Polished concrete floors may look as smooth as glass, but they are completely safe to walk on when kept clean and dry.
What’s more, they tend to be less slippery than waxed linoleum or polished marble. In public facilities with heavy foot traffic, however, preventing slip-and-fall accidents is a top priority.
Here are some tips for improving the slip-resistance of polished concrete floors in these environments:
- Keep polished floors free of oil, grease and standing water. Follow a routine maintenance program, and clean spills and stains from the floor as soon as possible.
- Apply an anti-slip conditioner. These products contain special additives designed to improve traction and make wet surfaces safer. They must be reapplied periodically, but they can simply be mopped on during routine cleaning.
- Apply a sealer coat to polished concrete that contains an anti-slip grit additive. These products are simply mixed into the sealer before applying to increase traction without taking away from the appearance of the polished surface.
- Used polished concrete flooring in display areas or zones of low traffic, supplemented by rubber mats or area rugs in high-traffic entryways.