For a fancy set of finished wooden steps, trusting a cheap product like an anti-slip spray would be like taking your pristine 69 Camaro for a ride down a gravel road – you just don’t do it. There’s a chance that some of your risers or treads are not uniform. Depending on the manufacturer, it may be difficult to remove these strips should you ever want to discontinue using the strips. Lastly, measure the rise and run of each step to make sure they are up to code. A DIY solution is to mix sand in with paint, and apply that to your (wooden) stairs to provide some texture. The other appealing aspect of carpet strips is that it allows you to avoid installing a carpet stair runner, which runs the length of your steps. Some products offer a no-slip underlay instead of backing on the carpet itself. Although many of these finishes are water-based, any scrubbing or use of cleaning agents such as mineral spirits can damage the original finish of your stair treads. You can put it on both interior and exterior wood stairs and not worry about it peeling off. I wouldn’t recommend putting it in an area that experiences constant moisture, such as a pool deck, but it will withstand rain extremely well. Whichever option you choose to create an anti-slip surface on your wooden stairs, just be sure to follow the directions of the product. It may be uncomfortable for little feet and toes when barefoot in the house. Safety is a major concern while installing hardwood flooring on stairs. Using a big towel to cover icy outdoor steps & prevent slipping This is also not the ideal solution if your driveway tends to freeze in cold weather. My carpeted stairs are a bit worn and slippery. These sprays can often require several coats, and all of that spray will certainly affect appearance, even if the product claims to be “transparent”. Stair runners are a more expensive option for homeowners because it needs to be fitted to your exact stair measurements – height and width. Slippery wood floors are hazardous to the house occupants and worse if extending to stairs. You will also need underlayment to put under the stair runner on each tread. Aug 31, 2015 - Stop those dangerous slips on your carpeted stairs with No-Slip Strip Carpet Stair Treads. The big problem with putting anti-slip tape on wood stairs in your home is that getting it off is a problem. One of the most common ways to make stairs less slippery is to install carpet. A non-skid additive. If the steps are slippery for the older adult (if they are wood or tile or vinyl) then some types of carpeting or stair treads might work to make them less slippery. Air bubbles will appear if not installed properly, Keeps the natural appearance of your wooden steps, Will last longer than other non-slip options, May require many coats to achieve appropriate surface texture, Excellent slip-proofing for painted wooden surfaces, Remove the offending tread or riser and use shims or a saw to raise/lower it, Use a product above and cross your fingers, Must be fixed anyway to re-sell your house, May involve skill beyond your capabilities, Invasive – use of stairway may be impeded for awhile. The adhesive backing is not kind to wood floor finishes, and you can expect that when you pull the strips off, the wood finish will come right along with it. You can also dictate the amount of anti-slip additive you add to your paint. Solutions for Slippery Steps. However, if you want a longer-lasting, more resilient traction paint, we recommend the Slip Doctor product line of … Apply a Non-Slip Solution 1. Have you ever got up in the middle of the night for a snack or to check on the dog, only to find yourself flat on your back? The anti-slip spray is incredibly simple to apply, but it is challenging to be consistent. First of all, I would like to point out that I wouldn’t replace … Please feel free to comment below or drop us a line about products or issues you’ve encountered when dealing with your slippery wooden steps. Next Post →, Spring Decorating Ideas for Your Staircase, How to Make Your Wood Stairs Less Slippery. Normally, wood floors are not slippery but they become slippery after oil or water spillage, prolonged usage of polish, and frequent usage of some certain cleaning products. On the other hand, the runner will cover most of your stairs, so the nice wood finish of your steps will be mostly obscured. A pneumatic stapler, a knee-kicker, and other tools are required when installing. To improve stair safety in your home, try one of these solutions to make the hardwood stairs less slippery. Some homeowners use rubber mats on the parts of their driveways that are most used. If you go the floor-paint route, make sure the steps are bone … If you are keen to avoid that situation and want to know how to make wooden steps less slippery, then read on. The fibers in a carpet naturally have some friction, helping you grip with your feet as you … Many come with a tacky – but not adhesive – backing that keeps the carpet in place. Not an option. As well, the tape is rough. How to Make Hardwood Stairs Less Slippery: 4 Simple Methods Method 1: Install Carpet. How can we make them less slippery?Apply non-skid adhesive strips to each step or coat them with floor paint with added grit. My wife fell and hurt her ankle on the stairs. Anyone who has used this anti-slip tape before knows that it will stick and provide an effective non-slip surface for stairs of all kinds. How can we make them less slippery? Carpeted stair runners are a happy medium between wood and carpeted stairs. In the past, some have complained that these strips would attract dirt, marring the appearance of their wood steps, and negating the transparency of the strip. However as safety experts we strongly recommend that you fix your slippery stairs as soon as possible! Wooden or concrete steps feature in most business, homes and gardens in the UK. For New Concrete Steps. They provide a tactile yet soft surface that prevents slips while remaining comfortable to walk on. While no two sets of stairs are alike, and these measurements can vary, but newly constructed homes will have stairs measuring exactly 7” x 11”. As well, if you have a bunch of small kids in your house, then you know nothing is sacred, not even stair carpet strips. It is also more complicated to install. Beside above, how do you make stone stairs less slippery? The best way to fix slippery stairs is to add non-slip traction to each step. Apply non-skid adhesive strips to each step or coat them with floor paint with added grit. You can find stair parts and everything you need for a stair remodel or project on our website. Tape is an inexpensive, quick solution for slippery steps. There are a variety of adhesive strips that you can apply to your staircase to make it less slippery. Below we’ll look at all the options you have to make your wooden steps less slippery while maintaining an acceptable appearance for your staircase. When it rains, our wooden steps develop a slimy coating. The simplest way to make your wooden steps less slippery is to add texture in the form of a carpet or a stair runner. The simplest way to make your wooden steps less slippery is to add texture in the form of a carpet or a stair runner. The best way to make your hardwood stairs less slippery is to add traction by installing carpet, anti-slip adhesive stair treads, or applying a coat of anti-slip floor finish to the surface of each stair. At the end of the day – the best solution for your staircase will depend on the residents in that home who will be using those stairs. We take walking upstairs for granted, only because our muscle memories expect a standard flight of stairs to be of the same height. You or your family might be able to deal with it, but if you have an elderly guest or simply a guest who trips and falls, then you are liable for whatever injury they sustain. Kids will peel them on and off, or just take them and move them. Transparent anti-slip strips today are made with environmentally safe materials – no PVC – with an eye for indoor, barefoot use. Even better, this tape is weatherproof. If you already have a finish on your wooden steps, it is unrealistic to expect a spray-on coating will not change the appearance at all. 3. If you don’t like the look of the carpet, transparent stair strips, anti-slip finish, spray and paint additives work too – be sure to remove the wax from your stairs first. You can also purchase rubber or polymeric plastic grits to mix in with the paint. You probably had no idea that you could add a layer of non-slip paint to each tread to prevent slips. Before you decide on any of the options above, be sure to check the level on each of your individual treads to make sure that none of them are slanting forward. These additives are essentially a pail of sand that binds with the paint, creating a sandpaper-like surface. If not, consider using rugs — but if you do, make sure they have rubber backings. There are plenty ways of making your wooden stairs less slippery. If possible, read and follow the directions … Method 2: Use Anti-Slip Adhesive Stair Treads. However, rain and the build-up of algae or moss on the timber, concrete or steel can make your stairs extremely slippery and dangerous. Available in Comfort and Super Grip traction levels, 21 standard lengths and 23 colors to meet match your decor. Depending on the type of finish on your floor, you might have trouble getting the carpet strips to stay in place. If none of these options suit you, remember that leaving your stairs slippery is a liability to others in the household – I highly recommend against leaving a slippery set of stairs alone. Painting concrete steps can help make them less slippery. This is a common issue that causes wood stairs to be more slippery, so if your stairs are slanting forward, you might have to consider installing new ones. We have a baby, though luckily she wasn't holding him. If you don’t like the look of the carpet, transparent stair strips, anti-slip finish, spray and paint additives work too – be sure to remove the wax from your stairs first. If they don't have backings, they will only increase the slipping hazard. This kind of paint can be found in hardware stores or online. I want to install either carpet treads or vinyl to make the steps less slippery. The spray does not guarantee a uniform finish, which will not only affect durability but also appearance as well. Household tip: Solution to slippery stairs A St. Louis real estate blog with tips I find along the way, personal funnyisms, local hidden gems, & the adventures that ensue from time to time. Some products even provide a roller for installation. I hope it has given you some ideas for improving the safety of wooden stairs in your home. Unlike the non-transparent black strips, these clear strips are not like sandpaper. You’ve got several options: I don’t recommend just letting a problem like non-uniform stairs just sit. Non-slip coatings in liquid form are applied with a brush. How to Fix Slippery Stairs Video Playback Not Supported To improve traction and reduce the chance of slips and falls on outdoor wood steps, start by cleaning the steps thoroughly with a deck cleaner or brightener to remove any dirt, mold, or mildew. But what to do if your risers or treads are not uniform? Stair carpet strips come in all different designs and various sizes to fit narrow or wide steps. If you are planning to paint your steps and you want them to be anti-slip, then there is no better option than the non-slip paint additive. Replace Old Tiles with Non-Slip Ones. Ventilate the room to minimize the fumes. Buy a slip-resistant additive for a stair paint to make steps less slippery. If your stairs are opposite your front door, this is often the first thing visitors see when they enter your house. You can use the spray on both interior and exterior wooden steps. In fact, this tape is actually sandpaper – 80 grit – with an adhesive backing. Even one riser that is only ½” shorter or taller can result in people tripping and falling. Then immediately sprinkle a generous coating of rubber grit to the surface. Assuming the enamel paint with a grit additive will adhere to your particular Trex product, that’s a reasonable for a first-generation Trex deck where nearly the entire surface is slippery. Our reader Alicia writes, “We recently redid the ratty carpet-covered plywood stairs in our house as a lovely stained/varnished solid wood. As their name suggests, these strips are transparent. ← Previous Post The roller will remove any air bubbles from the strip, allowing it to blend in perfectly with the rest of the stair tread. The Dangers of Slippery Steps. A finished or polished surface of a stair tread is very slippery and dangerous to walk across. Carpeting. How to make hardwood stairs less slippery. … All that movement will eventually wear away at the strips’ ability to hold in place. If you have a wax or shine product on your stairs, all residue must be... 2. Stair Runner. You may not like the idea of putting a top coat on the existing floor finish to make your laminate floor less slippery. A beautiful set of oak, ash, or even hickory stair treads is a huge selling feature and talking point for anyone who comes to your house. That’s kind of the way we did our staircase in an 1800s house and it takes that issue away. This “shine” – the stair finish – is what makes your wooden steps so slippery. Allow it to dry. The downside to these products is removal. If you want a denser, rougher feel, then you add the entire bucket or package. And caulk any nail/screw holes, cracks and crevices to seal out water. Read the product directions thoroughly before starting the job. The anti-slip wood floor finish goes on transparent. Non-slip concrete paint: Better traction on concrete. The standard stair dimension is 7 -11. Many products are available in various finishes such as matte or gloss, giving you some choice in how the finish looks after application. Wonderful to look at, extremely painful to fall down — which I did recently. Does anyone have any ideas, what would work best and what materials to use? It's easy and inexpensive. These strips are designed for indoor use, and modern stair carpet strips are focused on making a product that won’t damage your wooden stairs, even when you remove them. Many of the paints’ biggest brands sell anti-slip spray, but that doesn’t mean this product will last or give you the results you want. If this is the case on your wood stairs, you can also buy individual carpeting for each stair. If you go the floor-paint route, make sure the steps are bone dry, then paint the underneath and ends, as well as the tops. The most common options for ice slip-control safety on outdoor stairs and landing areas are (1) dumping sand everywhere, which inevitably gets tracked into the house, or (2) throwing down ice melt, which is bad for your pet’s paws. Painting concrete and brick surfaces may help to make them less slippery, but this is typically a temporary fix since paint usually peels quickly. Nonslip Coating Spray One of the easiest ways to treat slippery wooden steps is to apply a nonslip coating spray. There are a variety of adhesive strips that you can apply to your staircase to make it less slippery. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. The No-Slip Strip is a great option that's easy to install. Not only do wood stairs give a timeless look to a stair remodel, but they're easy to keep clean. And the other thing that you can consider doing, though, is you could add a carpet runner right down the middle of the stairs. This option will prevent slips and falls – but it comes at a cost. In this article, we’ll go over the pros and cons of each method and product so that you can make the right choice for the non-slip surface on your wooden stairs. Clean your floor and allow it to dry. Also Know, are stone steps slippery? Slippery wood floors can pose a hazard in your home especially if you have kids and pets. These strips can work with indoor and outdoor steps, and on surfaces other than wood. The spray is a clear epoxy that provides a textured finish to ensure better traction on the stairs. They simply try to be more careful when using the stairs. Slip-Resistant Tape. Adhering to manufacturer specs will ensure that no matter which product you choose, it will look like it is supposed to look and not ruin the appearance of your wooden stairs. Apply a fresh coat of paint to the steps. You could sand your steps with coarse sandpaper to make each tread rougher and gain more traction, but you’d be sanding off your stair tread finish resulting in a very poor tread appearance. Everyone loves a classic, wooden staircase. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent this from being the case. Open the package and lay the stair protectors out flat. Article by Carrie Nenonen, St. Louis Realtor If you want a coarser feel on your painted surface, you simply add a bit less of the additive. This seems like a dumb question, but if they are so dangerous, then why do people keep putting them in their homes? For those of you who have a beautiful but slippery set of wooden treads in your older home, then you should get out your measuring tape before buying any of the products above. The good news is that the solutions for making your steps slip-proof can be inexpensive and easy to install. It is equally dangerous if you have a slippery wood floor on your stairs. Some shy away from stair carpet strips primarily because they, at times, might tend to slip, negating the very reason you had them in the first place. You lose the look of your wood stairs while paying a steep install fee for the stair runner. Many customers complain that it makes the appearance of their wood darker, or changes the color. For most of us, a stair runner will resemble our existing carpet in other parts of our home, but it will be cut and finished to fit the length and width of our stairs. No major damage, thankfully, just a sprained ankle and the most spectacular (Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Coating. One idea is to mix sand into paint … Traditionally, hardwood floors are not slippery but can become slick due to regular use of cleaning products, oil or wet spills, grime, polish or an aged finish. Roll-on anti-slip finishes achieve excellent coverage because of the way they are applied. If you have a workplace or industrial space with wooden stairs, then this tape is a great option because it is a virtual guarantee that you won’t slip. They include the following:-Carpeting To get those treads to shine, they need to be sanded ultra-smooth, then have many layers of stain and finish or wax. While you might use them many times, every day, wooden stairs in your home are still quite dangerous. This tends to be a temporary fix since paint does peel over time. To make the steps less slippery, mix abrasive grit into the paint prior to application. That means each stair riser should be close to 7 inches and the stair tread – the horizontal surface – should be close to 11 inches. On the other hand, opting for carpet can be time-consuming and more expensive than the adhesive and stain options. Unsupported carpet at the edge of each tread could cause someone to slip. 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