Slippery deck solutions – 5 expert ways to prevent dangerous conditions on your decking (2023)

FAQs

Slippery deck solutions – 5 expert ways to prevent dangerous conditions on your decking? ›

You can buy commercially available cleaning solutions or create your own by mixing ⅓ cup of powdered laundry detergent (ammonia-free), 1-quart of bleach and 3 gallons of water. Use a broad fanning nozzle with the power washer to avoid causing damage to paint or wood stain.

You can buy commercially available cleaning solutions or create your own by mixing ⅓ cup of powdered laundry detergent (ammonia-free), 1-quart of bleach and 3 gallons of water. Use a broad fanning nozzle with the power washer to avoid causing damage to paint or wood stain.

A non-slip coating can be a clear sealant or a colored paint with an added abrasive element that gives your feet more traction in the rain. Like any deck sealant or paint, the non-slip coating will need to by applied in dry weather and your deck will need to be cleaned, sanded, and free of all surface dust.

Add grip strips

Grip strips have a gritted surface and are a highly practical and low-maintenance solution if you need to know how to stop a deck from being slippery.

Door mat style and rubber treads are two of the most common solutions to slippery outdoor wood steps. The rubber treads often have a texture or design protruding from the rubber that offer very good grip when wetness or light frost exists.

Any acidic cleaning agents (including vinegar) will do no favours for your wooden decking boards. We recommend that you avoid these completely for decking care, so you can enjoy your terrace for a long time to come.

If your deck is made from concrete, pavers travertine, brick, stamped concrete or composite decking, you can clean and refresh it for summer using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover.

Vinegar is acidic so, normally, it's actually used to remove stains. Issues can arise when vinegar is left to sit on decking for too long, as doing so can seep the color out of the wood. Using undiluted vinegar is especially harmful, as the stronger concentration results in even more acidity that can damage your deck.

A few drops of washing up liquid dissolved in water is sufficient. Simply spread generously over the wooden slats and then scrub them thoroughly with a brush or bristled broom. Finally, rinse the deck with clean water. Liquid soap also works.

How do you make pressure treated wood not slippery? ›

Cleaning Your Deck Regularly To Make it Less Slippery

Because the primary source of the slipperiness is the algae, moss or mold that's growing on the wood, you can remove the surface layer of organic growth by scrubbing down the affected area and power washing it.

Silica beads are the ideal anti-slip medium, although other types can be used to effectively create a non-slip surface, such as resin chips or polyurethane seeds.

The two biggest drawbacks to the Thompson brand are that it tends to be slippery when it's wet and its UV protection is lacking, even in its semi-transparent and opaque formulas.

Slippery decks are usually caused by mold, algae, mildew or the buildup of general dirt. You can use a store-bought solution or mix together laundry powder and oxygen bleach for a homemade mold cleaner. Using a sprayer or mop, coat the entire surface of the deck, including fasteners and joists.

An issue in both summer and winter, the reason for decking becoming slippery in the rain, surprisingly isn't in fact the fact that the wood is wet per se, it's because of the fungus that grows on the wood when the surface has been soaked by the rain.

Products such as polyurethane, varnish and lacquer are most commonly used for the protection of outdoor wood furniture. Make sure to apply the finish over every surface — even underneath and in every crevice. If moisture works its way in, it will not be able to escape and your wood will become damaged.

Use an outdoor-rated finish like polyurethane, epoxy, lacquer, or varnish. Make a natural oil finish with one part tung or linseed oil, one part mineral spirits, and one part polyurethane. Use a stain sealant combo that gives your wood some color and a durable finish all in one.

Liquid dish soap (ammonia-free) is safe for use on cleaning your deck when mixed with a little warm water.

Hydrogen peroxide (AKA oxygen bleach) – A lot of places recommend using hydrogen peroxide to clean your deck. The result is a foamy covering on your deck that loosens the grip of algae, dirt and grime on the surface of your wood.

Is bleach good for decking? ›

Cleaners containing chlorine bleach are commonly used to clean decks but they are not recommended for cleaning treated wood. Excessive use of chlorine bleach containing cleaners (sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite) can damage treated wood leaving it with an unnatural whitewashed appearance.

Borax can be used to get rid of mildew.

If you have noticeable mildew stains on your deck board, add 1 cup of powdered Borax to the solution at the same time you add the oxygen bleach. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral compound that will not damage local landscaping plants.

Baking soda: Mix a gallon of water and a cup of baking soda, stirring up the solution until the baking soda is completely dissolved. You can then use a scrub brush or broom brush to thoroughly scrub the deck with the mixture before you rinse it clean with water.

For removing mildew away from a wood deck, you cannot beat a combo of water and oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach is a blend of hydrogen peroxide and soda-ash. It's one of the "greenest" products you can use to clean mold spores.

Baking Soda, Vinegar and Dish Soap.

Mix 1 cup of vinegar with two tablespoons of dish soap in a bucket of water. Sprinkle baking soda on the stubborn stains on the deck, then brush with the vinegar, dish soap and water mix.

Diluted vinegar can dissolve the finish that protects the wood and leave it looking cloudy, dull, or scratched. (The same goes for wood furniture.) Follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations or pick a cleaner that's made specifically for hardwood flooring.

Remember, while vinegar is generally considered a gentle household cleaner, its mild acidity is strong enough to damage wood on its own, which is why it should always be diluted.

To stiffen the deck, go underneath and install a row of 2×8 blocks down the center, perpendicular to the joists. Stagger them with enough room to nail or screw them in place through the end grain, then fasten the treated 2x4s to the underside of the joists so they run from corner to corner, forming an X.

Diagonal Bracing

This technique is commonly used to help eliminate swaying and prevent collapsing. You install these braces diagonally (hence the name) from the posts to the outside structural beam. Typically, this is done on the two outside corner posts of your deck.

Does anti slip paint work on decking? ›

Wooden decking is particularly vulnerable to weather-related damage, but by using anti-slip decking paint, you can help to prevent damage and keep your decking looking great for years to come.

One way to create a rain barrier under your deck is to pound flanges into the spaces between your deck boards. These spacers can keep water from running through the deck boards, and if installed correctly, may serve as mini-gutters to channel away water.

Wood deck surfaces, and indeed other outdoor surfaces such as stone flags, become slippery due to the combination of moisture and decaying organic matter. By sweeping debris like fallen leaves and dirt off your deck, you'll significantly reduce surface growth.

Look at the joists

The joists, which also hold the deck up, are equally vital in making sure your deck is stable. If these show rot, that's a bad sign. If the wood is soft, or if you're able to push a screwdriver into the wood, that's an equally bad sign.

Calcium chloride or rock salt also can be used to melt the snow and ice from the deck surface. If you own one of the older generation Trex composite decks, such as Accents^®, calcium chloride or rock salt may be used but should be rinsed off as soon as possible.

Deck cleaning with vinegar is perfectly safe. It is a natural cleaning product, most commonly mixed with baking soda and then applied to the decking. Unlike some harsh chemicals, vinegar is non-toxic, so it doesn't pose any viable health risks.

Heavy duty rubber or fiber mats can be an effective, temporary way to increase the traction in certain areas of a composite wood deck or porch. Industrial-quality rubber mats are frequently associated with professional kitchens where their ability to improve traction on wet tile floors make them a common feature.

The first and most obvious reason to roll on deck stain as opposed to brushing it on is that the former allows you to cover a much larger surface area in less time. Rollers are wider, more efficient, and easier to operate. Additionally, using a roller helps you achieve a smoother finish.

If you're looking for a safe and stylish alternative to slippery traditional wood decking, non-slip composite decking is the right option for you.

Should I use a decking spray or brush? ›

For example, if you have small areas on your deck, like the posts, consider using a brush. If you have a covered deck, try using the roller to reach those high spaces. For your wide surfaces, like the main surface of the deck, consider using the sprayer.