How to prevent slippery decking?

How to prevent slippery decking?

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Discussion

CoolHands

Original Poster:

18,637 posts

195 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Go on then I give in. I like our decking as it's seasoned over the years so isn't bright shiny new. Therefore I don't want to jetwash it. However I have to admit it's fecking slippery now in the mornings and evening when it's wet and cold.

Is there anything I can shake on it (thinking something like salt or whatever) that will stop it being slippery? Although I suppose that will just wash away thinking about it....Just think it'll look a bit crap if I jetwash it. It isn't in shade all day but it's not in bright sunlight either IYKWIM

It's fine in the dry but in the wet it's as if it gets a kind of slimy surface and is just incredibly slippery.

haven't got proper pic but you can see it a bit in this picture:



Edited by CoolHands on Wednesday 19th November 20:39

pad58

12,545 posts

181 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Do you have any tree overhanging the decking? Wet leaves leave a residue that causes the slipperiness ,we pruned back the trees last year and seems a tad better.

CoolHands

Original Poster:

18,637 posts

195 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Not really, although I realise it looks like it from that pic ^ but at that end of the garden there is some foliage along the fence line but nothing major overhanging

pad58

12,545 posts

181 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
I think there is a sand paper effect type thing you can buy from DIY stores.
http://www.rawlinspaints.com/products/Anti-Slip-De...

Neil - YVM

1,310 posts

199 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Various manufacturers do a anti slip decking stain / seal.

I have the same issue and meant to treat mine. not sure it will get dry enough to do now until it warms up

Simpo Two

85,422 posts

265 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Chicken wire fixed down with U-staples. You see it on a lot of boat jetties.

crackthatoff

3,312 posts

213 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
varnish it and sprinkle on sand with a shaker before it dries

V8RX7

26,868 posts

263 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Unless it's covered in green slime then jet washing shouldn't change the colour - try a hidden area.

craste

1,222 posts

207 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
crackthatoff said:
varnish it and sprinkle on sand with a shaker before it dries
This

Pickled

2,051 posts

143 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Don't put off doing it like I did, then end up slipping on it tearing ACL and medial meniscus in the process...

ladderino

727 posts

139 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
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Last winter I was having some windows fitted at the back of the house. Deck was very slippery so when I saw the fitters start to walk on it I went outside to warn them.

I stepped outside and immediately stacked it. I think they got the point though.

I ended up pressure washing it, which did the trick, but have heard that this is bad for it.

spaceship

868 posts

175 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
Our decking was treacherous when we first moved into our house. My wife nearly broke her back after she slipped and fell on it during the winter.

Best solution I found to prevent it from getting slippery was to:

1. Clean it regularly, using a decking cleaner or similar. I don't bother with pressure washing. Stiff decking brush does the job fine.
2. Sweep up leaves and other debris whenever possible as this will help stop the slime building up.
3. Use a decking oil not stain. I use Screwfix No Nonsense decking oil, it's the cheapest stuff you can get but I find it works just as well, if not better than the big brand names. As daft as it sounds, it is more of an oil than the likes of Ronseal and Cuprinol which appear to be more of a milky substance. Soaks in well, gives a nice finish and won't flake off like a stain can.

My mate stained his decking and because it wasn't 'new' it started to flake off within a few weeks.

226bhp

10,203 posts

128 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
At this time of the year power washing is your only option, it won't be dry enough to do anything (apart from chicken wire which will look lovely) until next Summer.

sawman

4,919 posts

230 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
craste said:
crackthatoff said:
varnish it and sprinkle on sand with a shaker before it dries
This
or even better sprinkle the wet varnish with granulated sugar, then when its all dry you can flush the sugar away using warm water leaving knobbly bits. It tends to last a bit better and is completely clear.

The Chickenwire option is good for grip, but its not very comfy in barefeet, and the kids shred their knees when they fll on it

V8RX7

26,868 posts

263 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
spaceship said:
3. Use a decking oil not stain. I use Screwfix No Nonsense decking oil, it's the cheapest stuff you can get but I find it works just as well, if not better than the big brand names.
If you look at the product data IIRC it's 95% white spirit

CoolHands

Original Poster:

18,637 posts

195 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
spaceship said:
Our decking was treacherous when we first moved into our house. My wife nearly broke her back after she slipped and fell on it during the winter.

Best solution I found to prevent it from getting slippery was to:

1. Clean it regularly, using a decking cleaner or similar. I don't bother with pressure washing. Stiff decking brush does the job fine.
2. Sweep up leaves and other debris whenever possible as this will help stop the slime building up.
3. Use a decking oil not stain. I use Screwfix No Nonsense decking oil, it's the cheapest stuff you can get but I find it works just as well, if not better than the big brand names. As daft as it sounds, it is more of an oil than the likes of Ronseal and Cuprinol which appear to be more of a milky substance. Soaks in well, gives a nice finish and won't flake off like a stain can.

My mate stained his decking and because it wasn't 'new' it started to flake off within a few weeks.
Out of all the solutions I might try this, cheers. Not sure about varnish? - can't think what it will look like. Although I suppose in school halls and the like it looks ok on the floor.

GetCarter

29,381 posts

279 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
pad58 said:
I think there is a sand paper effect type thing you can buy from DIY stores.
http://www.rawlinspaints.com/products/Anti-Slip-De...
This really works.

CoolHands

Original Poster:

18,637 posts

195 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
pad58 said:
I think there is a sand paper effect type thing you can buy from DIY stores.
http://www.rawlinspaints.com/products/Anti-Slip-De...
This really works.
yeah I've used that before on external tiles at the mother-in-laws house & it does indeed work well, but don't fancy the look of it on our decking which is why I probably won't use it.

GetCarter

29,381 posts

279 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
yeah I've used that before on external tiles at the mother-in-laws house & it does indeed work well, but don't fancy the look of it on our decking which is why I probably won't use it.
I've also used non slip decking stain with 'micro beads' (or some such). That's pretty good... but I live in a forest so have to do it every year.