Are marble floors slippery?

Is slipping an issue with marble floors?

Marble is a great flooring material. Whether used as a countertop, wall or floor, it provides a home or office with a beautiful, elegant look that is unmatched. The look of marble has never been questioned, but a future buyer must also consider the natural stone’s functionality. For instance, are marble floors safe? Are they slippery?

Those are two main questions. People have definitely slipped on a marble floor at some point in time. Someone has also probably slipped on hardwood, porcelain tile and even carpet at some point. The real question is: Is slippery marble a big enough concern not to buy and install it?

First of all, you should know that there are two finishes available for marble flooring: honed and polished.

Honed

If you want to avoid a slipping accident in your home, honed marble is your best bet. Honed marble won’t have the glossiness of polished marble, but its satin-like feel provides better grip. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about slipping on honed granite. Obviously, the floor will still be slippery if you’re wearing socks around the house and walking quickly. The same goes for walking out of the shower with wet feet.

Marble floors are most common in bathrooms. The reason for this is that they instantly give the small space an elegant look. It’s also less expensive to install marble in a bathroom as opposed to a kitchen or living area, where there’s more area to cover. Any smooth surface will be slippery if your feet are wet. This beings about the importance of bathroom mats. If you step out of the shower or bath and dry your feet, then you won’t have any slipping problems with honed marble.

Polished

Polished marble, on the other hand, is more prone to slipping. Ultimately, it is as slippery as it looks. The shiny, glossy material is meant mainly for appearance rather than functionality. That is why polished marble is generally seen in areas with less foot traffic. It can show dirt more easily and it provides less grip. You can compare polished marble to any item that you are paranoid about keeping in perfect condition at all times. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use polished marble for flooring, it just warrants more care and attention.

Going back to the bathroom example…

You will most definitely want to make use of bathroom mats with a polished marble floor. You’ll also want to remind yourself that the surface is slippery, especially when your feet aren’t dry. Polished marble isn’t used often in bathrooms because of the risk of slipping. In fact, it’s more common in living areas or entry ways. You’ll also find it commonly used for countertops or walls—areas where slipping isn’t something to worry about.

Are marble floors safe? Yes, but they require some caution.

Are they slippery? Yes, and polished marble is more slippery than honed marble.

Is slippery marble a big enough concern not to buy and install it? Probably not, but it depends on the homeowner. Marble brings too many great qualities for one bad quality to prevent a major home upgrade. You just have to be careful of the surface. If you’re careful then you shouldn’t have any issues.

Nadine Floor Company

For your flooring needs, Nadine Floor Company is your top source. We can also help with general home remodeling, including countertop installation. Our experts are here to answer any questions you might have regarding flooring materials. Once you decide on a type of flooring, we’ll complete a free estimate and execute installation perfectly. Call us today at (469) 666-4530. Also, check out our blog for more helpful information.