Does anyone have a solution to retrofit EPE wood decking to make it slip-reistant? Location is Seattle WA.
I haven’t heard of a problem with the slip-resistance (and spec’d it for exterior use by Lake Michigan). Is there an issue? Or is it perception?
Wayne,
Are you talking about the “Trex” product?
We had an issue about it at a local high school in California, but I don’t know the outcome.
It had to do with the deck getting wet, and apparently a school employee allegedly “slipped”.
Richard,
Deck boards are true Epe. New construction. Two slip-falls have occured.
what the heck is “epe” decking? Do you mean ipe?
Are you referring to Ipe wood?
I though Ipe had superior slip resistance?
Was the deck coated or stained?
Some more info;
Ipe (Tabebuia of family Bignoniaceae)
Some resources to check:
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2001/willi01d.pdf
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2003/mille03a.pdf
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr67.pdf
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fpl_gtr190.pdf
Is there a hard finish on the Ipe? Or moss growing on it? I would expect Ipe to weather to a fairly rough surface with no help.
One suggestion: Ipe decking is used throughout the Milwaukee River boardwalk and where there may be an incline or steps, the deck boards have been incised with grooves (2 per 5-1/2 wide board , equally spaced), parallel to the long dimension. The boards are installed perpendicular to the general direction of travel. Otherwise they are left unfinished. The grooves, plus the natural spacing between the boards, provides additional slip resistance (or the perception of it, anyway, which may be more important). Any wood or composite, when installed parallel to the direction of travel, will most likely be more slippery (going with the grain of the wood, rather than across the grain).
In the same vein, has anyone come across a non-wood decking product with good slip-resistance? We have a client who slipped on a “Trex”-type deck (we’re not sure if it was Trex or another product) and wants to make sure that none of their projects have the same issues. Still, they’re not willing to let us use Ipe and don’t want to maintain any other type of natural wood decking. Any suggestions? Based on the client’s perception, Trex is definitely out of the running (so to speak).