How to reduce the slippiness of our decking?

pastmybest

Just bought a new house and the old owners nailed some chicken wire to the section walked on to get to our back door. I wonder if there is a better looking solution?

wallbash

I think any solution would look better than chicken wire.
Thats the problem with decking , Ground Force has a lot to answer for.

Gloomendoom

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Take the chicken wire off & jet wash it.

& there is a decking cleaner you can use to get rid of the bacteria that causes the slippery when wet problem.

If you want to after you have done that you can coat it with a non slip paint/finish of sorts.

Tucker

http://www.anti-slip-paint.co.uk/antislip-polyurethane-floor-paint-litres-p-59.html

ariba10

You could paint or varnish the part you want non slip, then sprinkle sand on it before it dries

leveller2911

Rip it up, theres no long term solution. If you pressure wash it that will raise the grain which will mean it will rot quicker...Like Wallbash said Ground Force has a lot to answer for.......You can buy alsorts of bodge repairs such as anti slip paints ,Anti slip tapes etc but none will work long term.........Timber expands and contracts with the seasons and so paints won't work...

Alan_M_2

The answer is to keep it clean.

I built a 60m2 deck in our garden last year as Mrs M has Multiple sclerosis and it's much easier for her to walk on. it is fitted smooth side up (rather than ribbed side) which is easier to clean.

Don't finish it with a topical finish (i.e something that sits on top like paint or varnish) use an impregnating sealer like deck oil (I use Liberon every year).

The oil inhibits growth of the surface bacteria and makes it easy to clean.

Decking is not maintenance free, it needs to be cared for to look good and stay usable.

pastmybest

An update.

We bought some plastic outdoor rubber mats from Homebase for £20 which form a nice non slip path up three steps and along to our back door. They look a million times better than chicken wire.

Thanks for all the help.