# Make ext floor tiles less slippery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185 "2012-01-21T01:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/1 "2012-01-21T01:52:37Z")
Any way to make exterior floor tiles less slippery, especially when they are wet? Trying to avoid having to swap some tiles out. We had a guy apply some coating to them but doesn’t seem to have worked at all. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/2 "2012-01-21T07:18:53Z")
Floor tiles of what material? ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/3 "2012-01-21T07:54:18Z")
Ceramic. Like Mexican tiles. For a front porch n ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/4 "2012-01-21T15:44:14Z")
Apply a polyurethane coating, and sprinkle sharp sand over the tiles while the polyurethane is still wet. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/5 "2012-01-21T15:50:36Z")
Thanks. Is that something a handyman can do? And how does it affect the look of the tiles? Essentially invisible with just some texture on them? ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/6 "2012-01-21T16:01:14Z")
> [@filmyak](#): > > Thanks. Is that something a handyman can do? And how does it affect the look of the tiles? Essentially invisible with just some texture on them? I haven’t tried this myself, but you should be able to do this with a roller or brush. I think the coating might make the tiles look slightly darker. Polyurethane should come in several finishes, like gloss, semi-gloss. Choose the one that best matches the tile. My father used to be a house painter, and he said they used to put sharp sand over freshly painted steps. Note “sharp” sand. It’s a specific grade of sand and seems to provide lots of grip. One final note is that there is probably a preferred/effective temperature to do this, and this should be noted on the container. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/7 "2012-01-22T05:14:37Z")
Cool. Gonna look into that. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/8 "2012-01-22T06:21:54Z")
Talk to your local paint store, like Sherwin-Williams if you have one. They will be able to sell you the right paint to use on exterior tiles and also sell you an additive that will make that paint non-slip yet non-speckled. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/9 "2012-01-22T09:05:35Z")
There are chemical clear coat applications made specifically for this issue. You may want to contact a ceramic tile dealer or distributor in your area to determine what is available or check out this site: [http://www.deltachemicals.com/ceramic-porcelain-nonslip-floor-treatment.htm](http://www.deltachemicals.com/ceramic-porcelain-nonslip-floor-treatment.htm) ---
**Author:** ![cplif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cplif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cplif)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-ext-floor-tiles-less-slippery/610185/10 "2012-01-22T10:38:59Z")
“sharp sand” is crushed rock as opposed to round river sand. Mixing sand into paint (or powdering) is used on boat decks, it works but certainly changes the aspect. It must be redone every year or so, depending on the traffic. Do see a good paint/varnish supplier, they may have better solutions.