Slip No More! Hardwood Stairs Can Be Safe And Stylish
Approximately 25% to 50% of my clients are hesitant to install hardwood stairs in their homes because of the fear of slipping. I believe there are three main factors to consider when evaluating the risk of slipping on your stairs:
1) Stairway design and construction: If the stairway was designed well, you’ll have continuous, graspable railings from the top of the stairs to the bottom. They should be 34 to 42 inches in height, or 865 to 1070 millimeters. The stair treads and rises should be uniform in height, and they should be relatively level.
Properly designed stairs.
Each run has a graspable handrail from top to bottom, at approximately 36 inches in height, and the treads and risers are uniform, reducing the risk of falls.
2) The stairs shouldn’t get wet. This is a given, as we deal with interior stairs. It’s normally important to determine how slippery a surface is when wet, such as shower tile or on your outdoor patio. Thankfully, there’s no risk of your stairs getting rained or snowed on, so the risk of slipping on your stairs is further minimized.
3) The finish should have a slip resistance rating for interior surfaces. Some organizations such as the International Standards Organization have developed slip resistance ratings for walkable surfaces. They are as follows:
R9: indicates a normal grip with an inclination plane from 3° to 10°, ideal for entrance areas and stairs with access from outside, shops, clinics, canteens and restaurants, laundromats and places with heavy water.
R10: indicates a medium grip with an inclination plane from 10° to 19°, suitable for bathrooms and showers, kitchens of small shops, garages.
R11: indicates a high grip with an inclination plane from 19° to 27°, ideal for food production rooms, medium-sized exercise kitchens and work environments with a high presence of water.
R12: with a strong grip and a slope of 27° to 35°, suitable for environments producing dairy products, cold cuts or slippery substances, large kitchens of catering facilities and car parks.
R13: indicates a very strong grip with more than 35° inclination, for food production environments.
One my favorite finish manufacturers, Loba, has an R10 rating for all of their 2K (two component) finishes. And they now have an ANTI-SLIP ADDITIVE. This is a small bottle of liquid that is added to your chosen finish. It increases the finish’s slip resistance, thus making your stairs even safer. Most of my finishes get an R10 rating, when added. Loba’s InvisibleProtect (a very flat, matte finish) gets an R11 rating, making it the most slip-resistant finish in their line.
Loba’s SlipResist
Click to download this technical data sheet for Loba’s slip resistant additive.
