Will travertine become slippery once sealed? Absolutely!
A common question asked by those interested in installing travertine is, “How slippery is travertine tile?” This question is open to interpretation and opinion and can be affected by several factors.
Some general rules can be applied to determine the slipperiness of different travertine finishes in consideration of the various contributing factors that may affect the quality and texture of the installed tile. Considering the “static coefficient of friction” (SCOF), which in layman’s terms is a description of the force required to move a stationary object to the condition of the surface on which that object stands, will help inform you on the slipperiness of a travertine tile.
Since the factors that impact SCOF ratings include force, footwear, and surface condition, it’s essential to consider each of these when deciding who to hire and ensure they apply slip-resistant additives when a film-forming sealer is previously used.
It’s best to use an Impregnating sealer on Natural Stone.
How Surface Slip Potential Rate is Measured
For architects, contractors, builders, and anyone else who may need to specify a certain level of friction of building materials for legal reasons, there are several scientific tests to determine a SCOF value. A minimum value of .50 is generally considered to be the minimum safety requirement for slip resistance and is the recognized minimum standard for slip-resistant tiles in courts of law in the United States.
Different travertine tile finishes will have different coefficients of friction, making them more or less slippery:
- Polished travertine tiles have the most slippery finish, providing the lowest SCOF value, generally in the .40 to .50 range.
- Honed travertine tiles are less slippery, offering the next highest SCOF rating in a range of .40 to .60, although a finely honed finish will approach the SCOF of polished travertine tiles.
- Textured finishes like tumbled and brushed are the least slippery finishes with a SCOF rating in the .50 to .70 range.
While these are general rules, they should only be treated as guidelines. Currently, SCOF measurement is not an exact science – the same test methods applied to the same tiles often do not yield the same results. Also, different testing methods on the same tiles can often produce different coefficient of friction numbers. Despite all of this, progress is being made in refining and developing better methods for measuring the coefficient of friction for different floor tiles.
Slippery when wet
The SCOF tests have traditionally been conducted on dry surfaces because it was assumed that all flooring surfaces, when wet, would be significantly below the minimum suggested SCOF of 0.50. However, one of the environmental factors that can influence SCOF is wetness, the most common source of which is water. Travertine tiles are slippery when wet, just like most glazed ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, marble tiles, and granite tiles.
Just as a source of wetness can decrease a SCOF rating, some sealers can increase the SCOF rating of tile flooring. Many “non-slip” coatings can be applied to natural stone tiles that will increase their SCOF rating. Applying a “Non-slip” coating or sealer can raise the SCOF by .10 to .30, depending on the product.
What We Can Do To Help
Through years of experience, we have found ways to make travertine tiles less slippery, especially when installed around pools or in areas where water flows frequently. The reduction of the slippery rate of your travertine will depend on the slip-resistant additive in the coating that is applied to the surface when previously sealed with a film-forming sealer..
Such a decision can only be made through a preliminary inspection of the area and its surroundings. This is why we make it a point to ensure that, before suggesting any solutions to our clients, we provide an accurate estimate of the service price, taking into account the products we will use to coat your sealed travertine tiles. To make such an estimation, we make it a point to be on the lookout for external elements in the environment that can affect the overall quality of your surface and take that into consideration as we work on the project.
Call us today!
Your home needs to be protected and secured to give you the most practical results that will last for years. We ensure that our services not only enhance the appearance of your natural stone now but also prolong the lifespan of your surface, whether it be brick, travertine, shellock schist, or concrete. We have all the solutions you need. Call us today, and we will be more than glad to accommodate your inquiry.
The bottom line is that we can seal your Natural Stone correctly the first time with an impregnating Sealer that is no slipperier than unsealed Natural Stone. Enhanced or Invisible.
Take note that an installer without the knowledge to seal your surface can make your Natural stone slippery when an Impregnating sealer is applied incorrectly.