Cork tile floors, studded rubber mats or tiles, vinyl floor tiles, non-slip laminate and non-slip porcelain tiles are the most popular floor finishes with a good R Rating.
With a variety of options available ranging in price, style and design, anti-slip vinyl is the safest accessible bathroom flooring solution.
These materials aren't flexible and can get slippery very quickly. Furthermore, they do not cushion the bodies in the event of a fall, and so fatal injuries are inevitable. The better options in terms of safety are rubber or non-slip vinyl flooring for seniors' bathrooms.
Perhaps one of the best options for slip resistance is vinyl flooring. Some products are specifically designed to provide slip resistance. Vinyl flooring is also very easy to maintain. It does not stain and does not damage from water (if the product is designed to be waterproof.)
CARPETED FLOORING
Carpets offer several advantages. In addition to providing a slip-resistant sur- face, which can reduce falls, carpets supply a cushioned surface that may reduce the risk of injury following a fall.
Terracotta tile, quarry tile, and brick have high COF ratings, so they are very slip resistant. Honed natural stone, slippery like glass, is one of the lowest COF-rated floor tiles.
Wet or slippery floors pose the most significant threat when it comes to slip and fall accidents. When a surface is coated in water, soap, oil, or other liquids, it reduces traction and creates a fall risk.
Floor grip mats can work as a preventative way to avoid slips and trips in the bathroom. Materials used in grip mats commonly are rubber, vinyl or plastic floor grip mats and they consist of an underside with suction cups that stick on the floor and a textured, high-grip topside to stand on.
Rubber is a naturally slip resistant material. Because rubber has a high coefficient of friction and naturally repels water it is the perfect material for anti slip mats.
The most popular choice for bathrooms is tile. Specifically, ceramic and porcelain tiles are great options for bathrooms. Tile flooring is resilient, waterproof, available in a variety of colors and designs, and generally less expensive than other hard surface options.
Avoid Throw Rugs & Place Non-Slip Mats in the Bathroom
The potential for an unsecured mat or rug to slip is very high, especially when you add a wet floor to the picture. For senior safety, the best place to start is removing any mats that aren't non-slip or haven't been fastened to the floor.
Avoid area rugs — which can pose trip hazards — and if possible, warm up smooth surfaces underneath with radiant heat. Choose flooring materials such as wall-to-wall carpeting, cork, hardwood and bamboo. Such options tend to be durable, low maintenance, slip resistant and gentle on the knees.
Vinyl. Peel-and-stick vinyl flooring may be the most popular option for budget-friendly bathroom flooring. Composed completely of synthetic materials, it's resilient, easy to install, and resistant to water damage, especially in sheet form.
Non-slip floor mats
Continence bedside floor mats are mats that protect the carpet from urine or water. They absorb any spills and urine leakage. They can also be used to protect the floor during pad changes or while changing wet or soiled bedding.
As mosaic tiles are surrounded by more grout lines they tend to offer better slip resistance too. Some people opt to just tile the shower area in mosaic tiles for the above reasons, and the remaining floor area in a larger scale tile.
Cement board or backer board are the most standard underlayments. They come in various thicknesses for different spaces. You will need to tape the joints for this type of underlayment.
Vinyl isn't itself slippery, but like any flooring, it can become slippery under certain conditions. For instance, surface moisture, grease, and polish could all present a slipping hazard.
Tips to Stay Safe
Don't use cleaners that could make the floor slippery. Clear walkways, stairs, and lobbies of anything that might be a tripping hazard, such as cords, wires, empty boxes, and clutter. Make sure that floor mats lay flat rather than wrinkled or bunched. Use handrails when you walk up and down steps.
Freshly waxed surfaces. Stepping onto different surfaces (e.g., walking from carpet to tile) Loose floorboards. Wet or muddy floors.
When choosing between tile and stone, porcelain wins the day. These large format slip-resistant tiles work well with a wide variety of design styles, cost less, and require minimal upkeep.
R13 is the resistance recommended by many professionals for public wet areas such as showers in a changing room and pool surrounds, whereas R9 and R10 values are often used for domestic situations such as bathrooms and kitchens.
All slip-resistant shoes have rubber soles, but not all rubber soles are slip-resistant. The best outsoles for a slip-resistant shoe are made with soft rubber that can go against oil and grease and must be treaded. Tread is the grooves in the outsole that contribute to the grip and friction of a non-slip shoe.