The winter months always prompt much discussion around anti-slip decking. What is it and do you need it in your garden? Let’s take a look at the facts and exactly what anti-slip decking can do for you.
Do I have a slippery problem?
If you have timber decking in your garden, chances are it gets slippery in the rain. Perhaps you’ve become accustomed to avoiding it in wet weather. But it’s not just rain. Should it form a build-up of moss or perhaps become covered in fallen leaves, the same risk of slipping up arises and the impact can be serious.
How can I add grip?
Anti-slip decking and non-slip decking products are designed to add grip to the surface of the timber and provide a very necessary grip when you walk over the surface. Without this type of application, your decking will always be at risk. Granted, you can try adding sand to an outdoor paint or varnish, or perhaps covering it in chicken wire. But these DIY ideas, coupled with many purchased paints and oils are simply not as effective as anti-slip decking. And when injury is possible, we all want effective.
How it works
Most anti-slip decking works by placing a formulation of resin and aggregate into some of the grooves of the timber, leaving it sitting slightly proud of the wood. Designed to last for the life of your decking, this treatment provides grip, however you walk on the decking, whilst retaining the natural charm of the timber. Some products, such as DeckWright Anti-Slip, offer formats that are suitable for both new boards in addition to decking that has already been laid.
Has it been fully tested?
Like so many types of products, you’ll always find good and bad examples to consider. One trick with anti-slip decking is to check whether and how it has been tested and approved. DeckWright for example, has been fully tested using the Pendulum Slip Test, scoring a PTV value of 71 when results above 35 are considered to be “anti-slip”. This demonstrates the high performance of this brand, compared to others on the market.
How easy is it to install?
You might wish to carry out the work yourself or you might use a builder or contractor. Either way, ease of installation will save you time and money. Look to see how easy it is to cut the anti-slip decking – not all brands can be cut with standard tools for example. With regard to retrospective inserts, look to see if you can easily cut them to length – some have to be purchased in fixed lengths only, restricting your flexibility.
Where can I buy anti-slip decking?
How best to buy anti-slip decking generally depends on how much you need. If it’s a particularly large, commercial project, talking directly with a manufacturer might pay dividends. In most other cases, many reputable timber merchants will be able to provide you with the amount you require. Retrospectively fitted products such as DeckWright Inserts can also be found in merchants, whilst some online stores retail them.
For more information, please visit www.deckwright.co.uk or contact the manufacturers of DeckWright, www.wj-group.co.uk.