I want to change my bathroom floor because my grandmother slipped on it last month. I'm looking for something that looks good but is actually not slippery when it's wet. What brands do you find in your countries?
What matters is that you pay attention to the coefficient of friction, which is what really counts when it's wet. Tiles with a matte or textured finish work way better than glossy ones, even though it might seem the opposite. In Spain, the brands people usually recommend are Porcelanosa, Saloni, and Aparici - they all have extensive catalogs of anti-slip ceramics specifically for bathrooms. There's also Novagres and Roca, which are more budget-friendly. What you need to look for is something like "R10 or higher" or "anti-slip" on the technical sheet; if you see "R11 or R13" that's even better, it means it has more grip.
One thing that might slip your mind: the rough surface collects more dirt and water in the pores, but that's manageable with good cleaning. There are tiles that combine the best of both worlds - with textures that are almost imperceptible but still effective. When you go to buy, ask if they'll let you test one wet if possible, or try walking on it in the store with wet shoes. You'll see the difference right away compared to a normal smooth one.
The friction coefficient matters, sure, but I'm telling you that if you only focus on that without thinking about maintenance it's gonna be a pain to keep your bathroom safe. Textured tiles accumulate dirt and mold in the cracks, and once they get dirty they lose all their grip. Better to look for something with texture but not too deep - easy to clean but still slip-resistant when wet.
A trick that actually works is putting adhesive non-slip strips where there's the most risk: right next to the shower, in the spot where you step when getting in and out. They're cheap, take 5 minutes to put on, and while you're waiting to replace the whole floor they already solve the problem. My grandma has two on her tub and she says she feels way safer.
For brands it depends where you live, but any building supply store is gonna have matte ceramic with texture options. What I'd do is ask for samples and test them wet right there in the store - touch with your finger, get on your knees if you have to 😅 That way you actually see how the material behaves when it's wet, which is what matters in real life.
Your grandmother isn't the only one - I've seen people slip in bathrooms with tiles that look safe. What the other comments say about matte finishes and textured surfaces is fine, but there's a practical detail a lot of people miss: the size and shape of the tile matter a ton too. Small tiles (like mosaic or 20x20) with an anti-slip pattern work better than big smooth ones because they have more edges where your foot can grip, even if the texture wears down over time.
Now, about the maintenance they mentioned earlier, here's what nobody says: if you use a tile with really deep texture, dirt piles up in the crevices and then those damp corners become slippery again, almost like it's smooth again. The solution is to look for textures that are subtle but effective, not huge engravings. There are brands that specifically sell tiles with microsurface or cerealized finishes that look almost smooth but have real friction when wet, and they're pretty easy to clean.
A trick that actually works: test it with a wet tile by pressing with your finger or palm, don't just look at it. A lot of stores have samples and you can get your hand wet and check if it actually slips or not. It's silly but it saves you from surprises after spending money on the job. And if you want to be completely sure, there are adhesive anti-slip tapes you can stick on top of regular tiles - it's not the most aesthetic but it gives peace of mind while you figure out how to change things.
Log into answer.
