What’s the most important part of the decision when selecting tiles for your home? The final look tops the list for most homeowners.

If you’ve ever stepped on a tile and felt your feet slip out from under you, you’ve probably placed “safety” as a close second.

When it comes to safety, grip levels are important to ensure you have a safe environment for everyone who enters your home.

When you start to shop for tiles, you’ll notice some tiles have a slip rating. If they don’t, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re dangerous. It just means that the manufacturer has chosen to offer a minimum level of slip protection.

You’ll also find an array of tiles that list an anti-slip factor of R9 or R10.

It’s important to stress that no tile is completely safe. Using precautions is always a good idea, no matter what the rating of a tile is.

But some rooms need more protection than others. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, outdoor room, poolside – these locations almost always have the possibility of having water dripped onto the floor. And with the wrong tile in place, the situation can turn dangerous quickly.

R9

If a tile has an R9 rating, it means it has a low friction level. This grip level is perfect for parts of your home that you expect to be dry most of the time. You could install an R9 tile in a bathroom where you most likely will have a bath mat present every time you get out of the bath or tub.

R10

An R10 tile mas a medium level of friction, which means the grip level is slightly higher than an R9. If you have an active house where kids and pets are always leaving wet messes in place, an R10 rating can help you stay safer. R10 can provide peace of mind.

If you’re shopping for tiles for your home, be sure to move past the color and the shape. Safety is a big concern, and if you get the wrong tile, it can lead to disaster quickly. No one knows your home as you do. If you’re consistently cleaning up wet messes, err on the side of safety and move to an R10 rating.

If you have any other questions about the tiling in your home, we’re here to help.