How Do You Make A Concrete Floor Slip-Resistant?
How Do You Make A Concrete Floor Slip-Resistant?
Here are the methods of on how to make a concrete floor slip-resistant;
Texturing The Surface Of The Concrete
You may make it slip-resistant by brooming texture into a newly laid concrete floor surface.
On partially dry or soft concrete surfaces, brooming is done. If the surface has a slope and a drain, brooming is done towards the drain.
Brooming can be done with concrete brooms of various forms or with a standard broom with strong bristles.
Finishing The Concrete Surface With Rock Salt
This sort of finishing is applied before the concrete has completely hardened. The method is sprinkling salt over a damp concrete surface and smoothing it up using a trowel.
The salt is washed away when the concrete surface has fully hardened, leaving a more appealing texture.
Seeded Aggregate Concrete Surface Finish
Small stones are put into the final concrete surface using this process. When dry, the surface is elegantly adorned and slip-resistant.
Non-Slip Sealants
The first way to increase slip resistance on existing concrete floor surfaces is to apply an anti-slip-resistant sealant.
Some anti-slip sealants make the surface slip-resistant but affect the texture.
Some penetrating sealers function under the surface without altering the texture of the surface.
Water-repellent sealers also minimize water absorption by 95%, making the surface impervious to rain, snow, frost, and other elements. These sealers protect the surface not only from slipping but also from wear and tear.
Slip-Resistant Additives
Non-slip additives can be used if anti-slip sealers are insufficient to produce the desired slip resistance. Depending on the traction necessary for the surface, non-slip additives are offered in fine or coarse varieties.
To improve grip, grit additives can be mixed with these sealers and applied to the concrete surface. The most common grit additions include silica, plastic grit, and various kinds of transparent crystals. This coating is applied to moist and high-traffic surfaces.
Silica Sand
To increase the surface’s slip resistance, silica sand can be used to wet concrete sealers. The technique is spreading a layer of silica sand over the initial coat of new concrete sealant.
The second layer of concrete sealer is applied and completed once it has dried. The surface is given a tiny hazy appearance using this procedure.
Slip-Resistant Strips
Non-slip strips are stick-on strips sold at hardware shops that are applied to external concrete surfaces such as concrete steps, patios, driveways, garages, and so on. It is a simple and effective method of preventing slippage.
How Can You Avoid Slippery Outdoor Steps In The Winter?
While putting tread strips or repainting steps may be simple while the weather is nice, things become more difficult when snow and ice have already fallen.
Here are some strategies to use if a permanent solution isn’t viable right now and you only need to keep your stairs safe until the spring thaw.
Place Towels On The Icy Steps
An old towel draped over a stair will rapidly get encased in ice. Once in position, the towel will act as an immediate tread strip.
This is an excellent choice if your steps are covered in ice and you don’t want to spend time melting or chipping it off.
Scatter Cat Litter Or Sand
Like towels, cat litter and gritty sand give rapid traction in ice situations. Simply throw a layer of cat litter on the ice to make your steps less slippery.
The good news is that kitty litter and sand are natural items that biodegrade and are environmentally friendly.
Make Use Of A De-Icer.
This magnesium chloride product is the ideal de-icer for outdoor stairs. It dissolves ice to -10°F (-23°C), does not damage wood, metal, or concrete, and is safe for pets and plants.
Avoid using rock salt. Wood, metal, and concrete are all corroded by it.
Avoid using rock salt or other de-icing agents.
Salt is useless at temperatures below 20°F (-7°C), is particularly corrosive to wood, metal, and concrete, and has a negative impact on adjacent vegetation.
Not only that but walking your pets on rock salt will injure their paws. To melt ice on your steps without causing any property damage, use a magnesium chloride product.
