There are places where you want good traction for footing and one of those places are decks. After all, you plan on many people from children to elderly parents walking on your deck in family events. This can be a slippery experience after rain or in winter.
One of the most common questions to create a non-slip surface is can you mix sand with deck stain? No, mixing sand with deck stain won’t work but you can mix sand with paint to create traction.
You can read further to find out how to properly do this and about other alternatives to create a non-slip stained surface for your deck.
Slips and Falls
More than 8 million people go to the emergency room annually because of a fall. Falls are the leading cause of all emergency room visits and account for 21.3 percent of hospital emergencies.
Here are some more facts about slips and falls from the National Floors Safety Institute.
- Slips are included in the hospital visits for falls and account for more than one million trips, roughly 12 percent of all falls, to the emergency room.
- Around five percent of falls result in a fracture, the most serious injury.
- 50 percent of accidental deaths at home are from a fall.
- Most injuries from a fall at home occur on the ground level rather than from an elevation.
- One out of three seniors will have a fall and 50 percent of that fall repeatedly.
- Falls deaths in seniors suddenly doubled in 2005 from 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 15,000 seniors died from fall injuries in 2005.
Preventing Falls on Your Deck
Judging from these statistics, having a ground-level deck isn’t enough to prevent fall injuries since many fall on ground-level structures.
Some stains and paints can be slippery anyway, especially if they have a gloss or shine to them. They can become worse after rain, snow, or ice. The deck stairs are especially dangerous.
The one sure way you can increase the safety of your deck is to make it rough by adding grit.
There are ways to do this to both wood decks and concrete patios. However, you must choose the ingredients for your mixes carefully to get the right result.
Why Stain Won’t Work
The components of stain make it nearly impossible to add grit to you for traction. Stain is composed of oil, water, and dyes. The liquid is meant to be absorbed by the wood leaving the color on the wood.
Paint has a film that adheres sand particles to the wood. Since stain doesn’t have this, sand won’t stick to the wood. So, if you want to add traction to your deck, you will need to paint it rather than stain it.
The Sand
Sand isn’t just sand. There are different types of sand and some types will make more of a mess than good traction on your deck. Free sand isn’t the way to go, according to home DIY expert Bob Villa.
He advises finding clean, coarse sand to mix with deck stain. The coarser, the better.
The Paint
You also need the right kind of paint to successfully grit it for deck traction. The paint you need is floor paint. Another option is porch paint since it’s formulated for outdoor use. Make sure it is created to apply to wood and concrete and is mildew-resistant.
Besides your sand and paint, you will need a wire brush, a stirrer, a paint tray and roller, sandpaper or a sander, a clean one-gallon container a paintbrush.
Prepping Your Deck
There is some preparation before you can apply the grit and paint to your deck. First, use the stiff brush to remove all peeling stain or paint from the deck. You can need to sand the deck, especially if it’s a new deck that hasn’t been stained.
The surface needs to be roughed up so the paint can stick to it. Rinse with a garden hose and let it dry before staining.
Mixing the Sand With Paint
The ratio is one part sand to four parts paint. To mix, you will pour a half-gallon of paint into the clean container and then add the sand slowly. Use the paint stirrer to mix until evenly distributed.
You can also use aluminum oxide as grit to the paint instead of sand. This will require constant stirring. The ratio remains the same.
Then, pour the mixture into a paint tray and use a roller to put it on the deck. You may want to use a paintbrush for tighter areas, rails, and other smaller spots.
Let Dry and Reapply
The first coat should be completely dry before adding a second coat. It will take around 24 hours to completely cure.
Reapplying Second Coat
After the first coat is cured, apply a second coat of sand-free paint. A second coat will seal the first coat with the grit.
Alternatives to Sand
The sand-paint mix may not offer the look some want. You can have a more seamless look by mixing in a clear plastic grit. Products include Seal Krete Clear-Grip. It can easily be mixed into the paint.
Another product sold in paint stores is Skid-Tex. It is a paint additive that creates a non-slip surface.
What If I Want Stain?
Those who are set to stain their deck rather than paint it has options to create traction.
One is to rough it up more than normal with a power sander to make it less slippery.
A second option is to use non-slip strips in areas like steps. These can be easily glued down and are found in hardware stores.
Paint and stain companies also have non-skid variations of their products that are used in homes and businesses like restaurant kitchens. They can be applied to floors with paint rollers and brushes like any paint or stain.
Final Thoughts
A stained deck looks great but is challenging to make it safer with traction since you can’t effectively mix sand with deck stain. However, those who want a sand mix for traction have options like paints and pre-mixed products. You can also rough up the wood to create traction on stained decks so friends and family won’t slip and fall.
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