How Do You Stop Decking Being Slippery?

Date: 14th June 2024
Categories: Barrettine, Products

Decking is a fantastic addition to any garden or outdoor space, providing a beautiful place to entertain guests or simply relax in the sunshine during the summer months. However, when wet or covered in debris, decking can become slippery, posing a safety hazard.

The good news is that there's a simple solution: using an anti-slip top coat specifically designed for decking. Here at Barrettine, we offer the award-winning Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat, an innovative formula that effectively improves grip underfoot, even in wet conditions.

Why does timber decking become slippery?

While visually appealing and practical, wood decking can become slippery for a few reasons.

When wet from rain or morning dew, the surface of decking can lose traction. This is especially true for older decking that has lost some of its natural texture. Wet weather conditions in the winter months can exacerbate this issue, making it important to act to prevent slippery decking before the autumn and winter.

Additionally, dead leaves, moss and algae growth can create a slippery layer on top of decking boards, posing a safety risk.

How do you stop decking being slippery? 

Before applying an anti-slip top coat to your decking, there are a couple of things that you’ll need to do to help maintain the surface of your decking and keep it safe. Although there is no quick fix or permanent solution, regular maintenance is key and is one of the best ways to prevent the surface of your deck becoming slippery.

Sweeping away loose debris like leaves and twigs with a stiff brush is a simple yet effective way to improve grip.

For a more thorough cleaning, a deck cleaner like our Barrettine Super Concentrated Decking Cleaner is a great choice. This product tackles ingrained dirt and grime, leaving your decking looking fresh and restoring its natural texture. From just one 500ml bottle you can clean up to 40m² of decking and it actually uses 70% less plastic packaging than 5 litre ready-to-use alternatives.

In some cases, you might encounter stubborn fungal growth like mould or mildew. For these situations, a product containing biocidal ingredients is necessary. Barrettine Knockout Driveway & Patio Cleaner is a powerful solution that eliminates these problems, leaving your decking clean and safe.

Weather protection: Decking Oil All-In-One Treatment

As well as an anti-slip top coat, it’s important to make sure that your deck is protected from the weather to avoid a slippery deck. Protecting your decking from the elements with a water repellent surface protection product will help prevent warping, rotting, and weak spots that can further contribute to a hazardous surface.

For a complete decking maintenance solution, use a protective wood treatment for decking (such as the Barrettine Decking Oil All-In-One Treatment) before applying an anti-slip top coat.

Barrettine Decking Oil All-In-One-Treatment is a versatile product designed to protect and beautify outdoor wooden decking. Available in a variety of colours such Natural Oak and also available in a Clear formulation, this product is specifically formulated for use on pressure-treated and preserved timber. It offers excellent protection for decks, deck steps and handrails.

If using on unpreserved new timber, you can also apply Barrettine’s Universal Primer Preserver prior to treating with the Decking Oil. This will give the decking all the preservative qualities to combat, fungal decay and wood boring insects as it’s used as a protective primer. Ideally you should apply two coats and let this dry before applying Barrettine Decking Oil All-In-One Treatment.

This all-in-one treatment combines stain, oil and protectant properties, providing a translucent finish that enhances the natural wood grain while offering UV stabilisers to prevent colour fading.

We recommend test patching a small inconspicuous area to ensure you are happy with the finished result.

Applying Decking Oil All-In-One Treatment

Getting the most out of your Barrettine Decking Oil All-In-One-Treatment is easy, but a little prep goes a long way. Choose a dry, calm day for application when rain is not expected for a day or two.

Apply the treatment with either a brush or sprayer - two coats are recommended for maximum protection. Remember to let the first coat dry completely (for around 12-24 hours) before adding the second.

Once you're done, clean your tools with Barrettine Brush Cleaner, White Spirit, or Bio Spirit.

Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat: your solution for safe decking

Once your timber deck is clean, free from debris, and protected from the weather, it’s time to apply an anti-slip top coat.

At Barrettine, our award-winning Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat is formulated to step up decking safety.

This premium formula incorporates innovative anti-slip technology to improve grip on decking, handrails, and wooden steps, even when wet. It boasts a low sheen, clear finish that enhances the natural beauty of your wood while protecting it from UV rays that cause greying.

This hard-wearing top coat resists flaking, cracking, and water ingress, while also containing a film biocide to combat mould and mildew growth. Importantly, it achieves a low slip risk rating according to the British Standard BS 7976-2, giving you peace of mind and a safer outdoor space.

Application tips for Anti-Slip Top Coat

Applying the Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat is a straightforward process. As with other external woodcare products,  it’s best to apply when the weather is dry and is expected to remain dry for a day or two.

Using a brush or applicator, apply a thin, even coat of the product to the decking surface.

Typically, a single coat will be sufficient, but if you are applying second coat, allow the first to dry for 12-24 hours before applying a second coat.

Once finished, clean all equipment with white spirit or bio spirit.

Allow to dry for 24-72 hours before subjecting the decking area to foot traffic.

How often do I need to reapply an anti-slip top coat?

Reapplication frequency depends on how much wear and tear your decking experiences. The anti-slip properties will diminish naturally due to weathering and foot traffic. We recommend reapplying Barrettine Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat every 6 months, or sooner if you notice a decline in grip underfoot.

Award winning decking products from Barrettine

At Barrettine, our award-winning decking products are designed to ensure that decking not only looks beautiful, but remains safe to use. Our premium wood-care products are available from a number of retailers, and we are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Looking for award-winning oil for your deck? Click here to find your nearest Barrettine retailer, or get in touch with us if you have any questions about our decking care products.