Is Engineered Wood Flooring Non-Slip?

A slippery floor is a major household concern, especially in heavy traffic areas. The choice of flooring is essential for the safety of your family. Are you considering engineered wood flooring and wondering if it is non-slip? If you are, we researched engineered wood flooring to come up with the answer for you.

Engineered wood flooring has a top layer that is made of wood. While wood is naturally not slippery, it is not necessarily non-slip. Maintenance can cause it to be slippery in the long run. However, there are ways to make it non-slip.

This post will discuss what you need to know about engineered wood flooring, how to properly care for it, and how to make it less slippery.  Keep on reading for more details on this topic.

close up photo of an engineered wood flooring non slip, Is Engineered Wood Flooring Non Slip?

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood is a good flooring choice if you want something that feels like wood but is less expensive. It is also more water-resistant than hardwood. 

If you have children in the house and are afraid of slippery floors, is engineered wood a good choice? It is not necessarily non-slip, but wood, in general, is not slippery. However, some finishes tend to make it smooth.  The smoother the flooring, the more slippery it can be.

So what you can do is properly maintain your engineered wood floors to make them less slick.

How To Make Engineered Wood Floors Less Slippery

very close up photo of an engineered wood floorings different colors

As mentioned earlier, some finishes make engineered wood flooring smooth and slippery.  Other factors also contribute to the floors being slick. Having said that, here are the ways to prevent your floor from becoming slippery.

Clean Your Floors Often

This may sound too elementary, but the problem starts with dirty floors. Dust and debris causes your floors to become slippery. When sweeping the floor, choose a broom with fine soft bristles to avoid scratching your floors. Mopping is also a good way to remove grime and stains.

Note that mopping should not be done too frequently as it can damage your engineered wood flooring. Use a flat microfiber mop for engineered wood floors to prevent scratches.

Lastly, avoid using too many cleaning agents, as some can leave residue on the floor, making it more slippery.

Click here to see this microfiber mop on Amazon

Keep The Floor Dry

As you know, liquids will cause your floors to become slippery. When there is spilled liquid, be sure to wipe it off immediately. Do not use a mop that is too wet when you are mopping to avoid slips and avoid damaging your floors.

Use Doormats

Doormats will keep dirt at bay.  With doormats on the entryway, the concentration of dirt will be contained in one place. However, keep in mind that when doormats are misplaced, they can also be a cause of slips. So be sure to use a non-slip one.

Click here to see this non-slip doormat on Amazon.

Add Non-Slip Pad To Rugs

Rugs don’t only help you with controlling dirt, they also help accentuate your floors. Using a non-slip pad will keep them from sliding.  There are a lot of products in the market you can choose from.

Click here to see this non-slip pad for rugs on Amazon.

Remove Wax

Floor polish add shine to your floor. However, the shinier the floor is, the more it gets slippery. Engineered wood flooring should not be waxed. Because the floor is engineered, it already comes with a finish.

You can mix vinegar and water to remove wax or floor polish. Mix two parts of water with one part of vinegar to create this solution. This will remove wax build-up on the floor if you have waxed it.

Use An Anti-Slip Coating

Engineered wood can be painted to keep it looking fresh. Not only that, but an anti-slip paint can also protect you from sliding. Applying anti-slip paint to your floor is advisable, especially in areas with high traffic. 


Click here to see this anti-slip paint on Amazon.

Sand And Refinish The Floor

Engineered wood, like real wood, can be refinished. If your floor is old, it tends to be a bit slippery, and the solution to the slickness is sanding and refinishing. Sanding will not only reduce the smoothness of the floor but also add new life to it.

Before sanding, remember that engineered wood can only be sanded a few times since not all its layers are made of actual wood.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Engineered Wood Flooring?

photo of an engineered wood flooring on the display of the hardware

Engineered wood flooring is cheaper than hardwood. Unlike real wood, this type of flooring is also resistant to temperature fluctuations. It also lasts longer than other floorings because like real wood, you can sand it and restore it.

Engineered wood as flooring can also be installed in a number of ways. It can be nailed, glued, or screwed to the floor. It doesn’t require plywood sub-flooring. If a plank is heavily damaged, the individual plank can be replaced.

That said, engineered wood flooring has the same benefits as a hardwood floor minus the extra cost.

Which Flooring Is The Least Slippery?

Nonslip flooring means that the flooring has a raised texture and is less smooth to avoid slips. If you are considering changing the flooring or just starting to put one, it is best to choose vinyl flooring.

Vinyl flooring is an anti-slip kind of flooring with a rubber-like top layer, making it good for those looking for floors that are not slippery. These are mostly used in areas with high traffic, such as the kitchen, living rooms, and even stairs.

Vinyl floorings also come in different patterns and designs and some are made to look like wood. So, aside from engineered wood, you can also go with vinyl if you are looking for hardwood-like flooring.

How Can You Tell If The Floor Is Engineered Or Hardwood?

The picture above shows a section of engineered wood and hardwood. Because their top layers are the same, it is difficult to differentiate hardwood from engineered wood when it is already installed.

To tell them apart you have to look at a piece from the side. Solid wood has continuous grains, while engineered wood is layered. Hardwood is also thicker than engineered wood.

If you cannot look at the wood from the side, you may use your fingernails to test the top layer of the wood. Hardwood is often finished with a plastic called polyurethane. This can be dented with a fingernail.

Should You Put Engineered Wood In The Kitchen?

Before installing engineered wood in the kitchen, consider the demands you have for your kitchen floors. If the area is frequently walked on, you can install engineered wood flooring since it's durable enough to handle heavy traffic.

Note that even though engineered wood is more resistant to moisture, it is not susceptible to it. Be cautious with spills and ensure you wipe off spilled liquids immediately to avoid damage.

Is Engineered Wood Flooring Pet-Friendly?

Similar to having kids, if you have pets that always run around the house, you might be concerned about them slipping on the floor. Not only that, but you also have worries about the floor being scratched because of your fur baby's nails.

If you have these thoughts, you don’t need to worry too much. Apart from following the tips to make engineered wood floors less slippery, you can also opt for scratch-resistant types.

The only problem is if your dog is not potty trained. A pet's urine may damage the floor if not cleaned immediately, so watch out for this. Make sure that you wipe the floor before it gets soaked.

Final Thoughts

close up photo of an engineered wood flooring non slip

Engineered wood floor is not slippery but it is not necessarily non-slip. However, some factors make it slippery especially if the flooring is old. The good news is there are several ways to make engineered wood floors less slick.

If you found this article helpful, check out these other posts:

Pine Floor Varnish Or Wax – Which Is Right For You?

Can Vinyl Flooring Be Stained? [Can You Change The Color]