September 12, 2025 • 10 mins
Slips and falls aren't just embarrassing—they can be dangerous and costly. Yet so many homeowners choose gorgeous tile based purely on looks, only to discover the hard way that beauty doesn't equal safety when water hits the floor.
In this deep dive on slip resistance, Mike and Abby break down everything you need to know about keeping your footing while maintaining stunning style. We decode those mysterious ratings like DCOF and R-values that actually tell you how safe a tile will be when wet. Forget the marketing hype—we give you the straight talk on what these numbers mean for your bathroom, kitchen, or pool deck.
The age-old design rule of "matte for floors, gloss for walls" exists for good reason, but we go beyond simple finishes to explore how texture creates both visual interest and crucial traction. From the practical benefits of mosaic tiles (more grout lines = more grip) to the maintenance considerations of textured surfaces, we cover the real-world implications of every choice.
Best of all, we share designer-approved combinations that prove safety doesn't mean sacrificing style. Learn how to create visually striking spaces that perform beautifully in daily life—whether that means handling kitchen spills, bathroom splashes, or poolside puddles. With our practical tips for testing and selecting tile, you'll approach your next renovation with confidence.
Have questions about tile for your project? Visit belktile.com for resources, inspiration, and expert advice, or call us at 614-543-8334. Subscribe and leave a review to join our community of savvy homeowners who know that the smartest designs look great and keep everyone safe.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
BELKY (00:01):
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.
Mike (00:43):
All right, welcome back to Belk Tile Talk.
I'm Mike Belk and, as always,I've got Abby here with me.
Abby (00:48):
Good morning everyone.
Mike (00:49):
Today we're going deep on something folks don't always
think about until it's too lateslip resistance in tile.
You wouldn't believe how manycalls I get from people who
learn the hard way that prettytile isn't always safe tile.
Abby (01:00):
It happens way more than you'd think, mike, and it's not
just bathrooms and showers,though those are the obvious
spots.
Kitchens Think about all thesplashy chaos in a busy family
kitchen, or all those spillsnear the stove.
And then there's outdoor patiosand pool decks.
Slip resistance is crucial inany space that's likely to get
wet wet Absolutely and let'smake this simple Slip resistance
(01:26):
.
Mike (01:26):
Technically, that's measured using things like COF
ratings, coefficient of friction, right or sometimes you'll hear
about R values, especially ifyou're looking at tile from
Europe COF, dcof, r9, r10,they're all ways of rating how
slippery or not your tiles arewhen they get wet or greasy.
Abby (01:41):
And that's the thing.
Not all slip ratings arecreated equal.
Dcof, that's dynamiccoefficient of friction, is the
big one in North America.
Basically it's a fancy lab testwhere they see how easy it is
to slide something across thetile when it's wet.
Above 0.42 in those testspretty good for most wet indoor
areas, patios or pool decks.
You want even higher?
Mike (02:02):
R values.
Now, quick primer there.
They run from R9 up through R13.
R9 is well not much grip.
That's your smooth, glossystuff you see in living rooms,
maybe bedrooms, when you starttalking, bathrooms or kitchens,
especially with water and grease.
You want R10 or above Pooldecks, changing areas, r12, r13
territory anything with realpotential for slips and falls.
Abby (02:24):
And I hear this all the time but I picked a matte tile
so I thought I was good.
Nope, that's a myth.
Not every matte tile isautomatically safe, just like
not all glossy tiles are aguaranteed fall hazard.
You gotta look at the actualslip rating and honestly think
about how the space gets usedday to day.
Mike (02:41):
Oh for sure that reminds me I had a client who chose
these really beautiful highgloss tiles for their kitchen.
Love the look, but after acouple spaghetti sauce mishaps
and wet shoes, regret city.
They ended up putting down matseverywhere, just to be safe.
It taught me check the specsfirst, not just the showroom
shine.
Abby (03:00):
Exactly, and don't be fooled by marketing buzzwords
either.
Ask for the slip test resultsand make sure the rating matches
how you'll use the space.
Let's dig into finishes,because that's usually where
people get tripped up, literallyand figuratively.
So let's talk finishes Glossversus matte.
Glossy tiles gorgeous, theybounce light, they look upscale
(03:20):
and in the right space theyabsolutely make a room shine.
But put that same glossy tileon a bathroom floor.
Recipe for well needing aband-aid.
Mike (03:29):
Yeah, I mean.
I've always said glossyfinishes are best for walls or
spots that don't see a lot ofpuddles or cooking splatter.
They show every footprint waterspot and, honestly, they're
slick when anything wet hitsthem, but on the wall looks
fantastic, super elegant.
It's about putting the rightfinish in the right place.
Abby (03:46):
That's the sweet spot Now.
Matte finishes more understated, I guess, less glare, hides
smudges and imperfections andusually offers a little more
grip.
Great for floors, bathrooms,kitchens, really any
high-traffic messy zone.
Mike (03:59):
Matte tiles for floors, gloss for walls.
It's kind of an old-school rulebut it works for a reason.
A matte floor is forgivingSpills, crumbs, a little water.
Nobody will even notice.
Only downside, sometimes, withthe wrong lighting, it can look
a bit flat or dull and somefolks want more drama in the
design.
Abby (04:15):
Right and you can totally mix them for the best of both.
I love, love a matte on thefloor, gloss on the wall combo
for bathroom renos.
It's safe, it looks balancedand you can use lighting or a
bold accent color to keep thewhole room from feeling too
muted.
Saw that trend everywhere whenwe talked about shower floors a
few episodes ago, and it's stillholding strong.
Mike (04:37):
Best part, you get all the visual depth up high like a
glimmering wall tile withoutrisking a wipeout when you hop
out of the shower.
Let's dig in a bit more, though, because finish isn't the only
thing that helps with gripTexture.
That's where things getinteresting, yeah, so if you
want to up your safety gamewithout giving up on style,
start looking at texture.
It's more than just a look.
(04:58):
It's how the tile feels underyour feet.
Think of those stone-look tileswith the little ridges or bumps
, or the wood-look tiles withthe little ridges or bumps, or
the wood look tiles with thatgrain you can actually feel.
Abby (05:10):
And don't forget mosaics Smaller tiles mean more grout
lines, and more grout lines meanmore traction.
That's why, as we talked abouta while back in our shower
floors episode, mosaics are sucha hit, especially on the shower
pan.
Bonus points if you're intothat pebble mosaic, look.
It's comfy and surprisinglysecure underfoot.
Mike (05:24):
I will say, though it's a bit of a tradeoff the more
texture you've got, the morespots for dirt to collect.
Soap, scum, grime.
All that stuff loves to settlein every nook.
If you go for those chunkysuper textured tiles around a
pool or in a shower, be readyfor a little extra cleaning to
keep things neat.
Abby (05:41):
Totally.
One of my favorite looks is amatte, textured porcelain tile
for pool surrounds.
It handles splashes, it's lessslippery and it can look like
real stone or wood.
Just you know, plan for alittle more TLC with the scrub
brush.
But textural contrast also addsso much visual interest.
Floors, accent walls, evenlittle shower niches.
(06:02):
When you combine smooth andrough textures you get depth,
warmth and lots of character.
Mike (06:07):
Agreed.
There's nothing wrong with agood cleaning day anyway.
But like you said, Abby, it'sbalancing what you can maintain
with the safety and the look,which is kind of the whole
design challenge right, Makingspaces beautiful and functional
at the same time.
Abby (06:20):
Designers are all about that balance.
Nobody wants their home to looklike a locker room, but nobody
wants a trip to urgent careeither.
The good news is pairingdifferent finishes and textures
gets you the best of both worlds.
Think big, glossy marble, looktiles climbing up your shower
wall, paired with slip resistantmatte tiles on the floor.
It's instantly stunning and youkeep your footing.
Mike (06:42):
Love that look.
Another thing I've been seeingpeople using textured mosaics
just inside the shower niche foran accent but then sticking to
a smoother tile everywhere elseto make cleaning less of a chore
.
Adds visual pop but keepsmaintenance in check.
Abby (06:55):
Definitely.
And there's a new trendcatching fire combining gloss
and matte in one room, not justfor looks, but to actually show
that you can have style andsafety side by side.
You can even find tiles nowwhere the finish changes across
the surface.
That way, designers play withlight and grip in the same space
, which is pretty neat.
Mike (07:14):
I like that because for so long people thought picking
safe tiles meant giving up gooddesign.
Not true at all anymore.
With the right balance, you canbuild a wow factor space that's
also family-friendly or readyfor wild pool parties or
whatever you throw at it really.
Abby (07:28):
That's the big win.
You don't have to sacrificebeauty for safety.
There are smart ways to mixfinishes, textures and even
grout shades to make somethingthat feels high-end and performs
in real life.
Before we wrap, let's talkabout how folks listening can
make the smartest, safestchoices for their projects.
All right, practical tips.
You got to check the COF ratingor R value before handing over
(07:51):
your credit card?
Seriously, if you're shoppingand the tile doesn't show a slip
resistance rating, ask.
And if you're aiming for wetareas, like a bathroom, kitchen
or patio, hunt for slipresistant or wet area tiles.
Sometimes porcelain options aredesigned specifically for this
and they're awesome.
Mike (08:09):
And don't be afraid to get hands-on at the store If in
doubt.
Ask to see a sample.
And here's a little trick Dropa bit of water on it and rub
your hand or shoe over it.
You'll get a feel for howgrippy it really is.
Not super scientific, but itcan tell you a lot right there
in real life.
Abby (08:24):
Use rugs or mats if you've already got a spot that gets
slick, like near the sink, theback door or the shower entrance
.
Pro tip pick a darker grout forbusy areas.
It'll help hide stains, dirt,all that day-to-day mess that
white grout just can't forgive.
Mike (08:38):
If you go with natural stone or something heavily
textured, always seal it.
Water, oils and gunk can getinto unsealed tile and grout and
cause headaches down the road.
Better to protect it up frontthan try to fix problems later.
Abby (08:50):
And don't forget there's no such thing as slip-proof tile
.
Maintenance is a big part ofkeeping your space safe.
Keep up on cleaning, use arearugs responsibly and don't
hesitate to ask your supplierfor the best options for your
project, especially if you're aDIYer or running your first reno
.
Mike (09:06):
That's it Design with safety in mind from the jump and
you can have beautiful spaceswithout the uh-oh moments.
Before we sign off, abby wantto let listeners know what's
coming up.
Abby (09:15):
Absolutely Next time.
We're getting into somethingpeople rarely get excited about
but, honestly, grout makes orbreaks your tile project.
Tune in for practical hacks,color picks and a few horror
stories, probably.
Mike.
Always good chatting with youand sharing what we've learned
from years in the tile trenches.
Mike (09:32):
Always a blast, abby, and for everyone listening.
If you learned something today,share the podcast, subscribe.
Check out Belktilecom for moretile resources and inspiration.
Safe and stylish, that's theBelk way.
Take care, abby.
Abby (09:44):
See you next time, Mike, and bye everyone, Happy tiling.
See you next time, Mike, andbye everyone.
Happy tiling.
BELKY (09:49):
You've been listening to the Belt Tile Podcast.
When it comes to creating abeautiful home using tile, this
is the podcast for products,design ideas and tips.
We hope you got some useful,practical information from this
show and we'll be back soon, butin the meantime, reach out.
The website is wwwbelktilecom.
(10:11):
Our store phone number is614-543-8334.
Find us on Facebook and Twitterat Belk Tile, and on Instagram
at Belk Tiles.
Make sure to leave a rating andreview and if you have
questions or comments, reach outand we'll talk about it on the
next show.
Till next time.
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.
Mike (00:43):
All right, welcome back to Belk Tile Talk.
I'm Mike Belk and, as always,I've got Abby here with me.
Abby (00:48):
Good morning everyone.
Mike (00:49):
Today we're going deep on something folks don't always
think about until it's too lateslip resistance in tile.
You wouldn't believe how manycalls I get from people who
learn the hard way that prettytile isn't always safe tile.
Abby (01:00):
It happens way more than you'd think, mike, and it's not
just bathrooms and showers,though those are the obvious
spots.
Kitchens Think about all thesplashy chaos in a busy family
kitchen, or all those spillsnear the stove.
And then there's outdoor patiosand pool decks.
Slip resistance is crucial inany space that's likely to get
wet wet Absolutely and let'smake this simple Slip resistance
(01:26):
.
Mike (01:26):
Technically, that's measured using things like COF
ratings, coefficient of friction, right or sometimes you'll hear
about R values, especially ifyou're looking at tile from
Europe COF, dcof, r9, r10,they're all ways of rating how
slippery or not your tiles arewhen they get wet or greasy.
Abby (01:41):
And that's the thing.
Not all slip ratings arecreated equal.
Dcof, that's dynamiccoefficient of friction, is the
big one in North America.
Basically it's a fancy lab testwhere they see how easy it is
to slide something across thetile when it's wet.
Above 0.42 in those testspretty good for most wet indoor
areas, patios or pool decks.
You want even higher?
Mike (02:02):
R values.
Now, quick primer there.
They run from R9 up through R13.
R9 is well not much grip.
That's your smooth, glossystuff you see in living rooms,
maybe bedrooms, when you starttalking, bathrooms or kitchens,
especially with water and grease.
You want R10 or above Pooldecks, changing areas, r12, r13
territory anything with realpotential for slips and falls.
Abby (02:24):
And I hear this all the time but I picked a matte tile
so I thought I was good.
Nope, that's a myth.
Not every matte tile isautomatically safe, just like
not all glossy tiles are aguaranteed fall hazard.
You gotta look at the actualslip rating and honestly think
about how the space gets usedday to day.
Mike (02:41):
Oh for sure that reminds me I had a client who chose
these really beautiful highgloss tiles for their kitchen.
Love the look, but after acouple spaghetti sauce mishaps
and wet shoes, regret city.
They ended up putting down matseverywhere, just to be safe.
It taught me check the specsfirst, not just the showroom
shine.
Abby (03:00):
Exactly, and don't be fooled by marketing buzzwords
either.
Ask for the slip test resultsand make sure the rating matches
how you'll use the space.
Let's dig into finishes,because that's usually where
people get tripped up, literallyand figuratively.
So let's talk finishes Glossversus matte.
Glossy tiles gorgeous, theybounce light, they look upscale
(03:20):
and in the right space theyabsolutely make a room shine.
But put that same glossy tileon a bathroom floor.
Recipe for well needing aband-aid.
Mike (03:29):
Yeah, I mean.
I've always said glossyfinishes are best for walls or
spots that don't see a lot ofpuddles or cooking splatter.
They show every footprint waterspot and, honestly, they're
slick when anything wet hitsthem, but on the wall looks
fantastic, super elegant.
It's about putting the rightfinish in the right place.
Abby (03:46):
That's the sweet spot Now.
Matte finishes more understated, I guess, less glare, hides
smudges and imperfections andusually offers a little more
grip.
Great for floors, bathrooms,kitchens, really any
high-traffic messy zone.
Mike (03:59):
Matte tiles for floors, gloss for walls.
It's kind of an old-school rulebut it works for a reason.
A matte floor is forgivingSpills, crumbs, a little water.
Nobody will even notice.
Only downside, sometimes, withthe wrong lighting, it can look
a bit flat or dull and somefolks want more drama in the
design.
Abby (04:15):
Right and you can totally mix them for the best of both.
I love, love a matte on thefloor, gloss on the wall combo
for bathroom renos.
It's safe, it looks balancedand you can use lighting or a
bold accent color to keep thewhole room from feeling too
muted.
Saw that trend everywhere whenwe talked about shower floors a
few episodes ago, and it's stillholding strong.
Mike (04:37):
Best part, you get all the visual depth up high like a
glimmering wall tile withoutrisking a wipeout when you hop
out of the shower.
Let's dig in a bit more, though, because finish isn't the only
thing that helps with gripTexture.
That's where things getinteresting, yeah, so if you
want to up your safety gamewithout giving up on style,
start looking at texture.
It's more than just a look.
(04:58):
It's how the tile feels underyour feet.
Think of those stone-look tileswith the little ridges or bumps
, or the wood-look tiles withthe little ridges or bumps, or
the wood look tiles with thatgrain you can actually feel.
Abby (05:10):
And don't forget mosaics Smaller tiles mean more grout
lines, and more grout lines meanmore traction.
That's why, as we talked abouta while back in our shower
floors episode, mosaics are sucha hit, especially on the shower
pan.
Bonus points if you're intothat pebble mosaic, look.
It's comfy and surprisinglysecure underfoot.
Mike (05:24):
I will say, though it's a bit of a tradeoff the more
texture you've got, the morespots for dirt to collect.
Soap, scum, grime.
All that stuff loves to settlein every nook.
If you go for those chunkysuper textured tiles around a
pool or in a shower, be readyfor a little extra cleaning to
keep things neat.
Abby (05:41):
Totally.
One of my favorite looks is amatte, textured porcelain tile
for pool surrounds.
It handles splashes, it's lessslippery and it can look like
real stone or wood.
Just you know, plan for alittle more TLC with the scrub
brush.
But textural contrast also addsso much visual interest.
Floors, accent walls, evenlittle shower niches.
(06:02):
When you combine smooth andrough textures you get depth,
warmth and lots of character.
Mike (06:07):
Agreed.
There's nothing wrong with agood cleaning day anyway.
But like you said, Abby, it'sbalancing what you can maintain
with the safety and the look,which is kind of the whole
design challenge right, Makingspaces beautiful and functional
at the same time.
Abby (06:20):
Designers are all about that balance.
Nobody wants their home to looklike a locker room, but nobody
wants a trip to urgent careeither.
The good news is pairingdifferent finishes and textures
gets you the best of both worlds.
Think big, glossy marble, looktiles climbing up your shower
wall, paired with slip resistantmatte tiles on the floor.
It's instantly stunning and youkeep your footing.
Mike (06:42):
Love that look.
Another thing I've been seeingpeople using textured mosaics
just inside the shower niche foran accent but then sticking to
a smoother tile everywhere elseto make cleaning less of a chore
.
Adds visual pop but keepsmaintenance in check.
Abby (06:55):
Definitely.
And there's a new trendcatching fire combining gloss
and matte in one room, not justfor looks, but to actually show
that you can have style andsafety side by side.
You can even find tiles nowwhere the finish changes across
the surface.
That way, designers play withlight and grip in the same space
, which is pretty neat.
Mike (07:14):
I like that because for so long people thought picking
safe tiles meant giving up gooddesign.
Not true at all anymore.
With the right balance, you canbuild a wow factor space that's
also family-friendly or readyfor wild pool parties or
whatever you throw at it really.
Abby (07:28):
That's the big win.
You don't have to sacrificebeauty for safety.
There are smart ways to mixfinishes, textures and even
grout shades to make somethingthat feels high-end and performs
in real life.
Before we wrap, let's talkabout how folks listening can
make the smartest, safestchoices for their projects.
All right, practical tips.
You got to check the COF ratingor R value before handing over
(07:51):
your credit card?
Seriously, if you're shoppingand the tile doesn't show a slip
resistance rating, ask.
And if you're aiming for wetareas, like a bathroom, kitchen
or patio, hunt for slipresistant or wet area tiles.
Sometimes porcelain options aredesigned specifically for this
and they're awesome.
Mike (08:09):
And don't be afraid to get hands-on at the store If in
doubt.
Ask to see a sample.
And here's a little trick Dropa bit of water on it and rub
your hand or shoe over it.
You'll get a feel for howgrippy it really is.
Not super scientific, but itcan tell you a lot right there
in real life.
Abby (08:24):
Use rugs or mats if you've already got a spot that gets
slick, like near the sink, theback door or the shower entrance
.
Pro tip pick a darker grout forbusy areas.
It'll help hide stains, dirt,all that day-to-day mess that
white grout just can't forgive.
Mike (08:38):
If you go with natural stone or something heavily
textured, always seal it.
Water, oils and gunk can getinto unsealed tile and grout and
cause headaches down the road.
Better to protect it up frontthan try to fix problems later.
Abby (08:50):
And don't forget there's no such thing as slip-proof tile
.
Maintenance is a big part ofkeeping your space safe.
Keep up on cleaning, use arearugs responsibly and don't
hesitate to ask your supplierfor the best options for your
project, especially if you're aDIYer or running your first reno
.
Mike (09:06):
That's it Design with safety in mind from the jump and
you can have beautiful spaceswithout the uh-oh moments.
Before we sign off, abby wantto let listeners know what's
coming up.
Abby (09:15):
Absolutely Next time.
We're getting into somethingpeople rarely get excited about
but, honestly, grout makes orbreaks your tile project.
Tune in for practical hacks,color picks and a few horror
stories, probably.
Mike.
Always good chatting with youand sharing what we've learned
from years in the tile trenches.
Mike (09:32):
Always a blast, abby, and for everyone listening.
If you learned something today,share the podcast, subscribe.
Check out Belktilecom for moretile resources and inspiration.
Safe and stylish, that's theBelk way.
Take care, abby.
Abby (09:44):
See you next time, Mike, and bye everyone, Happy tiling.
See you next time, Mike, andbye everyone.
Happy tiling.
BELKY (09:49):
You've been listening to the Belt Tile Podcast.
When it comes to creating abeautiful home using tile, this
is the podcast for products,design ideas and tips.
We hope you got some useful,practical information from this
show and we'll be back soon, butin the meantime, reach out.
The website is wwwbelktilecom.
(10:11):
Our store phone number is614-543-8334.
Find us on Facebook and Twitterat Belk Tile, and on Instagram
at Belk Tiles.
Make sure to leave a rating andreview and if you have
questions or comments, reach outand we'll talk about it on the
next show.
Till next time.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.