CASE STUDY: Porcelain Tile in Restaurant

PROBLEM: Very slippery floors, both when entering the restaurant and when staff exit the kitchen

This was an existing space being converted into a restaurant. We were not sure of the previous business, but the establishment had porcelain tile throughout. A smooth tile surface, combined with kitchen grease and patrons’ wet feet from outside, was a recipe for disaster.

SOLUTION: Anti-slip application

This smooth surface needed to be altered by adding non-skid aggregate. There are many do-it-yourself chemicals on the market that claim to etch the surface or create small suction cups for gripping. As products are introduced to the market, we try each in hopes of adding it to our offerings. So far, we’re sticking with our coating process*. This process uses our tile coating, and we then broadcast aggregate or non-skid ‘’sand’ ‘ onto the first layer of coating. A top coating then seals in the sand. This not only permanently sets the aggregate, but also makes the surface easier to clean. Leaving the aggregate exposed would be challenging to clean, as a mop would leave lint behind.