If your deck is slippery and it’s like you’re ice skating every time you step out onto your deck, then this guide will show you the two best “quick fix” solutions to eliminate your slippery deck…
Here’s what you need to know…
There’s usually two main reasons why your deck is slippery…
Being that I restore decks for a living, I come across slippery deckings every day…
And do you know what the main cause of a slippery deck is?
No?
Ok, I’ll tell you then…
It’s mould and algae growing on your deck…
You know you’ve got algae and mould on your deck because it can look like a layer of green…
Kinda like this…
Actually, you might not really see it until your deck gets wet…
See how the dry section just looks dirty but the wet section has a green coating on it?
In fact, most times you won’t slip and slide on a dry deck at all…
An algae covered decking is usually only slippery when wet…
In this case, we need to get that algae off your deck, quick smart…
And I’ll show you how to do that in this guide…
But mould and algae are not always the culprits on a deck that’s slippery…
Sometimes a perfectly clean deck can also get a little splash of water or a little rain fall, you take one step and you also end up on your gluteus maximus…
This is really common with decks around swimming pools too…
So I’ll show you how to fix this one as well…
Let’s get into it shall we…
Hey! Do you have a question?
I know you’re busy reading all about fixing a slippery deck but if there’s something you’re struggling to find answers for, why don’t you just ask me?
Yep, I can be your personal deck consultant…
A slippery deck can usually be eliminated with these two solutions…
Well, there’s actually more than two solutions to a slippery deck…
For instance, you could try…
- Installing anti skid strips…
- Use anti-slip tape…
- Lay down rubber mats…
- Sweep or blow dust and debris off deck
And that’s just to name a few…
The thing is, I don’t like most of these options…
How about I show you the options I prefer?
Slippery Deck Quick Fix 1…
I know this is gonna blow your mind so pay attention…
The first quick fix solution for a slippery deck is to pressure wash the algae and mould off your deck…
It really is…
All you need is a cheap electric pressure washer with a fan tip, then simply blast the slippery algae off your decking…
Most times, the only reason your deck is slippery is because of the algae growing on it…
The moment you remove the algae, your deck won’t be slippery anymore…
Here’s the thing though…
This will work so much better if you pair it with a deck cleaner or mould killer to completely eliminate the slippery growth on your deck…
A pressure washer is great, but those mould spores can be left embedded in the grain of your deck…
So if you want your deck to stay clean and “grippy” for longer, it’s best if you pair the pressure washing of your deck with a cleaning product to really do the job properly…
And while we’re on the topic of pressure washing your deck, you can actually clean your deck without a pressure washer…
So if you don’t have one, you can simply buy the right cleaning product, let the product do most of the heavy lifting and then hose your decking off…
And because I’m such a great guy, I’ve already written a step by step post on how you can do this too…
You can click this link and I’ll take you straight over to the post..
Oh, I see you’re still here reading…
I guess you’re ready for the next section then…
Ok…
Well, there are some occasions where you can clean your deck properly and it will still be slippery…
In this case, this next step is exactly what your slippery decking needs…
The Slippery Deck Solution 2.
If your deck is slippery and there’s no slimy algae anywhere in sight, then perhaps your deck coating is to blame…
You see, when you use a water based deck stain or oil, it will form a protective layer on the surface of your deck boards…
This is exactly what it’s supposed to do…
Now the problem comes when your coating is so smooth and pristine that the moment you get a little drop of water on it or a layer of dust settles on your deck, it can become slippery like ice…
In this case, you my friend have a bad case of “Slippery Deck Syndrome”…
But don’t worry because I know just how to fix it…
Just so you’re aware, this option really does work but I don’t personally recommend this because it can be difficult to remove when the time comes to restrain your deck…
I’ll show you what it is and then you can make up your own mind…
Have you ever heard of an anti-slip decking sealer?
You see, this decking sealer is a very special product…
It has a special formula that makes your decking nice and grippy…
So when your beautiful decking gets wet, it won’t be slippery…
It’s fantastic!
This is a game changer for those slippery deckings that are built around a swimming pool…
But I know you might be thinking that this isn’t a quick fix…
You know what?
It really is…
You could eliminate a slippery deck in one weekend…
Think about this…
Your deck is already coated and looks great right?
So all you need to do is clean your deck on Saturday…
Wait for it to dry and then apply a coat of this non-slip coating on Sunday and all of your troubles will be gone…
It can rain on Monday and your wet deck won’t be slippery any more…
That’s pretty quick in my books…
Anyway…
There’s a ton of these anti-slip deck paint and sealers on the market…
Here’s two of the better ones…
Now, the Intergrain product is an additive that is added to your normal deck stains and oils…
Whereas, the Benjamin Moore product is a textured paint…
Both of these anti-slip products have a subtle textured finish…
Which means they put small, rough granules into the stain to take away the smooth finish on your deck…
That’s why I always recommend you purchase some sample pots of each and try them out on a small section of your deck before you commit to any one anti slip decking paint…
Just coat a small section with each product, then splash some water on them and see how slippery your deck is…
The one that works the best and also looks the best on your decking is the one you should use…
Don’t take my recommendation or anyone else’s for that matter, without seeing how the anti slip deck coating looks on your deck…
Make sense?
Perfect, cause that’s about all I have time for on this fine day…
I think I’ll leave it right here for now…
I hope you now know how to fix your slippery deck…
If there’s anything else I can help you with, feel free to leave me a comment below…
I’ll do my best to get back to you with an answer…
Peace…
Jason…
Need some Expert Advice?
If you’ve been searching the internet trying to find an answer to a specific deck problem and you’ve found it impossible to get a straight answer…
Why not just reach out and ask me directly for an answer?
I’ve got 10 years of deck knowledge crammed into my noggin. I can pretty much guarantee I’ve got an answer to your problem just rattling around in there…
Come on, don’t be shy…
FAQ’s
The best way to stop your deck being slippery is to remove any dust and debris sitting on the deck and the scrub it with a deck cleaner and pressure wash it off…
Most times, it’s mould, green algae and mildew that causes a decking to be slippery…
A deck will become slippery wet wet because of two things. Firstly, you may have mould or algae growing on your deck and secondly, if you have a solid deck stain that hides all of the timber grain, your deck will also be slippery…
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