Steep slimy steps

[Moo]

I've just had this S.O.S. from a very dear friend regarding her son and daughter-in-law's new flat :


Dear Guru

PLease would you tell us how to deal with this problem?

Steep steps down to front door in M and N's flat

Very slippy and slimey this time of year

Problem made worse by previous owner painting them with grey paint probably not non slip

Black iron rail on left side only to hold on to.

N. FELL DOWN YESTERDAY Not serious but a bit bruised

I have recommended immediately that they wash the steps thoroughly with some bleach in the water. I once heard that this prevents the build up of mould. Longer term they will remove the paint and get the steps back to the stone or repaint with special paint. Also put in a rail on the right side if allowed. N is going to the local builders merchant today for ideas.

It is urgent since so many mums and babies and other folk will be tramping down those steps.

Would you look in your books or ask on your property network how steep slimy steps are dealt with??


Poor things, having to trudge up and down to a basement flat with a baby and all its impedimenta.

 

[NT]

Copper should inhibit sliming, so whatever theyre repainted with I'd include some copper compound.


NT

 

[Moo]

Such as ?

(And do they have to be repainted? After all, in the olden days they would have been in daily, unpainted, use by the tribes of servants who once worked below stairs)

 

[Gervase]

I'd take the paint off with Nitromors or summat and then give the steps a good going over with a block of wood and a handful of wet sand to roughen up the stone a bit. Regular use and no more paint should ensure it doesn't get slimy.

 

[Nemesis]

We have this prob with our paths - unpainted flagstones - and they get very slippy in winter.

Bleach works, although you can get some more environmentally friendly stuff based on citric acid.

You can buy special stuff to kill off algae.

I suspect a regular dose of vinegar may work just as well - but a scrub with soapy water and a stiff brush weekly used to be the traditional method (if an upstairs Tyneside flat the tin bath was often emptied over!).

I don't think the paint will be helping matters at all.

If you do use wet sand ensure it's all removed or it acts like ball bearings. Lethal.

 

[Mark]

Ahh, I think this is a rare example of the McTavish In law remover. Patented in 1893 this device has proved itself as a reliable if somewhat primitive device for the removal of unwanted relations.

Mr Dougal McTavish was inspired by witnessing an accident with grade 3 porridge slurry overflow at the local haggis farm.

 

[NT]

lol

 

[tony]

try boogaloo or similar.

we had slippy stone steps,my wife bought self adhesive treads that look like a period door mat,was not sure about them , when it rained i went out with shoes that have hardly any grip and i didnt fall on my ar**.

a bit expensive, but after we tried a good clean with bleach and scrubbing brush i didnt fancy another 2 hours on my hands and knees.

regards

tony

 

[Nemesis]

Are they those cast iron looking jobbies?

 

[Lime]

Have one of the servants scrub them each day.



That is what used to happen in the olden days.
Rather like the whitened front step daily chore.
Slippery steps would have brought shame on the whole household.

 

[tony]

Nemesis,

yes they are the cast iron loking ones.

look good, neighbours have been asking about them too !!

regards

tony

 

[lordmulberry]

I have some slippery steps in my garden. I removed the moss and algae and bought some special anti-slip mats from Scotts of Stow. These have worked well for the last three years. I guess if they are in public view they could be stolen.

The last company I worked for did paint a path, that could be lethal, with anti-slip paint that worked very well. It was however a battleship gray colour.

 

[Penners]

try boogaloo

Moo - I should add that Tony is not advocating some energetic form of modern disco dance, whilst descending the steps. This could tend to exacerbate the problem.

 

[Moo]

So, Penners, what exactly is he advocating?

Or don't you know either?

 

[Moo]

Don't bother, Penners. I got off my backside and asked Google, and there it was.
http://www.boogaloo.co.uk/prodview.asp?CA=26&SC=&GUID={556B18C8-C28B-4482-A823-C3727506CA86}&MC=BX01103&TRK=5&SKU=23185

 

[Aidan]

I've seen something like this used on internal stairs

http://www.ashland.co.uk/stairtreads.htm
I don't know this product so this isn't a recommendation
The surface preparation is critical if using adhesives
The paint used is usually a 2-part epoxy and the anti-slip property is added by sprinkling silica sand on the surface before it sets.

Ice might be a problem in winter.

 

[Penners]

Actually, Moo, visiting that website is a very good excuse for staying on your backside.

Rather than training round the shops looking for Christmas presents, for example.

 

[Moo]

Funnily enough, I've just torn myself away from it with exactly that thought. Boogaloo and Hawkins are going to make Christmas shopping a pleasure this year.

 

[David Q]

Anti slip paint is available in a wide range of colours from any yacht chandlers. You can also buy anti slip matting that is glued down from them.
Yachts can be very slippery when wet - their normal state!

 

[Moo]

My friend keeps making little gasps of amazement as I pepper her in-box with yet more helpful suggestions. Thanks so much to everyone.

Progress report so far -

Daughter-in-law is ordering the cast-iron-lookalikes from Boogaloo for a quick fix, but is keeping all the advice for future reference. Some of it may prove useful for their paved back garden which is getting like a skating rink. Their two-year-old has had a couple of nasty falls there, so they're getting someone to pressure-wash it all and will see how long it stays usable.