Anti Slip - Expert Removal & Treatment Guide
Anti Slip - Expert Removal & Treatment Guide
What is Anti Slip?
Slippery stone and tile surfaces present a serious safety hazard, particularly in wet areas like bathrooms, pool surrounds, outdoor terraces, and entrance areas. Natural stone and polished tiles can become extremely slippery when wet, creating a fall risk.
Anti-slip treatment works by creating a microscopic texture on the surface that increases friction when wet. The treatment is invisible to the eye and does not significantly change the appearance of the stone. It works by selectively etching the surface at a micro level - creating tiny channels that break the water film between foot and surface.
Anti-slip treatment is especially important for elderly residents, households with children, commercial premises (legal liability), and any area where water is regularly present.
How to Identify It
Perform a simple wet-foot test: wet the surface, walk on it barefoot, and assess how slippery it feels. Professional testing uses a pendulum test (British Standard) or ramp test (DIN standard). Class R9 is minimum for dry areas, R10-R11 for wet areas, R12-R13 for very wet/oily areas.
Common Causes
- Not a damage problem - anti-slip is a safety treatment
- Needed when: polished stone is installed in wet areas
- Existing anti-slip treatment has worn off
- Changing use of an area (e.g. adding a shower)
- Legal requirements for commercial premises
- Safety concern for elderly or mobility-impaired users
Prevention
- Apply anti-slip treatment to all wet-area stone during installation
- Re-test and re-treat annually in high-traffic wet areas
- Choose naturally textured stone for wet areas where possible
- Ensure adequate drainage to minimize standing water
Treatment by Surface Type
Natural Stone
Risk level: Medium
Lithofin Anti-Slip: apply undiluted with sponge or cloth. Leave 5-15 minutes (shorter for marble, longer for granite). Rinse thoroughly. Test slip resistance when dry. Repeat if needed.
- Anti-slip slightly affects polished surfaces - test first
- Calcareous stone reacts more strongly - use shorter contact time
- May need re-treatment every 1-2 years in high-traffic areas
Ceramics
Risk level: Low
Lithofin Anti-Slip: apply, leave 10-15 minutes, rinse. Very effective on glazed tiles. For unglazed porcelain: usually already slip-resistant, but treatment can improve wet performance.
- Glazed tiles respond well to anti-slip treatment
- Will not affect tile colour but may slightly dull high-gloss glaze
Artificial Stone
Risk level: Medium
Lithofin Anti-Slip on polished terrazzo and smooth concrete. Apply, leave 10 minutes, rinse. For quartz composite: test first in inconspicuous area.
- Test on quartz composite - reactions vary
- Concrete is usually already textured enough
- Polished terrazzo benefits significantly from treatment
Cotto Terracotta
Risk level: Low
Cotto rarely needs anti-slip treatment due to its natural texture. If needed (very smooth indoor cotto): Lithofin Anti-Slip with short contact time (5 minutes).
- Cotto is naturally textured and rarely needs anti-slip
- If waxed cotto is slippery: re-buff the wax rather than anti-slip treatment
When to Call a Professional
Commercial premises should have professional slip testing (pendulum test) performed to meet legal requirements. Professionals can also apply industrial-grade anti-slip treatments for large-scale installations.
Find the right product
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