Gloss looks great until it gets wet
A smooth, high-gloss coating is one of the most attractive floors you can have, and one of the most slippery when water, oil or dust is on it. The good news is that slip resistance can be built into a coating system. The most common tools are grit additives, flake broadcast and textured top coats. This post explains each, using the most relevant videos, and what to think about for garages and floors that get wet or oily.
Option 1: anti-skid additive in the coating
Rust-Oleum Canada, in a short instructional video with more than 57,000 views, shows an anti-skid additive being added to a garage floor coating. The coating is poured into a pail, the entire packet of additive is added, and the mixture is stirred well so the grit is distributed evenly before application. The company says the additive provides additional slip resistance and can be used with its garage coatings and other one-part concrete floor coatings.
How additives work
Grit additives are fine particles that sit in the coating and create a slightly rough surface. The amount and particle size determine how much grip they add and how much harder the floor becomes to clean. Too much grit makes a floor hard to mop; too little may not help much. Your installer can show sample boards with different amounts.
Option 2: grit broadcast into or onto a coat
Some professionals broadcast grit such as aluminum oxide onto a wet coat or mix it into the top coat. This creates texture in the final surface rather than throughout the coating. The approach and amount depend on the product system.
Option 3: flake broadcast
Full flake floors have texture built in. Tim Seay, in a video with more than 940,000 views, says one reason his crew broadcasts flakes to full coverage is that it provides traction, as well as looking better than a partial broadcast. The top coat smooths the chips somewhat, so a flake floor is not as rough as grit, but it is generally less slick than a smooth gloss coat.
What a textured floor looks like in practice
Concrete Floor Solutions, in a maintenance video with more than 80,000 views, points out the texture on his own garage floor and explains that his company always puts texture in so the floor is non-skid. He shows it is still easy to clean with a mop and leaf blower. That is the balance most homeowners want.
Oily floors need a different plan
In shops and garages where oil is common, texture helps, but keeping the floor clean matters just as much. Oil on a textured floor is still slippery. Put drip pans under vehicles and clean spills quickly. LearnCoatings reminds viewers that a floor's system should match its expected use; a working shop floor needs a different specification from a showroom floor.
Wet areas
Garage door entries, laundry rooms and kitchens see water regularly. Use more texture in those zones if needed and consider mats at the door.
Commercial spaces
For restaurants and commercial kitchens, slip resistance is a serious safety concern. Discuss texture options with your installer and confirm requirements with your building official or safety advisor. We do not claim any finish meets a particular standard; our restaurant kitchen guide covers options in more detail.
Balancing grip and cleaning
More texture means more grip and more effort to clean. Choose the level that suits the space. Ask to feel samples wet and dry.
Adding texture to an existing floor
A textured top coat can sometimes be added during a refresh. The existing surface must be cleaned and scuffed so the new coat bonds.
FAQ: Does texture wear off?
Over time, high-traffic areas can smooth out. A top coat refresh can restore texture.
FAQ: Are metallic floors always slippery?
Smooth gloss metallics can be slick when wet, but texture can be added in the top coat.
Where slips actually happen in a garage
Most slips in a garage happen in a few predictable places: just inside the door where rain and tire water collect, near the washer or utility sink, around the vehicle where drips land, and on any step down into the garage from the house. Focus texture and mats on those areas first. A floor does not have to be uniformly rough to be safer where it counts.
Dust is a slip hazard too
Fine dust on a smooth gloss coating can be surprisingly slippery even when dry. Regular sweeping or blowing out, as Concrete Floor Solutions shows, keeps that layer from building up. It also protects the top coat from scratches.
Footwear and habits
Rubber-soled shoes grip a coated floor far better than socks or smooth leather soles. In a home gym or workshop, keep a pair of shop shoes by the door. Squeegee water out after washing cars inside rather than letting it sit.
Testing texture before committing
Ask your installer to make a small sample with the exact additive and top coat planned for your floor. Wet it and step on it in the shoes you usually wear in the garage. Then try cleaning it with a mop. That five-minute test answers more than any product description.
Get a floor with the right grip
Austin Epoxy Flooring Pro specifies texture for homes and businesses in Austin and Georgetown. Call (512) 325-5434, open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Related pages
Related pages on our site: Slip-resistant options for restaurant kitchens; Flake floor samples: color, texture and light; Garage floor epoxy in Austin; Commercial coating scope, traffic and cleaning.
Call 512-325-5434 (open 24 hours, 7 days a week) or request a free estimate.
Sources
How to Apply Rust Oleum Anti skid Additive | Concrete Garage Floor Coating | Optional Step — Rust-Oleum Canada (YouTube, 57,157 views as reported 2026-10-14)
How To Clean Your Epoxy Garage Floor / Epoxy Floor Maintenance — Concrete Floor Solutions Inc. (YouTube, 84,143 views as reported 2026-10-14)
PRO vs. DIY Epoxy Garage Floor Kits :: Whats the difference? — Tim Seay (@TimDCVA) (YouTube, 940,155 views as reported 2026-10-14)
Epoxy Floor Peeling? Here are the Reasons (and how to prevent it) — LearnCoatings - Epoxy Flooring Training (YouTube, 77,791 views as reported 2026-10-14)