During the summer your decking dries out. The sun dries up any mildew and mould and the surface provides a decent grip. But the minute it gets wetter and colder, that lethal slipperiness comes back.
If you’ve ever almost killed yourself sliding around on slippery, slimy garden decking you’ll understand how important it is to know how to make decking non-slip. It’s a question we’re asked regularly, and we thought it’d be useful to write a post on the subject.
How to Stop Slippery Decking?
How does one achieve safe non slip decking? There are several anti slip decking products available.
- Anti slip decking paint
- Non slip decking varnish
- Anti slip decking oils & stains
We highly recommend antislip decking oils. Non-slip decking paints and varnishes tend to be prone to cracking, flaking and peeling off over time, whilst anti-slip decking oil and oil-based decking stains do not. In addition, anti-slip decking oils and oil-based stains are also very easy to apply, maintain and patch repair if areas become worn or stained.
Our favourite is the excellent Osmo Anti-Slip Decking Oil,which contains special compressed organic particles evenly dispersed throughout the oil. The product dries to a clear satin-matt finish to deliver a reliable anti-slip surface. It’s made from natural oils and also contains active ingredients designed to protect against mould, algae and fungus.
The great news is that this oil can be used as a top coat over Osmo and many other brands of decking oil, clear and coloured, to add an anti-slip finish. It’s perfect for exterior wooden decking and steps and works wonders on all sorts of woods including Douglas Fir, Bangkirai, Garapa, Massaranduba, Larch and common or garden Pine. And it’s ideal for any kind of decking, from the ribbed and grooved versions to the flat and smooth stuff.
Where to use Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil?
Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil is perfect for your home garden decking and equally good for making decked steps safe. But it’s also a great product for commercial decking in places like pubs, cafes, nightclubs and restaurants.
If someone slips on your garden deck at home, it’s unlikely they’ll sue you. But if you run a commercial operation anti-slip decking might prove your undoing, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. It might be a condition of your commercial insurance to make sure your deck is safe, and if it isn’t your insurer might even refuse your claim, leaving you liable for compensating people who have injured themselves because your deck is dangerous.
When is the Product Suitable?
Osmo anti-slip deck oil can be used on new, previously untreated decking. But you need to weather it first, leaving it untreated for 2-4 weeks in the case of softwood decking and 3 months for hard and exotic woods, and after applying 1 coat of your chosen decking oil, be it coloured or clear. This excellent product is also perfect for decking that has been previously oiled. If your deck features an oil-based finish, you’ll need to clean it thoroughly before you begin.
Bear in mind that you can’t use an anti-slip oil on top of painted decking and it won’t work over varnished or coated decks either, including many types of decking stain. If your decking has an existing finish like a varnish or a stain you need to remove it completely, which will involve either stripping, sanding or a bit of both.
When NOT to use it? Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil isn’t suitable as a stand-alone product. You should always use it with a wood preserver and a primary decking oil.
Anti Slip Decking Stain Preparation in 8 Simple Steps
- Always carry out a test first in an area that doesn’t show, so you know how the products you’ve bought work on your particular deck. It makes doing the real thing so much easier when you know what to expect
- First clean your deck, sweeping it to get rid of every speck of visible surface debris, dirt and dust
- If there’s mould or algae present, you MUST get rid of it first. Jet washing is always a good option before treating the surface with a good quality mould and mildew cleaner
- Allow the deck to dry thoroughly
- Once treated by the mould and mildew cleaner, apply a good quality exterior wood preservative to help prevent future biological growth. 2 coats of preservative is the norm for exterior wood
- Add a single coat of good quality decking oil, either clear or tinted
- Apply one coat of anti-slip decking oil, following the instructions on the pack as well as checking those we’ve provided on our product page
- Clean your brushes and other equipment with white spirit straight away
The drying time for Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil is 10-12 hours under normal weather conditions, longer if it’s cool or humid.
Anti Slip for Decking – Upkeep and Maintenance
You want the areas of your deck that get particularly heavy foot traffic to stay anti-slip. To stop the effect wearing off we recommend you renovate areas of wear as soon as they start to look tatty, without delay. Luckily it’s really easy – just brush-apply another coat to the worn patch.
Alternative anti-slip decking treatments
Any questions about anti-slip decking?
Need our help with your decking project?
For more information about decking treatments and their uses, contact our team of resident experts who are always on hand to help with project advice and product recommendations.
We love to see before, during and after photos of any decking, project. If you would like to share your pictures with us and our followers, send us your photos or share on our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram pages.
54 comments
I was wondering if the anti slip product would be suitable for a wooden deck ramp?
Reply to Tricia:
Good Morning,
Please could you give one of our wood care experts a call as I am not sure which particular Anti Slip product you are referring to. We can then definitely point you in the right direction.
Hello, I wonder if you could help me, please. My question is about “Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil” .
Can I apply the Osmo anti-slip product as a top coat, once I have applied the wax-enriched “Ronseal Decking Protector”?
Many thanks in advance.
Reply to Eiligh:
Good Morning Eiligh,
Thank you for your question. The answer in this case is no, they are not compatible products, the Decking Protector will prevent the oil of the Osmo from soaking into the wood as it needs to do.
The Ronseal Decking Protector (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/ronseal-decking-protector) is a finish in its own right and with regular sweeping and the occasional clean to prevent the development of Algae, it should not get slippery.
If you did need the Anti Slip factor and wanted to use the Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-anti-slip-decking-oil) you need to apply it of one coat of standard decking oil already applied.
For more help and advice why not get in touch with your friendly team via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Hi,
I’m getting a new softwood decking installed and would like to get it right from the beginning but also know how to take care of it in the following years.
I was thinking of starting with a coat of Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver, then 2 coat of Osmo Decking Oil and on top 1 coat of The Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil. Can I do this just after installation or should I let it weathered? If yes for how long?
In the following years, what will be the best way to maintain it? Except regular cleaning, should I reapply yearly a coat of Osmo Decking Oil and a coat of The Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil?
Thanks a lot
Steph
Reply to Steph B:
Hello Steph,
Its great to hear you are keen to look after your deck, so many people apply a product the first year and then forget to take care of the wood. Soft woods do not generally require a period of wethering, although a couple of weeks may be of benefit to the wood settling into its position.
You have the perfect products there for the best care of your decking, I would just swap out the Premier Wood Preserver out for the Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative), this one has less wax so is less likely to cause any issue with the oil being applied over the top.
You only need one thin coat of the Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) and one thin coat of the Osmo Anti Slip Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-anti-slip-decking-oil) for the finish and this will ensure a moisture repellent decking finish. The clear version of this decking oil does not have an UV filter in it and so will allow the wood to silver naturally over time. if you want to slow this down then I would recommend a coloured decking oil, even a very light one will vastly improve the level of UV protection.
This will then last for around a year and potentially longer, depending on use, weather and general cleaning and care. Regular sweeping to avoid decaying foliage or insects will help an occasional clean with a Decking Cleaner such as the Barrettine Super Concentrated Decking Cleaner (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-super-concentrated-decking-cleaner) and I would also recommend, if you have pots or furniture to move these regularly around the decking, any areas covered for long periods will weather differently to those exposed and you end up with a patchy deck. I speak from experience on this one.
Then once a year a test area to see if you need a refresher coat or not, its easy to think you should just apply a fresh coat every year, however the wood is not always ready to absorb more oil after a year. You do not want to over apply and end up with the oils drying on the surface of the wood. If after a year the oil is not soaking in then try again in 18 months.
I hope all of that helps and please do not hesitate to get back in touch if you have any further questions.
Kind Regards Samantha.
The garden of our newly acquired house has a 4 course oak sleeper retaining wall containing a couple of sleeper steps. These have previously been treated with Bartoline Creocoat so they matched the feather-edge fence colour. Would adding the anti-slip decking oil on the horizontal step surfaces help minimise the likelihood of the steps becoming slippery in the winter, or would the Creocoat treatment prevent it from adhering?
Reply to Paddy:
Hello Paddy,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. Creocote products are very high in wax and so it will repel any thing you now try to apply over the top.
To avoid the surface of the wood getting slippery, and occasional clean with a decking cleaner is recommended. Wood gets slippery when damp conditions encourage algae to grow and it is the algae that causes the surface to become slippery. Keeping the algae at bay with a product such as the Osmo Decking Cleaner (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-cleaner-8025) or the Cuprinol Decking Cleaner (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/cuprinol-decking-cleaner) will help.
Also regular sweeping to avoid the decay of foliage or insects, which will again encourage the growth of mould and algae.
I hope that helps and please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our friendly team if you have any further questions. contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
We got advice from you a few months back and have treated a large area of decking with preserver, 2 coats of oil and now Barrettine anti slip oil. My comment is that it does not cover nearly as many metres as you suggested (and as it says on the tin). Does that mean we have applied too much? It does say ‘apply liberally’ !
Reply to Anne Galbraith:
Good Morning Anne,
This could be to do with the condition of the wood, if it is aged,very dry or not had a treatment for a while, then uptake can be higher than the guidelines suggests, some softwood may absorb more oil also, these are just a few factors that can have an impact on the oils coverage. As long as the oil has soaked in to the wood well, there should be no problem.
I hope that helps and if you do have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.