What are Anti-Slip Paints – Different Types & Uses

In many homes, businesses, and facilities, there are areas where it is naturally easier to slip and fall. These can be pretty smooth or sleek wood stairs and floors, leading to less traction.

The fact is that many slip-and-fall incidents do not involve water or other liquid on the surface – it can be debris, dirt, or clutter that can reduce the friction enough to cause slips.

Anti-slip paint is designed to increase the friction or grip on the surface so that it helps prevent slips and falls, even if the surface has clutter, dirt, or liquid.

Coating your floors with anti-slip paint helps prevent accidents and protects those who walk along the surface, especially the elderly in your home.

While such protection may not be 100% against all conditions, it is often more than good enough to maintain proper traction on the floor.

Given the sheer number of choices on the market, you can choose an anti-slip paint that provides a glossy or smooth finish with the desired color.

Types of Non-Skid Paint

It pays to understand the different types of anti-slip paints on the market, the best option, and what to look for when buying them.

It’s also a good practice to do a little research before choosing, as there are additional factors you need to keep in mind when picking.

1- Non-Slip Epoxy Paint

This type of paint is friendly to bare feet and is designed to provide a durable, long-lasting surface with plenty of traction.

It’s an oil-based product that provides an anti-slip coating to materials such as aluminum, concrete, fiberglass, steel, stone, tiles, and wood.

The benefits of this particular non-slip epoxy paint include the following.

• Quite affordable and can be applied to multiple types of surfaces
• Long-lasting, easy to apply, and increases grip even when wet
• Chemical resistant, found in several colors, and barefoot-friendly finish

2- Urethane Non-Skid Paint

This type offers a deep texture and a more robust non-skid finish that can be applied to different surfaces.

This type of paint is usually used in commercial structures, but it can be used on concrete surfaces in the home.

From loading ramps to walkways, floors of warehouses, machine-operating areas, and factories, this is a popular paint choice for facilities, warehouses, and manufacturing centers.

The benefits of this type of coating are as follows…

• Used on multiple types of surfaces
• Easy to apply and aggressively non-skid
• Withstand the elements and available in several colors

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What’s the Best Anti Slip Paint You Can Use for Wood?

From tiles to wood to stone and more, there is a non-slip paint that is best suited for a particular surface. However, some brands or products will be more suited to particular floors than others.

Urethane-based non-skid paint, such as the Slip Doctors Floor Grip, is an excellent product for hardwood stairs and floors inside and outside.

It also works well on cork, laminate, vinyl, tile, and more to maintain traction while providing a clear, non-skid coating.

The paint takes around 12 to 24 hours to dry and is perfect for bare feet or paws.

If you choose a non-skid paint other than SlipDoctors, find the product best suited to the particular material of which the floor is made.

Strive for a paint that is strong, long-lasting, and crafted from high-quality ingredients for maximum benefits.

Another consideration is how the paint can be applied. This includes the drying time of the paint. You do not want to cover your kitchen floor with non-skid paint only for the product to take days or longer before you can walk on the surface.

The slipperiness of the floors should also be of concern to every home and business owner. So be sure to identify surfaces that need extra traction and apply the appropriate type of non-skid paint.

If you are unsure, contact a professional to find the right type of non-skid paint for your needs. Not only in terms of the good surface but also the application and drying time.

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A Few Other Alternatives to Make Your Wood Floors Less Slippery

The old-fashioned area rug is the easiest solution to providing more traction to a slick floor. They work well in hallways and rooms.

Plus, they help to trap dirt so that it does not spread as much around the floor.

Modern rugs have a backing that keeps them in place so they do not slip around.

Rugs are also relatively inexpensive, depending on what brand you purchase.

The only downside is that rugs will hide the floor underneath. But if you purchase the correct color, pattern, and size of rugs, you can create beautiful interior décor for your home.

There are a few other options if you do not want to use rugs to make your floors less slippery. These include:

Anti-Slip Panels:

Unlike coatings, you can find anti-slip floor panels in various colors and finishes.

They are easy to install, can be fitted to the exact measurements of any walkway or room, and work in any weather condition.

This also means you do not have to worry about drying times or if the area has proper ventilation.

Anti-slip panels are also relatively more durable, often lasting up to 30 years or longer.

The only downside to anti-slip panels is the cost. While installation is not expensive and can be performed by most people, the floor panels themselves are rather expensive.

Non-Slip Pads:

If you have older rugs or mats that slide, try adding non-slip pads underneath that can perfectly complement area rugs, runners, and door mats.

You can cut the pads into specific sizes and shapes for maximum protection so that the pads will grip the rug and the floor, keeping the rug in the desired position.

The only downside is that the non-slip pads may damage the floor.

While in most cases, they tend to leave a visible mark that can be removed, some rug pads will cause wooden flooring to discolor, especially if they contain a cheap oil that causes sweat damage to the wood itself.  

The Bottom Line

An untreated floor with less traction can be dangerous to you and those who live or work inside the home or business.

Applying anti-slip paint is a great way to make your floors and staircases less slippery, especially if you have small children, pets, or seniors at home.

To get the best results, use anti-slip paint that can add a grip to the floors while providing a desired finish at the same time.