If you’ve been thinking about installing an epoxy floor and are wondering if it is as slippery as everyone says, rest assured that this is a myth. In fact, it is one of the best non-skid floorings available. You’ll be able to walk freely on your epoxy floors without fear of slipping or falling. The best thing about epoxy floors—besides their durability, ease of cleaning, and low maintenance—is their incredible slip-resistant options. These anti-skid options in the epoxy create an extremely safe flooring material, making it a perfect choice for hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other industrial buildings that host heavy foot traffic. However, you should ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN ANY FLOOR SURFACE IS WET OR CONTAMINATED.
So what are your options?
Shark Grip Additive
The most recommended additive to create a non-slip surface for epoxy is ground polymer grit such as SharkGrip. This is the easiest way to make your epoxy flooring slip-resistant and is most often used in areas with low to medium foot traffic or indoor installations. The grit consists of very small, micronized polymer beads that are soft to the feet and skin. It’s designed to create a fine texture that’s not as aggressive as aluminum oxide additives but still prevents slipping. Its lack of sharp edges also makes it easy to clean. A potential downside to SharkGrip is that it reduces gloss, which may be concerning for those who want to keep the signature shine of epoxy flooring intact.
Aluminum Oxide Additive
This is the most ideal additive for industrial settings where maximum grip is needed, or where there are extremely slippery conditions. It adds an extremely aggressive, durable, long-lasting, and tough anti-slip texture profile when added to epoxy flooring. It does not change the coating’s physical properties and bonds well into the coating. Abrasive materials like aluminum oxide give your feet something to grip, even in wet conditions. This more aggressive grit is suspended in the final topcoat of your epoxy system.
Silica Sand/Quartz Sand
Also referred to as silica sand, quartz sand is often used to make epoxy flooring slip-resistant. While this type of non-skid will work, it’s best when used with a colored topcoat because the sand is visible with a clear coat. It creates a rough, bumpy texture that gives you more security and stability as you move across the floor. From the harshest chemical exposure, to the most abrasive high-traffic areas, quartz sand provides the versatility to custom-design a durable high-performance resinous flooring system that will withstand the most severe environments. The sheer hardness of the quartz mineral will enhance both impact and slip resistance, making it the optimal solution for the most extreme surfaces. This aggregate is composed of the finest uniformly shaped and graded quartz granules on Earth. This unique product is brilliantly color-coated with an advanced resin system and high-quality colorfast pigments to provide optimal durability. It can be applied to achieve many different textures and levels of slip resistance to prevent slip and fall injuries and minimize liability.
Flake/Chip
For anyone who wants their epoxy flooring to look stylish while having excellent slip resistance, this non-slip solution is for you! Also known as decorative vinyl color chips, flakes, or fleck, these products are specially formulated paint aggregates used to enhance the aesthetic qualities of seamless, resin-based flooring systems. This unique product is random in shape, sized within a standardized range, and custom blended to match any décor. They continue gaining popularity amongst architects, designers, contractors, and consumers, because of their unique properties that deliver complete customization to commercial, residential, and industrial floors with an endless range of color styles, texture, size, and blending options.
Flakes add a decorative touch of elegance to your flooring, making it look more eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing. It also delivers on providing a tough grip for an anti-slip surface that’s highly effective at preventing unwanted accidents. If you’re applying it yourself, you can adjust the quantity of flakes to suit your preference, directly affecting how textured you want your epoxy flooring to be. Ultimately, the resinous flooring media provides an orange-peel texture that increases slip resistance and safety, while camouflaging any imperfections in the floor.
Whether you choose vinyl, quartz, metallic, or even glitter flakes, they will help make your floor non-slip. This is one reason why vinyl and quartz flakes are so often used in automotive shops, industrial buildings, and garages. Since these areas are prone to oil and grease spills, the flakes keep the floor safe for everyone.
If you have any questions about epoxy flooring, get in touch with the experts at Alaska Resin Supply. We provide the highest quality materials and are located at 201 E. Swanson Ave, Suite 1, in Wasilla. Give us a call at (907) 671-9900 and check out our website at www.AlaskaResin.com.
View article on MakeASceneak.com: https://www.makeasceneak.com/july-2022/2022/7/13/will-my-epoxy-flooring-be-slippery-top-solutions-to-increase-safety?rq=epoxy