Composite decking is popular for numerous reasons, not only does it look amazing, but it also requires a lot less maintenance than wood decking does, which is why so many people decide to opt for composite decking instead.
However, one of the most notable downsides of composite decking is that it can sometimes be slippery when it’s rained, or for most of the winter season, so owners should be wary of how slippery their decking can be in these conditions.
Trex is one of the most popular brands of decking out there, and for good reason, it is much more durable than other composite deckings, and is also much easier to maintain as well, which is why it’s the go-to choice for many people looking to install decking on their property.
But is Trex decking slippery when wet? It’s one of the biggest concerns people have about installing Trex, but is it a problem?
Trex composite decking has a traction rating of 0.32-0.39 when wet. This is low compared with many other brands of composite decking. It has a slightly better rating of 0.43-0.52 when dry.
In most situations, Trex is fairly slipping resistance even with this low rating and you will not slip under normal conditions. I have built and walked on many Trex decking without slipping but when compared to some of the top composite brands for slip resistance
. It still is rated low, especially considering that 0.5 is considered acceptable for slip resistance by CCMC.
If you want to find out more about whether or not Trex decking is slippery when wet, then continue reading, and we’ll provide you with all of the information you need to know!
Is Trex Decking Slippery When Wet?
One of the most common traits of Trex decking, and something well worth noting before you consider installing Trex decking on your property, is that Trex decking is well known to be extremely slippery in wet conditions, which means that you’ll need to be extremely careful when walking down Trex decking during the rain.
Trex decking is also known to be somewhat slippery even when it’s dry outside, this is because Trex decking’s slip resistance rating is only between 0.42 and 0.52 when dry, and 0.32 and 0.39 when it has been raining, which places it well below the slip-resistance benchmark of 0.5.
This also means that Trex is also much more slippery than other composite deckings, or even wood deckings, when wet.
If you’re looking for the Trex decking material with the highest slip-resistance rating, then you’ll need to opt for their premium Transcend line decking material, which offers the highest slip-resistance score of all of the Trex decking materials, and although this is still below the optimum slip resistance score, it still scores higher than many other composite materials available for your decking!
Remember before you decide on a brand and material for your decking, you should always ask for samples for each material, so you can get a better idea of what your decking is going to be like, and what it feels like underfoot.
This will allow you to have a much better idea of what your decking will be like, and will also provide you with the ability to test what the material will feel like when wet.
Is Trex Decking Slippery During The Winter?
As previously mentioned, the traction rating on all Trex decking options isn’t the best, which means that when you factor in conditions such as rain, ice, or snow, Trex decking’s slipperiness is only going to be compounded during the winter months.
So, if you live somewhere that regularly experiences harsh winter conditions, you might want to consider if Trex decking is going to be a safe option for you, and begin to evaluate other decking options that are going to provide better slip resistance, which will ultimately be much safer.
Is Trex Decking More Slippery Than Wood Decking When Wet?
When it comes to comparing composite decking options alongside the various different types of wood decking, there are numerous different factors to consider before choosing which material you want to use for your property’s decking, and one of these factors is often how slippery the decking is when wet.
It’s hard to definitely say whether or not Trex, and other composite decking, is or isn’t more slippery than wood decking when wet, as it ultimately depends on the nature of the wood decking itself.
This can include things like the species of the wood, the amount of maintenance carried out, and how regular this maintenance is, as well as the harshness of the weather conditions too.
As a general rule, wood decking does tend to provide a higher amount of slip resistance and grip when compared to composite decking, but things such as sealing the wood can have an effect on the amount of traction wood decking will be able to provide, and even the species of the wood itself can have an effect on the traction of the decking.
Again, the best possible option to decide on a material for your decking is to try and get your hands on as many different samples of decking as possible, from a variety of different brands too, this will allow you to get a feel for the material, and a better understanding of how slippery the material is going to be in the wet conditions or worse throughout the winter.
Only with the samples in hand will you then be able to make a properly informed decision on what the best material for your decking is going to be. So it’s an important part of the deck-buying process and is one that some people completely skip out on when they purchase their decking!
You can order a Trex sample from Trex.com or from your local decking store. Often they will have both displays that you can walk on and sample you can take home for free to determine what matches your house best.
How To Make Composite Decking Less Slippery
So, if you have a composite decking, and are wondering how you can go about making it less slippery, then follow some of these simple steps, and you should help to improve the traction of your decking in no time!
Pressure Wash
The buildup of debris and dirt on your decking is one of the leading causes of your decking to lack traction, and preventing it is super simple too.
All you need to do is pressure wash the boards no more than twice a year, which will help to keep the treads of your decking clean, which will prevent you from slipping!
Just keep the water pressure under 3100 psi and 8″ from the decking surface. Personally, I like to play it safer and keep the pressure around 1800 psi that way even if I get a little closer it still won’t damage the decking.
Non-Slip Treads
If you want to ensure that some areas of your decking, such as stairs, are safe to walk up and down without slipping, then installing some non-slip treads onto these areas is the best way to increase the traction of your decking.
They don’t have to be ugly either, and you can often find ones that will blend in with your decking completely.
Anti-Slip/Grit Paint
If your entire decking is slippery, and some treads aren’t going to solve the problem, then painting your decking with anti-slip or grit paint is a great way to provide greater traction, even when it’s wet!
You’ll need to re-apply the paint every 5 years, but it’s definitely a solution worth looking into if you’re worried about slipping on your decking.
Capped composite like current Trex decking also is hard to paint, with the paint not adhering to the cap. Preparation will need to be done before applying the paint.
Both Non-slip strips and grit paint are fairly drastic actions that you can not get back from. Consider if this is the best solution for your deck before applying. Both will alter the decking for that it can’t be returned to its original state.
Summary
So, to summarize, Trex decking does tend to become extremely slippery when wet, or in winter conditions, so you should be cautious about stepping out onto your decking when it has rained or snowed.
Thankfully, there are some solutions that can help resolve this issue, such as non-slip treads, or anti-slip paint.
