Is polished porcelain slippery when wet?

A polished surface has very little microroughness, and roughness is what provides grip once water is present, so polished porcelain commonly performs poorly wet while feeling fine dry. Where a floor gets wet, the wet performance is the one that matters.

What slip resistance figure should a floor reach?

HSE reproduces the pendulum classification as 0 to 24 high slip potential, 25 to 35 moderate and 36 or above low, so 36 and above in the conditions the floor actually sees is the level to aim at. Barefoot areas are assessed with a different slider.

Do anti-slip treatments work?

They can, by adding microroughness, but the result depends on the tile and the treatment, and some change the appearance. That is why the floor is measured rather than treated speculatively, and why the product is matched to the specific surface.

Can I just use mats and rugs instead?

A matting run at an external door is genuinely useful because it removes water before it reaches the tiles. Loose rugs on a hard floor are not a fix — they move underfoot and add a trip edge, so they trade one hazard for another.

High risk

Updated 30 August 2026

Floor Tiles Slippery When Wet

A tiled floor is treacherous as soon as it gets wet, and someone has already slipped or nearly gone over.

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What's happening?

Slip resistance is measurable, which means this does not have to be a matter of opinion. HSE's standard test is the pendulum, the subject of BS 7976 Parts 1 to 3, and it returns a pendulum test value. HSE reproduces the classification as a pendulum test value of 0 to 24 for high slip potential, 25 to 35 for moderate and 36 or above for low. Surface microroughness gives a supporting indication in water-wet pedestrian areas, where an Rz below 10 micrometres is high slip potential, 10 to 20 micrometres moderate and 20 or more low. That is why a polished porcelain or honed stone floor can be perfectly safe dry and dangerous wet: the finish that makes it look good removes the microroughness that provides grip once water is present.

What usually causes it?

Polished porcelain, honed stone or glazed tiles chosen for appearance in an area that regularly gets wet
A tile specified for a dry room then used at an entrance, in a kitchen or in a bathroom where water reaches the floor
Water tracked in from outside at a door with no matting run to take it off shoes
Barefoot use, where an unprofiled surface behaves differently from the same floor in shoes
Polish, dressing or the wrong cleaner leaving a smooth film on the surface that reduces grip
Wear over time smoothing a tile that had adequate texture when it was laid
A floor that ponds or drains slowly, so water stays on the surface instead of running away

Is it dangerous?

Yes, and it is the highest-risk fault in tiling because the injuries are immediate and they happen to the people least able to take them. HSE deals with slips as a leading cause of injury, and a floor measuring in the high slip potential band when wet is a hazard every time it rains or someone leaves a shower. Treat it as urgent where the route is used by an older person, a child or anyone unsteady, and where the floor is at the top of a stair or beside a bath. In the meantime, matting at the door, mopping spills at once and keeping the area out of use while wet are the measures that actually reduce the risk.

Can I fix it myself?

Managing the risk today, yes, and it is worth doing while a permanent answer is arranged. Put a proper matting run at external doors so water comes off shoes before it reaches the tiles, stop using any polish or dressing on the floor, and check that your cleaner is right for the tile — a smooth film left by the wrong product is a common and reversible cause. Do not rely on rugs on a hard floor as a fix, since they slide. Acid-based anti-slip treatments etch the surface and their result depends on the tile, so they are not a blind DIY purchase; a floor that has to be safe should be measured rather than guessed at.

When should you call a tiler?

Call a tiler where the floor is slippery in ordinary use, where someone has already slipped, or where you are choosing tiles for an entrance, kitchen, bathroom or wet room and need the surface to be right first time. Ask for the slip resistance of the tile being proposed in wet conditions rather than a general reassurance. Where a floor is already down and cannot be replaced, ask what can be measured and what treatment suits that specific tile, since the answer differs between glazed ceramic, porcelain and stone.

What will the tiler actually do?

Establish what the tile actually is and how the floor gets wet, since both decide what will work
Have the surface measured wet where the risk matters, rather than relying on a general product claim
Specify a tile with the slip resistance the area needs, including for barefoot use where that applies
Apply or arrange an anti-slip treatment matched to that tile where replacement is not practical
Relay the floor with a suitable tile where the existing surface cannot be brought to an acceptable level
Set out the falls, drainage and matting details so water leaves the surface instead of sitting on it

Frequently asked questions

We’re happy to answer all your questions.

Sources & References

Uneven Tiles With Edges Standing ProudLow risk Natural Stone Tiles Staining Or Going PatchyLow risk White Bloom Or Marks On A New Tiled FloorLow risk Patio Slippery With Green AlgaeCaution

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