coating last longer. Textured acrylic coatings are often used in locker rooms, restrooms, basements, patios, and pool decks.

Types of Textures to Choose From

When you add texture to a concrete coating, you have different options to choose from. Here are the most common ones:

Light Texture: 

This adds a little bit of roughness to the surface to make it less slippery, but it still keeps the floor mostly smooth. This is a good choice for places where you want a sleek look but also need some extra grip.

Medium Texture: 

This creates a more noticeable texture, giving you better traction while still keeping the surface relatively smooth. It's a good balance of safety and appearance.

Heavy Texture: 

This is the roughest option and is best for places with a lot of traffic or heavy equipment, like factories, warehouses, and outdoor areas. It provides the most grip and durability.

Solve the Problem with Textured Coatings

Slippery floors can be a real problem, especially in areas with lots of activity or spills. But adding texture is an easy way to fix this. Whether you're using urethane cement, sealed concrete, or shop floor epoxy, adding texture makes the floor safer and more durable and can even enhance its appearance.

With different texture options available, you can choose the one that best suits your needs, whether your priority is safety, durability, or style.

If you're considering getting a concrete coating for your space, it's important to understand the different coatings and textures. Learn more about choosing the right concrete coating for your project.