I’m at my folks house for the holidays, and there is something here that is driving me crazy:
The have a circular stairway – 36″ tread on a 6′ radius – and the hardwood treads are slippery as heck while wearing socks. I find the worst part is the first two steps down from the top are the worst. To make it even worse, my mom accidentally used wax while polishing the top few steps before I came. Last time I was here I took a bumpy AssToboggan ride down the stairs. This time my daughter took that same ride down.
While startling and only slightly unfun for me, they are just about to start pushing 60 and I’d rather they not do an AssToboggan ride themselves – ever.
The treads are oak, with a normal light brown clear coat on them. I think they like the clear look. Is there anything that can be done to make them less hazardous?
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Replies
http://www.outlookskates.com/GripTape.htm
scroll down to Clear Grip Tape
How about a decorative carpet runner down the center?
we had the same problem with our main staircase..
a carpet runner solved it and left about 6" of oak exposed on each side
I think I'm looking for something simpler. Clear grip tape sounds interesting!
I was thinking about a layer of clearcoat with sand along the front inch of the step, or something similar. Don't know how that would change the look though.
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
There is a product called shark-grip or shark-bite that you add to the clear coat. It is an invisible grit thatwill keep the stairs from being slick.
Probably SW product, as thats where my friend buys paint.
Paul,
About a year ago, I read where the two most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents were either liquid body wash in the shower and "overspray" from aerosols like spray waxes, silicone spray lubes, vinyl uphostery cleaners like "Son of a Gun", etc.... on laminate flooring or non-runner stairs. The bad thing is that you really can't see it on the floor.....then you track it through the house on the bottom of your shoes making other laminate areas slippery!
In the hospital, they give patients those special low cut foot warmer socks with rubber ribbing squiggled along the bottom. Something like that could be used until the stairs get a wide carpet runner should help you and your family. Putting those stick-on abrasive strips is a quick job and they do grip well, but they trap dirt and lint, making them hard to keep clean. It's a trade-off as to what you want to pay to solve the issue, but SAFETY comes first and it usually is a lot cheaper than a trip to the E.R...
Bill