Is Honed Concrete Slippery? Slip Ratings & Non-Slip Options Explained

One of the most common questions we get is whether honed concrete is slippery. It looks smooth, so it's understandable that people worry about how it will perform, particularly in wet conditions.

The good news is that honed concrete is not inherently slippery. In most cases, its slip resistance depends on how the floor is finished, the sealer that is applied and the slip rating required for the space.



We are Allure Concrete Solutions, a family-owned commercial concrete flooring team based in Geebung and working across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. For more than 15 years, we have worked with builders, architects and project managers to deliver honed concrete floors that not only look good but perform in the environments they are designed for. As PCCP accredited contractors and authorised applicators of Ashford Formula, RetroPlate and Hychem systems, we are regularly asked the same question on commercial projects: is honed concrete slippery, and what does it take to keep it safe when wet?

The Short Answer

No, honed concrete is not inherently slippery. Because honed concrete is a ground and sealed finish, it generally provides better slip resistance in wet conditions than high-gloss polished concrete, particularly when the correct sealer system is selected.

The finished floor's performance depends on three key factors:

• The level of honing
• The sealer system used
• Whether the area is exposed to water or other contaminants

When these factors are considered during design and specification, honed concrete performs well in a wide range of commercial environments and can be tailored to achieve specific slip resistance requirements.

For the finish explained end to end. The Complete Guide to Honed Concrete Floors covers it in full, and the process behind it sits on our honed concrete page.

Why Honed Concrete Is Less Slippery Than Polished Concrete

One of the main differences between honed concrete and mechanically polished concrete is how they are finished. Honed concrete is ground and then sealed, while mechanically polished concrete achieves its finish through the polishing process itself.

Because honed concrete uses a sealer, the type of sealer selected has a significant impact on slip resistance. In commercial environments, matte and non-slip sealer systems are commonly used to improve grip, particularly in areas exposed to water.

Mechanically polished concrete typically creates a smoother, higher-gloss finish and is often specified for internal areas where appearance and ease of cleaning are priorities. Honed concrete is commonly chosen where a lower-sheen finish and higher slip resistance are required.

While the level of honing and stone exposure can influence the finished appearance, the sealer is often the biggest factor in how a honed concrete floor performs when wet. That's why selecting the right sealer system is just as important as the concrete finish itself.



If you're trying to decide between the two finishes, our guide to honed vs polished concrete explains the differences, benefits and common applications of each.

Is Honed Concrete Slippery When Wet?

Like any hard flooring surface, honed concrete can become slippery when water is present. The difference is that honed concrete is typically finished with a sealer, and the type of sealer used has a significant impact on how the floor performs underfoot.

In most commercial applications, the sealer plays a bigger role in wet slip performance than the level of stone exposure or the amount of honing. Matte and penetrating sealers generally provide better grip than high-build glossy sealers, particularly in areas exposed to rain, cleaning water or regular washdowns.

Where higher slip ratings are required, a non-slip additive can be incorporated into the sealer system to improve traction without dramatically changing the appearance of the floor. This allows the finished floor to be designed around the requirements of the space rather than relying on the concrete finish alone.

Clients ask us all the time: Is honed concrete slippery when wet? The honest answer is that it depends on the system, not on the material. The most important step is identifying the required slip rating before work begins. Once that target is known, the honing process, sealer system and any non-slip additives can be selected to achieve the desired outcome.

If you're considering a honed concrete floor, our Honed Concrete Colours & Finishes: What Affects the Final Look explains the finish options available and the factors that influence the final appearance.

Honed Concrete Slip Rating Explained: AS 4586

This is one of the most important considerations on a commercial project. In Australia, the slip resistance of new pedestrian surfaces is classified under AS 4586, while existing floors can be tested on site under the companion standard, AS 4663.



The most common method for areas exposed to water is the wet pendulum test, which produces a Slip Resistance Value classified from P0 at the low end to P5 at the high end. The key point we make to every client is that honed concrete does not carry one fixed honed concrete slip rating: it depends on how the floor is finished, which sealer goes on and whether we build in a non-slip additive, and it can be specified up front and verified by testing. The standard also covers two other methods for different environments: the wet-barefoot ramp test (A, B or C) for pool decks and change rooms, and the oil-wet ramp test (R9 to R13) for greasy areas such as commercial kitchens.

As a rough guide, the classifications below are commonly specified for different environments. Always confirm the exact requirements for your project before works begin.

How Non-Slip Options Work on Honed Concrete

Where additional slip resistance is required, there are three main factors that can be adjusted without significantly changing the appearance of the floor.

• Hone level: different levels of honing can influence the finished surface texture.
• Sealer choice: matte and penetrating sealers generally provide better slip resistance in wet areas than high-build glossy sealers.
• Non-slip additive: fine grit, such as an aluminium oxide or a polymer additive, is mixed through or broadcast into the sealer coat to lift the surface texture and raise the slip classification.

Higher slip resistance is not always better. More aggressive non-slip finishes can be harder to clean and maintain, particularly in commercial environments. The aim is to select a system that balances appearance, maintenance requirements and slip resistance for the intended use of the space.

Which Commercial Environments Need a Higher Slip Rating

Not every floor requires the same slip rating. The environments that typically require higher classifications are those exposed to water, grease or regular barefoot traffic.

• Commercial kitchens and hospitality back-of-house: grease combined with water pushes these into higher R-rating territory.
• Public and commercial aquatic areas such as aquatic centres, hotel and gym pool decks and change rooms: barefoot and wet, so they are assessed on the barefoot ramp classification.
• Covered walkways, colonnades and building entries: these areas are often exposed to wind-driven rain and tracked-in water.
• Warehouses, loading docks and industrial wet areas: heavy traffic plus the occasional spill, covered in more depth in our P4 Warehouse / Industrial pillar.

To be clear about where we fit into the process, Allure Concrete Solutions specialises in honing, sealing and finishing commercial concrete floors. We do not pour concrete. Our projects focus on existing or newly constructed slabs of 100m² or more, delivering finishes designed to meet the slip resistance requirements of the environment.

Conclusion

So, is honed concrete slippery? Generally, no. When properly finished and sealed, honed concrete provides excellent slip resistance and is commonly used in commercial buildings, public spaces and industrial facilities.

There is no single slip rating for honed concrete. The final outcome depends on the selected finish, sealer system and whether non-slip additives are required. These elements can all be specified to achieve a target slip classification and verified through testing.



The most important step is identifying the required slip rating before work begins. Once that target is known, the floor system can be designed to suit the conditions it will be exposed to throughout its service life.

Key Takeaways

• Honed concrete is not inherently slippery and generally provides better wet slip resistance than high-gloss polished concrete.
• The performance of a honed floor is heavily influenced by the sealer system used.
• Australia classifies slip resistance under AS 4586, with wet-pendulum results running from P0 (lowest) to P5 (highest).
• Different environments use different test methods: wet pendulum for shod rain-exposed areas, barefoot ramp for pool decks, oil-wet ramp for kitchens.
• Non-slip additives can be incorporated into the sealer system to lift a honed floor into a higher slip classification for higher-risk commercial areas.
• Slip resistance requirements should be identified before installation so the floor can be designed and specified accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions