When a floor fails, Premrest quotes the fix
A failed result is a starting point, not a verdict. Sliptest is the testing arm of Premrest, Australia's go-to for commercial floor care, so the report that finds the shortfall comes with a rectification quote from the same company. Most floors are brought up to class without replacement, and Sliptest retests to prove it.
Start with why it failed
Low slip resistance on an installed floor almost always has one of four causes: the surface was never suitable for the location, it has been polished smooth by traffic, it has been filled in by sealer or cleaning residue, or it is contaminated by something the cleaning regime does not remove. The fix depends on which one applies, and the test visit is where we work that out. The technician records finish, wear pattern and contamination at every location for exactly this reason.
The options, in order of disruption
1. Change the cleaning
Cheapest and most often overlooked. Soap films, dried detergent and polish build-up sit in the texture of a tile and take the grip out of it. A deep clean with the right chemistry, followed by a change of daily product, can lift a floor a full class. When this is the likely cause, the report says so before recommending anything more expensive.
2. Anti-slip treatment of the existing surface
For porcelain, ceramic, natural stone and terrazzo, a chemical treatment micro-etches the surface to create texture that grips a wet shoe. Done correctly it is close to invisible and does not add a film that will wear off. Honing can also be used on stone that has been polished too far. Treatment is matched to the material and to the class the location needs, and confirmed by retest.
3. Anti-slip coating
Where the substrate cannot be etched, such as vinyl, epoxy, painted concrete or timber, or where the gap is too large for treatment alone, a coating adds a new surface with aggregate sized for the target class. Options run from clear polyurethane systems with a fine anti-slip additive to textured resin systems for ramps and back of house. The trade-off is maintenance: coatings wear and need renewal, so the report also notes the likely cycle.
4. Replace or overlay
Occasionally the honest answer is that the floor is wrong for the location and no treatment will hold. That is rare, and when it applies we say so, along with the class the replacement material should be specified to under AS 4586:2013.
Then prove it
Whatever the fix, a retest after the work is what turns the job into evidence. The follow-up report records the new class at each treated location alongside the original result, giving you a dated before and after in one file.
Test
Every location measured to AS 4663:2013 with cause noted.
Premrest rectifies
Cleaning change, etching treatment or coating, quoted from the report and carried out by Premrest crews.
Sliptest retests
New class recorded in a follow-up report and closed in your register.
Materials Premrest treats
Porcelain and ceramic tile, granite, marble, limestone and other natural stone, terrazzo, polished and sealed concrete, vinyl and rubber, epoxy and resin floors, painted steel and concrete stairs, and timber decking.
Treatment and coating questions
Will an anti-slip treatment change how the floor looks?
Chemical etching treatments on tile and stone are usually invisible or close to it. Coatings range from clear to lightly textured. We choose the least visible option that reaches the target class, and we tell you in advance what to expect.
How long does a treatment last?
It depends on traffic, cleaning and the product. Etching treatments on porcelain and stone can hold for years if cleaning is right. Coatings wear with foot traffic and are usually refreshed on a cycle. Retesting on a schedule is how you know rather than guess.
Do you retest after the work?
Yes. A retest after treatment is how the improvement is recorded. The new P class goes into a follow-up report so your file shows the before and after.
Can I get the fix from someone else?
Of course. The report describes the shortfall and the recommended approach in enough detail for any competent contractor to quote. Most clients use Premrest because one company then carries the finding, the fix and the retest.
Failed a test somewhere else?
Send us the report and the floor details. Premrest will tell you what it would do about it and quote the work.