Slippery Deck? 11 Effective Ways How To Make Decking Non Slip

Choosing Deck Materials

This advantage adds a little more to the final cost of your installation, but it also creates a 100% clean look that reduces the risk that comes with those added weak points. One way to spruce up posts is to cover them with a maintenance-free material. AZEK makes a PVC Column Wrap that's super easy to install.

Composite Decking Vs Wood

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Traditional wood decks have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Because composite decking is weather, insect, and rot resistant, it will last longer. TimberTech offers warranties up to 50 years depending on which style you choose. If your deck is made of Trex composite material that was manufactured after 2012 and you don’t want to void your warranty, then you’ve got two options, each of which has its downside. First, you could use heavy rubber mats, like the ones used in commercial kitchens, in the most highly trafficked areas. Second, you could apply our Grit Tape to the most slippery areas.

Now we’ve discussed ways to prevent your deck from becoming slippery. But what should you do if your deck is already a slick hazard that’s waiting to make someone fall?

• Composite decking on the other hand has a very low water absorption rate which will prevent fungal growth.
• But then, when dead leaves, pollen, dirt, and dust, accumulates on the composite decking’s surface, it could encourage molds and mildew to grow on the surface.
• Compared with other composite materials, the WPC decking products we designed and manufactured are more focused on improving the anti-slip performance.
• WPC decking looks and feels like wood, but is actually made of high-density plastics and wood fibers, therefore harder than wood.

Some composite decking won’t move a bit and others have been found to shrink, swell, warp, twist, bow, and any other word you want to use in amounts unheard of, even with wood. Again, it seems completely random when this happens, but it happens often enough that you should know about it. Especially prevalent on older and uncapped composited decking, mold shows up quickly and is more difficult to eradicate than you’d expect. The mold seems to grow heavily not just on the surface, but inside the rough texture of uncapped decking.

Some face-screwing systems, like the Cortex system from FastenMaster, allow you to countersink the screws and fill the holes with plugs made out of the same material as the decking. Installing the plugs is time consuming, but the fastener locations are almost invisible. Build it from something other than wood like PVC decking boards. This is perhaps the most important step in preventing a slippery deck surface. A thorough cleaning each year, ideally with a pressure washer, will allow the natural wood grain to provide extra traction and slip-resistance.

Snow And Ice Removal On Composite Decks

Another quick and easy way to make decking non slip is to use specially-made abrasive strips or non-slip decking tape. Abrasive, non-slip decking strips are the more permanent solution, as they need to be screwed into the surface of your decking . Non-slip tape is a cheaper and much faster way to stop decking being slippery, but isn’t necessarily a long-term solution.

Most sagging is caused by improper spacing between the joists when it is installed. Composite decking is fade resistant, but it may fade over time in strong sunlight.

Trex

Should Decking Be Ribbed Side Down?

Avoid using metal implements or anything sharp to scrape away the debris, as this can scratch and damage your timber further, which can lead to rotting. A composite decking that is capped or with capstock is impermeable to water and has a very low water absorption rate. This will ensure that it does not encourage fungal or mold growth. Below are 4 ways to make your composite decking less slippery. With regards to water, although most composite decking has a very low water absorption rate, it is best to check the product and get the one with the least water absorption rate. Older models of composite decking have a higher water absorption rate, which is not ideal for areas that get exposed to moisture often.