Is Epoxy Slippery When Wet?
A question that’s often asked is, “Will my epoxy floor be slippery when it gets wet?” The answer to this question is both a “Yes” and a “No”, and will largely depend on what type of epoxy coating is applied—whether this be an epoxy garage, epoxy porch, or epoxy patio.
Firstly, homeowners should always be aware that almost any surface becomes slippery to one degree or another when wet: whether it be stamped concrete, polished concrete, or an epoxy coating. With respect to epoxy coatings, the primary appeal for homeowners is that your concrete floor—be it a garage, porch, patio, or basement—is protected for years to come, in addition to now having a clean, crisp, and aesthetic finish.
However, with an epoxy finish, as with most coatings, there comes the need for added caution—particularly when liquids like water, snow, ice, or spills are concerned. In the Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo area, snow and ice are frequent concerns in the winter months. To remedy this, all our outdoor projects (epoxy porches and epoxy patios in particular), and indoor projects upon request, have a clear silica sand-based anti-slip that is broadcast into the epoxy coating during the top-coat process. This anti-slip feature is included at no additional charge. Our anti-slip ensures that there is added grip and texture to the coating, especially in areas that might receive heavy traffic or exposure to the elements. And while the anti-slip feature helps immensely with grip and safety, caution is always encouraged—particularly during those Canadian winter months!
Additionally, all flake-based epoxy coatings have added texture given the small pieces of vinyl flake are broadcast evenly throughout the coating. This gives the floor not only a pleasing aesthetic look, but additional safety features as well given its textured surface.
Lastly, we encourage all our customers to clean and maintain their epoxy floors regularly as they would any other surface. A simple rubber squeegee is sufficient to remove puddles or spills from most floors. For surfaces that may be exposed to snow or ice, we encourage our customers to use a plastic shovel for any removals, as a metal tool could potentially scratch or chip the flooring if used too aggressively.
