QUESTION

Slippery Tile - I have ceramic tile for the shower floors...which we find very slippery and dangerous. It is a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 tile. Is this a safe tile for shower floors?

ANSWER

ANSWER - If it is a white body wall tile it normally isn't recommended for floors. In the past this type of tile was considered okay to use for bathroom floors if it had a duraglaze finish (textured) to provide some level of slip resistance.

Typically the best tile for shower floors is an unglazed smaller tile like a 1x1 inch or 2 x 2 inch, although there are other sizes that can work. The most important issue is if it has a high enough coefficient of friction. It should be at least a .5 to be considered safe. Now there is a trade off. The more textured a tile is, the more frequently it gets dirty and the more you have to clean it and the more difficult it is to clean. Some people choose to use a smooth faced tile and use mats as one does in bath tubs; that way it's safe and easy to care for.

There are products available to make the tile more textured and slip resistant after it has been installed. It actually etches the finish and can change the appearance to some degree and will be more difficult to maintain. One product out there that I've heard of, but don't know much about, is "Slip Guard," www.slipguard.com.

Good Luck!