Avoid a slipshod show

Jagvir Goyal

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Everyone wants to move freely in the bathrooms, without the fear of slipping when the floor is wet or soapy or without tip toeing.  Certain precautions should be taken at the time of construction to avoid slipping in the bathrooms. Let’s have a look at these:  

Type of flooring: These days, ceramic tiles are the most preferred ones for bathroom flooring. Second option is marble flooring.  And both of these are very slippery surfaces that can cause serious injuries in case of a fall. Actually, terrazzo flooring, which is the safest has gone out of fashion. During 1970s, terrazzo flooring was universally provided in bathrooms. Except some area in the bathing portion of flooring, terrazzo flooring remained clean and shining while the area in bathing portion used to be kept free of algae by regularly cleaning and washing it. These days, even Narnaul chips or Dehradun chips, considered to be the best in quality for terrazzo flooring are not available and neither are skilled masons to lay such type of flooring. In nut shell, terrazzo flooring has almost vanished though it was quite a safe bet for the bathrooms. It has been written off due to advent of new materials and not because of any technical or performance faults. 

Anti-skid tiles: All architects recommend anti-skid tile flooring in the bathrooms. Ceramic tile manufacturers, too, have come out with their version of anti-skid tiles. However, such tiles have hardly proven to be successful. These are rough of course in comparison to normal tiles which are well polished, yet these anti-skid tiles have failed many where against slipping, especially when the floor is soapy. 

Choosing Tiles for bathrooms: Use of vitrified tiles in bathroom flooring should be avoided. These tiles are mirror polished, have high gloss. Vitrified tiles have zero water absorption property, are very strong, manufactured with highly glazed and matt finishes yet not suitable for bathrooms. Among ceramic and porcelain tiles, use of glossy tiles in bathrooms is again ruled out. Only matt finish, anti-skid tiles are suitable. These are available in size of 1' X 1' and above. Though these do not provide foolproof solution against slipping yet these are less risky in comparison to others because of their textured, rough or embossed type surface. 

Marble flooring: Indians seem to be in love with marble because of its smoothness, beauty, royal look and feel. That’s why both, Indian and imported marbles are widely used for bathroom flooring in India. Though marble is quite porous in comparison to tiles, yet its provision in bathroom flooring continues as outwardly, it doesn’t look porous at all. In bathrooms it loses its polish very soon due to repeated use of water, develops stains along the joints of floor and skirting and begins to look dull after sometime. Whiteness of imported Italian marble, however, lasts longer and it keeps giving crystal like appearance for a long time. Marble turns slippery when it is wet and soapy and one has to remain extra vigilant in the initial stages when the marble flooring in bathrooms is newly polished. It looks wonderful till the floor is dry. When used in bathroom flooring, marble shouldn’t be subjected to extra fine polish as that will only add to post-construction problems for the house owner.

Grab bars: To avoid slipping, one should provide grab bars near the shower and bath tub. These are especially useful for older people for getting up if in a sitting posture. Also, while standing and using soap or shampoo, these save a person from slipping. Bathtubs often become slippery and grab bars help in getting up from the lying position.

— The writer is HOD and Chief, Civil Engineering Department in a Punjab PSU

Anti-slip treatment of bathroom flooring

Certain companies have come out with anti-slip treatment of bathroom floorings. This treatment is done by running a layer of a solution over the bathroom flooring, leaving it there for some time and then washing it off. Certain companies guarantee that after this anti-slip treatment, even if someone will knowingly try to slip himself in the bathroom, he will not be able to do so.

The cleaning process: Under the anti-slip treatment of floors, first of all, all the invisible dirt deposited on the floors is cleaned by applying a pre-applicator solution. This solution helps in cleaning off all the dirt, grease, oil deposited on the floor. A very dirty floor will require addition of 4 cups of cleaning agent to a bucket of water while a fairly clean floor will require just 2 cups of material added to the water.

The final treatment: After the cleaning process is over, the flooring service is allowed to dry and then, final anti slip treatment is given to the floors. Under this treatment, the anti-slip solution is first diluted by adding it to cold water. The quantity of water added to the solution is two to three times the quantity of the solution. 

For a highly slippery floor, quantity of water is just two times that of solution while for a not-so-smooth floor, it can be 3 times the quantity of solution. The solution is prepared in a plastic tub. Care has to be taken that it is never prepared directly on the floor. In the tub also, the solution has to be stirred after every 2 or 3 minutes and is not allowed to dry there itself. 

The prepared solution is applied on the floor with the help of a paint brush or sponge. A paint brush is better to handle and to apply the solution. After application, the solution applied area is left to dry for 10 minutes. This way, whole of the floor is covered. After leaving the full area of solution applied floor for 10 minutes, the floor is well washed with cold water to remove the anti-slip material. The floor is now ready to use. Overall, it is a simple process.  

How the material works: The anti-slip solution provided by anti-slip treatment companies is non-toxic material. So there is no danger of any toxic fumes etc. it is odourless and has no effect on environment. As it covers all the micro pores of the flooring, it stops growth of any bacteria in the flooring. It has no effect on human skin and provides anti slip property to the flooring by increasing its coefficient of friction. After the application of material and thereafter, its washing off, the floor doesn't remain sticky at all. 

Cost factor: Anti-slip treatment of a bathroom of 50 square feet area costs around Rs 3,000 only. The companies offer all inclusive anti-slip treatment rates and DIY (Do It Yourself) rates to the customers. On an average, all inclusive treatment for normal sized bathrooms should be Rs 3,000 if company's applicator is called and Rs 2,500 if application is done by you yourself.