Timber boards on decks, jetties, bridges and external stairs quickly become dangerously slippery in rain and dew and when covered with leaves or algae – particularly along the length of the boards and on smooth-planed or older, weathered surfaces. For public facilities, hospitality venues and boat jetties, mechanically fixed GRP solutions are recommended, as they are weather-resistant and low-maintenance.
Typical slip problems on timber
Algae and moss
on shaded, damp areas
Smooth or grooved boards
grooves offer hardly any grip across the direction of travel and become clogged with dirt
Leaves, hoarfrost and ice
in autumn and winter
Timber stairs and ramps
with a gradient
Influence of water, cleaning, timber movement and loading
Water
timber absorbs moisture and moves – rigid, seamless coatings can crack or flake off.
Timber species and treatment
oils, stains and resinous timbers impair the adhesion of tapes and coatings.
Cleaning
pressure washing and brushing put stress on bonded joints; screwed profiles are less sensitive.
Loading
heavy footfall, pushchairs and bicycles on bridges require hard-wearing solutions.
Solutions compared
| Situation | Recommended solution | Advantages | Limitations | Suitable products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck or jetty, visually discreet | Narrow GRP mini strips across the direction of travel | Unobtrusive, weather-resistant, low-maintenance | Only effective on the strips themselves; define spacing on a project basis | DD-GRPF-8000406-BK |
| Public jetties, bridges, boat landings | Wide GRP anti-slip strips or decking strips | Robust, grippy when wet, do not peel off like paint | Visible; must be fixed to sound boards | DD-GRPF-8000807-BK, DD-RS-DECKSTREIFEN |
| External timber stairs | GRP stair tread cover or stair nosing profile | Covers tread and nosing, edge clearly visible | Measure the steps beforehand | DD-GRPF-5000400-YE-M, DD-ERPGR-STUFENABDECKUNG, DD-GRPF-5000500-BK-M |
| Entire area, frequently wet | GRP anti-slip sheet or walkway cover | Grippy over the full surface, also on ramps | Change in level at the edges; consider drainage | DD-GRPF-8000205-YE-M, DD-RS-LAUFWEG |
| Coating preferred | Only with manufacturer approval for the timber species and substrate movement | Seamless appearance | Risk of cracking and delamination on moving timber; trial area first | on request |
Suitable products
The fixing method (screws or adhesive) depends on the product, timber species and use; guidance is provided with the quotation.
GRP mini anti-slip strip for timber boards
Item no. DD-GRPF-8000406-BK
Narrow, 10 mm wide pultruded GRP strips for timber boards. They discreetly provide secure footing on timber decking and jetties.
- 10 mm wide, 4 mm thick
- For timber floors
- Non-conductive, maintenance-free
GRP anti-slip strips for timber decking
Item no. DD-GRPF-8000807-BK
Tough GRP strips for timber decks, jetties and paths on timber or concrete. They provide grip in the wet.
- Widths 50 and 90 mm, lengths 600–2400 mm
- For timber and concrete
Anti-Slip Decking Strips
Item no. DD-RS-DECKSTREIFEN
Slip-resistant strips for timber decking, ramps, jetties and boat decks – unlike tape or paint, they do not peel off.
- 1200 mm long, 50 or 100 mm wide
- Slip-resistant R13 grit
- Yellow, green, brown or black
- Minimum order quantity: 10 pieces
GRP stair tread cover with integrated nosing
Item no. DD-GRPF-5000400-YE-M
Full GRP stair tread cover with integrated nosing, for concrete, timber, tiled or grating stairs. Lightweight, through-coloured and designed for indoor and outdoor use.
- Size 1000 x 350 x 50 mm, also made to measure
- Colours black, grey, yellow
GRP stair tread cover R13
Item no. DD-ERPGR-STUFENABDECKUNG
Slip-resistant GRP stair tread cover for concrete, timber, stone or metal stairs. Provides lasting grip in wet, oily and frosty conditions.
- Slip resistance R13 V10 (DIN 51130)
- Profiles 30 × 150, 55 × 230, 55 × 300 and 55 × 345 mm
- Black or yellow (RAL 1003)
GRP stair nosing, colour-impregnated throughout
Item no. DD-GRPF-5000500-BK-M
GRP angle profile with embedded aluminium oxide grit for retrofitting step edges on concrete, timber, stone or grating. Colour runs right through, so wear is barely visible.
- Through-coloured GRP, fine/medium grit
- Available cut to size
Lightweight GRP anti-slip sheet
Item no. DD-GRPF-8000205-YE-M
Lightweight anti-slip sheet in glass-reinforced polyester with aluminium oxide grit, for covering floors, ramps, walkways and chequer plate indoors and outdoors.
- GRP with aluminium oxide grit
- Non-conductive, will not splinter or crack
Made-to-measure GRP walkway cover
Item no. DD-RS-LAUFWEG
Slip-resistant cover for walkways, platforms and access routes on concrete, steel or timber, made to your dimensions.
- Yellow, black, grey or brown
- Coarse or extra-coarse grit
- Optional directional arrows
- Minimum order: 10 pieces
Limitations and unsuitable applications
Repair rotten or loose boards first – anti-slip profiles are no substitute for a sound substructure.
Tapes often do not adhere permanently to oiled, resinous or rough timber.
Rigid coatings on timber that moves significantly only with the manufacturer’s express approval.
Remove algae growth regularly: even grippy profiles lose effectiveness under a film of growth.
FAQs: making timber decking non-slip
What provides a lasting solution for slippery timber boards?
Mechanically fixed GRP strips or treads with embedded grit. They provide grip even when wet, are weather-resistant and do not peel off like paint or tape. Inspect and clean surfaces and fixings regularly; winter maintenance (snow and ice clearance) is still required.
Should they be fitted across or along the direction of travel?
Preferably across the main direction of travel. Choose the spacing and number so that the walking surface is sufficiently slip-resistant for the intended use; for public areas, check the layout on a project basis.
Can I paint timber decking with anti-slip paint?
Only to a limited extent: timber moves, and rigid coatings can crack. A coating is only an option if the manufacturer approves it for the specific timber species and construction.
Are the products suitable for public bridges and jetties?
GRP strips and decking strips are also an option for public jetties and footbridges. Suitability must be assessed on a project basis with regard to substrate, fixing, loading, slip resistance and applicable requirements; we supply the materials to your specification.
Enquiry for your project
To prepare a suitable quotation, we need the following information:
Substrate and condition
Area in m² or number and dimensions of steps
Indoors or outdoors
Exposure to water, oil or chemicals
Pedestrian, pallet truck or forklift traffic
Required slip resistance
Type of use (commercial or public) and preferred fixing method
Site or delivery location
All prices on request. Send an enquiry now.