If you have slipped on porcelain tile, you know just how dangerously slippery these tiles can be. As gorgeous as porcelain tile looks in a home, it can cause slips and falls that can lead to cracks in the tile.
Porcelain tiles are slippery because they are made with a smooth material. This smooth surface means there is a lack of friction, which causes porcelain tile to be slippery.
There are a few disadvantages and advantages to consider before installing porcelain tiles in your home. You can also use a few techniques to make porcelain tiles less slippery and dangerous.
Advantages of Porcelain Tiles
Brilliant Shine
Although porcelain tiles can cause you to slip and slide, there are still advantages to using them in your home. Porcelain tiles have a brilliant shine, but they are easy to clean! Long gone are the long hours spent scrubbing wood floors with cracks. Instead, one quick swipe of the mop can have porcelain tile shining brightly.
Elegant Looks
Another advantage of installing and properly using porcelain tile in your home is that it looks elegant! The gorgeous shine and colors of your porcelain tile give your home a refreshing modern look, and the colors and smoothness of the tile make it easy to decorate your home.
Scratchless
Porcelain material is also naturally hard and dense, meaning that it fights against normal wear and tear, including scratches, chips, and dents. One drop of a pan or heavy object won’t damage the porcelain tile.
Long-Lasting
The best advantage to installing porcelain tiles in your home is that they can last a lifetime if made correctly. With the proper type of glaze on the porcelain tile, you should expect the color, shine, and smoothness to last. This is a big money-saving move, and who doesn’t love saving money?
Disadvantages of Porcelain Tiles
Just as there are advantages to using porcelain tiles, there are also disadvantages you should consider. For example, since these porcelain tiles are extremely smooth, they are slippery.
Slippery
If you are not careful, the slipperiness of the porcelain tiles can have you slipping, tripping, and sliding through your home! The slipperiness is dangerous since it can cause you to fall, and since porcelain tile is hard, you can get really hurt from the fall!
Costly
Although porcelain tile is durable, tough, and hard, they are also notoriously known for being difficult to fix when broken. These tiles are cut to fit your home and your design. Most porcelain tiles are handmade and take time, energy, and effort to create, and it can be costly and nearly impossible to repair a broken porcelain tile.
Impossible to Repair
It is also dangerous to leave a broken porcelain tile alone! Once cracked it can easily absorb moisture and water, leading to a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. With broken porcelain tile, you have mold growing right below your feet, which can cause allergic reactions and further lift and break the tile.
How do you make porcelain tiles less slippery?
You are in luck if you really like the overall look that porcelain tiles can give your home! There are various techniques you can use to decrease the slipperiness of porcelain tiles. Listed below are the top 4 most common methods to decrease the slipperiness of smooth tiles.
Add Decorative Traction
The easiest method by far is going to your favorite home decor store and choosing rugs and carpets to decorate the tile floors. If you want to keep your home safe from slips, it is best to add traction and friction to the ground.
Adding decorative traction does not eliminate the slipperiness of the entire floor, but it can prevent accidents from occurring and protects the tiles underneath. We recommend adding a rug or carpet in common areas where slipping can result in injury or damage.
Anti-Slip Treads
Did you know there are also anti-slip treads? Anti-slip treads are tape that you can smoothly add on top of your tile. Don’t worry, though; the stickiness of the tape does not harm the tile underneath because of its durability.
Instead, anti-slip treads work by adding friction. If you are nervous about adding this adhesive directly to your tiles, there are many colors and patterns that can blend in with your unique and beautiful porcelain tiles.
Anti-Slip Coating and Cleaning Solution
The methods listed above change the overall look of your tile floors. If you want to keep them on display in all of their shiny glory, you can spread a layer of anti-slip coating and cleaning solution!
There are many solutions to choose from, but they all work the same way. You can apply the solution using a clean and dry mop. The solution works by corroding the porcelain tiles to differentiate the overall texture. The change is so small though that you won’t be able to see it!
That being said, experts do not recommend leaving anti-slip coating and cleaning solution for more than a few hours as it can damage the texture of the tile.
Tips and Tricks for Caring for Delicate Porcelain Tiles
As tempting as it is to use harsh chemical cleaners on your delicate and beautiful porcelain tiles, this is actually frowned upon. Since the porcelain tiles are made with gentle materials that are durable and smooth, cleaning is easy!
It is best to only use water and mild dish soap to clean your porcelain tiles. This can help maintain the shininess and durability of your porcelain tiles. Harsh chemical cleaners instead can burn and ruin the colors and patterns of your floors, leading to an expensive replacement.
Conclusion
All in all, cleaning and maintaining porcelain tiles is relatively easy. You don’t have to be an expert! Since porcelain tiles are made with a smooth and dense material though, they are slippery and can cause injuries. It is best to use methods like adding friction and using an anti-slip solution to prevent misfortunes and damage to expensive tiles.
Read More on Tiles: Shower Pan vs Tile Floor (Guide to Choose)
