As any homeowner will tell you, trying to decide what decking you want to go with for your home can be a tiring and exhausting process, especially if you’re trying to decide whether or not to opt for wood decking or composite decking.
While many people will enjoy the traditional look and feel of wood decking, composite decking has many benefits that make it such an attractive choice, such as less maintenance, as well as being much easier to clean, so it’s a hard decision to make!
However, no matter which material you choose, one of the biggest things to consider when deciding on a decking material is just how slippery it is when wet!
Wood decking is notoriously slippery when wet, but how does composite decking compare?
In particular, is Deckoroators composite decking slippery when wet?
Decorators’ mineral base composite (MBC) is one of the better-rated composite deckings for slip resistance and traction when wet or dry.
I say better rated because their other composite decking with better slip resistance
than Deckoroators both dry and wet. Click the link if you want to see who the better-rated brands are or how Deckoroators compares.
But in this article, we’re going to stay focused on Deckorators, how slippery their decking is when wet, Plus how its traction compares to wood and how composite decking can become slippery.
Is Deckorators Decking Slippery When Wet?
As a company, Deckorators does a lot to try and draw your attention to the potential safety concerns that might arise when you install a new decking to your home, especially since safety is generally one of the factors that people forget to consider when they get caught up in the excitement of home improvements.
Deckorators has an entire section on their website highlighting some of the potential safety issues, with the most prominent one, of course, being how slippery decking can become when wet!
On their safety page, Deckorators explain that when it comes to choosing a composite decking material that is going to provide the most traction underfoot, even in the rain, then opting for decking boards that have slip-resistance in mind is best.
This is where they then advertise their mineral-based composite decking boards, available in both their Voyage and their Vault decking boards, this unique decking material provides you with the optimal amount of grip, even in wet conditions, and is also stronger than most typical composite decking materials too, which provides you with additional peace of mind.
Deckorators also claim that their mineral-based composite decking offers 34% more traction when compared to many of the other composite materials on the market.
Deckorators (MBC) has a slip resistance score of 0.73 to 0.74 when dry, which then decreases to a score of 0.66 to 0.69 when wet.
Although this definitely places Deckorators MBC decking in the top ten decking materials to choose from when looking for a decking material with plenty of traction, there are a number of options that are better suited for wet conditions.
However, it is still worth considering that the recommended slip resistance score for decking is 0.5. Meaning that Deckorators MBC decking provides an above-average slip resistance score.
But those are just numbers on a score sheet.
What really gripped me, all puns intended was walking over a Decorator’s deck.
It grabbed my feet instantly like few other decks I have walked on.
You really should check out a Deckoroators deck or at least hold a sample board in your hand to get a sense of its traction.
Which would be both for a better idea of the strength, slip resistance, and aesthetics of the decking boards.
Thankfully, Deckorators will happily provide you with samples of their decking materials if you’re interested, so you can get a closer look at their amazing mineral-based composite in person.
Why Does Composite Decking Become Slippery When Wet?
The slipperiness of composite decking when wet all comes down to the amount of traction your decking provides.
Traction and friction are interchangeable, and ultimately determine how slippery your decking will be when it rains. If the friction between your feet/shoes and the wet decking is low, then you’re going to be more likely to slip on the wet decking.
This is why many decking companies will try to ensure that their composite decking has a texture, which helps to increase the friction between you and the decking, even when wet.
With wood decking, this texture is provided naturally, so it’s important that composite decking provides an alternative, otherwise, there would be no traction at all.
Is Composite Decking More Slippery When Wet Than Wood Decking?
Of course, there will always naturally be comparisons between wood decking and composite decking, and it’s fair to say that wood decking is still an immensely popular option for most people looking to add decking to their home, but how does it compare in terms of traction?
Much like its composite counterparts, the traction provided by wood decking varies from each decking, and there are a number of different factors that can affect it, including things such as the species of wood used, whether or not the wood has been sealed or not, how well and often it has been maintained, and how harsh the weather conditions actually are.
Ultimately, both wood decking and composite decking remain to be relatively comparable when it comes to the traction they provided. Although as many will argue, more can be done with composite decking to help improve the traction, without compromising on the aesthetics!
How Can I Make My Composite Decking Less Slippery?
So, if you’re looking to make your composite decking less slippery, then you’re in luck, as there are a few different things that you can do to ensure that your decking is providing you with as much traction as possible!
Maintenance is the most important step to ensuring that your decking has as much traction as possible. Algae and debris scattered across your decking, especially between each board, is going to have a negative effect on the traction your decking provides, so power-washing your decking on a regular basis is important.
However, you should never overwash your decking!
If you need to, you can also add slip-resistant treads to the key sections of your decking, such as the stairs, which will ensure that you don’t slip walking up your decking, even when wet.
Summary
Overall, Deckorators composite decking provides an impressive amount of traction, and although its slip-resistance score is still lower than some of the top-end options on the market, its mineral-based composition makes it extremely strong and versatile and therefore makes for a great option for anyone looking to add decking to their outdoor space!
