Does Stamped Concrete Get Slippery When Wet
For concrete floors or walkways exposed to moisture or in areas with a lot of foot traffic there are ways you can increase the slip resistance without affecting the color.
Does stamped concrete get slippery when wet. The best way to reduce the slipperiness of stamped concrete is with a non slip additive. Stamped concrete is not much different from regular concrete when it comes to slip resistance. Tape is an inexpensive quick solution for slippery steps. This tends to be a temporary fix since paint does peel over time.
For one thing when a stamped concrete surface near a pool is slick a topical sealer not the texture is often the culprit. Painting concrete steps can help make them less slippery. If stamped concrete will be installed in a high traffic area such as an entryway or pool deck there are a number of things you can do to increase its slip resistance such as using a heavier texture or adding non skid additives. It was the sealer.
I have slipped on a few decorative concrete slabs myself but it wasn t the concrete that was slick. Depending on the design choices of each client stamped concrete can be polished to a glossy finish looking almost like marble instead of concrete. Rainfall and pool water can make the sealed surface of stamped concrete somewhat slick. The difference is in the sealer used.
Stamped concrete is typically sealed with an acrylic concrete sealer and when water sits on top of the sealer it makes the stamped concrete slippery when wet. Use of a non slip additive when sealing is recommended on exterior applications and a non slip wax on interior applications. That s good to know when you re hoping to keep customers from slipping on their new surface. Such shinier versions of stamped concrete can indeed become slippery when wet or when not carefully crafted.
When dry most sealers pass the national standards set by osha occupational safety and health administration for slip resistance. Like any hard smooth surface stained concrete can become slippery when wet especially if it has been coated with a high gloss sealer. If your steps tend to freeze painting them will help but only minimally so this may not be an option for you. Sealers for decorative concrete provide protection and enhance color.
There are several techniques and products you can use to make a stamped surface less slippery when wet. Understand that sealed surfaces may be slippery during application prior to drying and when wet with water or liquids after drying. Non slip additives are typically polymer type additives that resemble a grain of sugar fine or sea salt coarse. Concrete can be very slippery when wet especially if the surface of the concrete is smooth troweled polished or dense.
There are a few different things that can be done to help make the concrete more slip resistant. You can apply slip resistant pads or grip tape to various areas of the concrete to help provide more slip resistance.