Solutions for Slippery Epoxy Floor?

[csp]

CSP said earlier that he used a flake finish and it was great for anti slip so it might be better if you stopped there. I have never put flake finish down so maybe you can ask him again however, I have put down lots of antislip floors using sand.

It was fine until I was stepping out of my pickup the other day and stepped on a wet floor from snow/grime dripping off of our vehicles. It has just enough dirt/mud in it to make it very slick and I went down hard. Both elbows hit the concrete and my back hit the steps on the pickup. I may consider a clear coat with Shark Grip now, though cleaning the floor would go a long way too.

 

[tncatadjuster]

Does an epoxy floor emit an “amine-blush” in the drying process? When I have used epoxy for boat and other work this has been an issue and results in a waxy type surface. I always have to wash the epoxy before the next coat or paint. Could this be the reason a new epoxy floor is slippery?

Maybe all you need to do is wash it with a strong cleaner and the problem may go away.

Anyway, its an interesting topic.

Depends on the type of epoxy, many have no blush at all. Some topcoats are compatible with little or no prep. Most of the new floor coatings have gone away from this class of blush product.

 

[RodneyPierce]

I was going to say, that I assume these would all be "non-blushing" epoxy. And for future reference, West Systems epoxy is expensive, but it is non blushing. Perfect for sealing wood, boats, etc.

 

[z28toz06]

This is why I got a broom finish on my floor. With the epoxy on it it is smoothed out but still has enough stippling on it to keep a good footing, even when wet.

 

[sethhalstead]

I've ready all of the responses in regards to this and am still unsure... I'm doing an Epoxy-Coat with flakes and then Epoxy-Coat clearcoat on my home garage. The garage is not used for business and is simply for good looks and the occasional work on one of my vehicles. I have a wife and a 4 year old. My wife and daughter often walk in the garage with bare feet. I understand that the aluminum oxide that comes with the Epoxy-Coat will cut feet, so I can't use that. My questions are: Will the floor have enough traction to walk on safely without any non-slip added for basic use? Has anyone added the Legacy Industrial Tabular Alumina non-skid additive to their Epoxy-Coat that says you can walk on with bare feet? I'm just trying to decide if a non-slip is really necessary. Has anyone had great luck with no slipping without non-slip added? Any help and pictures would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[lyonkster]

Has anyone had great luck with no slipping with no non-slip added?

From my limited experience, I would say that any gloss epoxy without anti-slip additives will be too slippery when wet. I really liked my Shark-grip, and would recommend it or any other similar additives. You can see pics in my earlier posts.

 

[miken123]

I'm planning to do my floor soon and and am glad I read this. My new plan is to use shark grip in my clear coat.

Leon - can you confirm if your installer 1. mixed it into the clear coat in the bucket or 2. if he sprinkled and back rolled or 3. if he back rolled and sprinkled at the end?

All in all VERY informative thread thanks all for sharing!

 

[lyonkster]

Leon - can you confirm if your installer 1. mixed it into the clear coat in the bucket or 2. if he sprinkled and back rolled or 3. if he back rolled and sprinkled at the end?

He mixed the shark Grip into the bucket of clear prior to application, which I believe is what the Shark-grip instructions tell you to do (although I am not 100% sure of that).

 

[miken123]

He mixed the shark Grip into the bucket of clear prior to application, which I believe is what the Shark-grip instructions tell you to do (although I am not 100% sure of that).

Great thanks for the info!
And yup that's what the shark grip bottle recommends! Very excited to have heard about this and will def try it on mine.

 

[[email protected]]

I just saw this post and would like to add the following.
Slippery floors can be less slippery if you use Johnny Grip.
Look it up on Google and order the gallon sized jug. The stuff works great!!

 

[acustiknhappy]

You'll need another coat with non slip added to it. There is no other way

There IS another way! There’s a polysiloxane clear, gritty (aluminum oxide) anti-slip floor coating that’s been available for years now. Super durable, sticks to anything, and last for many years. This anti-slip epoxy coating goes right on top of the slippery epoxy with no special prep needed at all. Works on any kind of fooor you can imagine. It’s used on glass floors, epoxy, terrazzo, and anything else that’s slippery when wet. See https://safetydirectamerica.com/diyabrasivefloorcoatings/