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
Hello Sam,
Your reply to Carl Richards on 28 Aug., 2015 advised him to use Mould & Mildew Cleaner, then Preservative, & finally Anti- Slip Decking Stain. Could the final step be Anti-Slip Decking Oil?
Reply to Vincent Hayward:
Hello Vincent,
Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and the advice I have give in the comments. If you have applied the Anti Slip Decking Stain, this is your final coat product and an oil can not be applied over the top, oils and stains are not compatible. The oil cannot penetrate the wood, as it needs to, if a stain or varnish is applied, and a stain or varnish will not adhere to an oil, if that has already been applied.
Both Anti slip Decking Stain and Anti Slip oils are finishing product in their own right and so you can use one or the other, both have different advantages. If you would like to know which is best for you feel free to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind Regards Samantha.
I have just laid 50sq mtrs of Red Cedar decking and have read the feed with interest.
If I use the barrettine wood preserver and want it to be non slip do i need to use the Osmo Decking Oil first before applying the Osmo Non Slip oil. If so would it be one coat of the oil and an additional coat of Non slip oil. Just need to know for ordering the quantity as it works out quite a lot of cash.
Many Thanks Richard
Reply to Richard Marsh:
Good Morning Richard,
You have the right combination there for sure, so one or two coats of the Barrettine Premier Universal (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) followed by one coat of the Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) and one coat of the Osmo Anti Slip Decking (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-anti-slip-decking-oil)
It is recommended with Cedar to allow the wood to weather for 4-6 weeks, this allows it to settle and adjust to its new location and environment, before application and I would also recommend wiping over with Methylated Spirits to remove any excess grease, dirt or natural oils in the wood.
A test area is recommend with full coats first to ensure that firstly the wood will accept all the coats with out issue and also to ensure that you like the finish that will be achieved as these products will darken the wood very slightly and enhance the natural tones of the wood.
And if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to let me know.
Kind regards Samantha.
putting a new decking down ,will barrettine prem wood preservative and osmo anti decking oil be enough
Reply to peter:
Hello Peter,
If the Decking currently has no treatment on it then the Barrettine Premier Universal (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) is a good option to start with. Although if using an Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) Osmo would recommend the Osmo WR Basecoat (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-wr-base-coat) as a more suited option.
These two together will keep the wood from moisture damage and will allow the wood to silver naturally in the sun.
To avoid silvering you can apply a coloured Decking oil as the pigments act as UV filters or you could consider the Barrettine Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil) in clear as this does contain some UV filters to slow down the silvering process and maintain the natural colour.
For more advice or information please do not hesitate to get int ouch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page or give us a call on 01303 213838.
Many Thanks Samantha.
Hi, I plan to build some raised beds with softwood sleepers. I also plan to use the sleepers as stepping stones with gravel between. After reading your informative site I have come to the conclusion of using a wood preservative followed by a coloured oil. For the stepping stones I would then add the clear anti slip oil? Some areas mentioned are in shade so I expect mould will become present quicker. Would I just clean and recoat with the coloured oil? Also would you recommend I treat the inside of the raised beds with the coloured oil? And would you recommend using a membrane inside the raised bed?
Thanks in advance
Reply to Rob:
Hello Rob,
Thank you for getting in touch with your enquiry. I would say that you will benefit from both option. A membrane is a must, to keep contact between wood and soil to a minimum, this avoids continuous contact. That said over time it is possible that moisture can build up between the membrane and the sleepers and so a treatment of Barrettine Premier Wood Preservative will help to prevent mould, mildew and rot.
For the exposed areas of wood the oil will help to maintain some repellency and regular cleaning and top up with the oil will help protection of the wood longer and applying a coloured oil will also increase the UV protection that the oil has.
I hope that helps and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
All the Best Samantha.
Hi Samantha
There is a lot of concern at the moment about microbeads and plastic in the environment. The Cuprinol anti-slip product uses these I read. What does the Osmo product use? The literature is obscure.
Thanks
Nigel
Reply to Nigel White:
Hello Nigel,
Great question, I can tell you that the description on the Product information says it ‘contains a special highly compressed organic non-slip additive, which is evenly distributed in the coating and prevents slips when dry.’ I have been in contact with Osmo to get a little more information on this as I suspect that it could be a questions that comes up regularly in the future. Once I hear back from them I will add the information for you.
If there is anything further that I can help with in the meantime please do not hesitate to get in touch or email to wood@finishes.direct
Kind regards Samantha.