Anti-slip porcelain stoneware for swimming pools

Outdoor pool with anti-slip porcelain stoneware flooring from the Noord collection in White, furnished terrace, and panoramic view. — Noord White

When it comes to designing outdoor areas with a swimming pool, it’s essential to strike a balance between style and safety, so anti-slip tiles are a popular choice that offer solutions able to effectively tick both boxes. The importance of choosing the right materials for areas like this extends beyond appearance, and regards the safety and well-being of anyone using the area.

A careful choice of tiles for the pool plays a key role in reconciling safety with style in both private homes and commercial settings such as hotels or wellness centres. Opting for anti-slip flooring in porcelain stoneware not only boosts safety and comfort in the pool area, but also embellishes the surroundings with a wide range of finishes and colours, enabling the creation of an attractive, inviting environment.

Porcelain stoneware: safe, stylish and the ideal choice for your pool

Anti-slip porcelain stoneware is the most popular choice to strike a perfect balance between appearance and function in pool areas. Renowned for its resistance and low porosity, this material is subjected to rigorous anti-slip testing to guarantee maximum safety in outdoor areas. With a water absorption coefficient of less than 0.5%, porcelain stoneware offers excellent performance in terms of durability and resistance to changes in the weather, chemical agents and wear and tear, making it a great solution for areas exposed to the elements.

Stone-effect anti-slip porcelain stoneware pool edge. — Chorus Beige

R11 anti-slip porcelain stoneware and the regulations governing anti-slip flooring R11

The R11 anti-slip finish for porcelain stoneware, applied to guarantee excellent performance in terms of safety, is ideal for humid areas such as swimming pools and other environments exposed to water, such as bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor areas. This specific classification, based on detailed tests such as those established in the EN 16165 regulation, guarantees superior slip resistance, essential for keeping outdoor areas safe and comfortable.

At the same time, Italian legislation, and specifically Legislative Decree no. 81/2008 and Ministerial Decree no. 236/1989, highlight the importance of anti-slip flooring to prevent accidents in public areas and workplaces. These laws require the installation of flooring with specific characteristics, such as an adequate coefficient of dynamic friction, to guarantee user safety. In this context, the R11 finish of porcelain stoneware meets the legal requirements, offering a reliable and aesthetically versatile solution for settings where maximum safety is required.

R11 porcelain stoneware not only meets safety requirements, dictated both by everyday experience and by strict regulatory standards; it also guarantees durability and resistance, which are essential qualities for public and commercial areas and workplaces. The use of materials compliant with these specific standards is therefore the top priority to guarantee a safe environment by effectively preventing slipping and falls.

Pool featuring Limes Quartz Multicolor stone-effect anti-slip tiles in an outdoor setting. — Limes Quartz Multicolor

How to use porcelain stoneware to create pool and wellness areas: ideas and advice

Find out how porcelain stoneware can make your pool and wellness areas both attractive and supremely functional. Discover the various applications of this material, from flooring to walls and other uses, to reveal the very essence of your outdoor spaces through design.

Coverings

One of the most common applications of porcelain stoneware is to tile swimming pools. Thanks to its resistance to water and its ability to withstand variations in temperature, porcelain stoneware is an excellent choice for tiling both the pool interiors and poolside areas. The variety of colours, finishes and textures can be used to create pools with a modern or more classic design, adapting to different style preferences.

Flooring

As well as for tiling pool walls, porcelain stoneware can also be used for the flooring around the pool. This material boasts excellence resistance to wear, weather and slipping, making it a safe and aesthetically pleasing choice for pool edges and the surrounding areas. In addition, the wide range of colours and finishes available can be used to create pool edges that blend seamlessly with the overall design of the garden or patio.

Wellness areas

As well as for swanning pools, porcelain stoneware can also be used for outdoor wellness areas such as saunas, jacuzzis and relaxation areas. Its resistance to humidity makes it ideal for such applications, while its ability to mimic natural materials such as wood or stone allows you to create a relaxing, inviting atmosphere.

Outdoor showers

Outdoor showers are a popular element in pool and wellness areas, and porcelain stoneware can be used to tile the walls and floors of these showers, because it’s easy to clean and looks great year in, year out, ensuring external showers remain fresh and inviting for a long time.

Paths and walkways

Lastly, porcelain stoneware can be used to create paths and walkways that link different parts of pool and wellness areas. Thanks to its weather resistance and ability to stand up to foot traffic, porcelain stoneware is a practical, durable choice to create paths that not only guide visitors through the area, but also add a stylish touch to the overall design.

Special trims for pool edges and grids

Porcelain stoneware strip tiles are a versatile element for pool areas. They can be used both to tile the edges and to create filter grids, also for infinity pools. These and other special trims in stoneware offer a stylish, functional solution that’s perfect for enriching the appearance of outdoor projects, guaranteeing a smooth, seamless effect and making outdoor areas as safe and practical as possible.

Pool with Moov Grey anti-slip tile edging overlooking mountainous landscape. — Moov Grey

Function meets style for your pool area

Porcelain stoneware is a superb choice for pool areas not only because of its essential anti-slip performance, but also thanks to the wide range of sizes and aesthetic effects available: from large-size slabs with a thickness of 20mm for a smooth, continuous look, to smaller sizes such as porcelain stoneware strip tiles, perfect for adding sophisticated, decorative details. Each different type of tile makes its own contribution to the design of the pool landscape, offering the opportunity to choose the proportions that are the best fit for the general appearance and functions of the area.

In this rich variety of shapes and sizes, porcelain stoneware is able to enhance the design of outdoor areas, offering finishes that recreate the authentic texture of stone and the natural warmth of wood, making them perfect for blending into the natural landscape of any pool. This sense of continuity with nature is magnificently reproduced in these outdoor areas, turning paths and relaxation areas into authentic temples of wellness. For a distinctive touch that teams elegance with modern appeal, the concrete and resin effect turns every outdoor area into an environment with a touch of contemporary, on-trend character.

Reveal the potential of your pool with Match App

Bring your ideal pool area to life with Match App, Ceramiche Keope’s tile laying simulator. Upload a photo of your outdoor area to the app, for an immersive experience that allows you to explore and experiment with different porcelain stoneware effects, shapes and sizes.