Miss Janis asks:
I have a question. Maybe some of your other readers have experience.
Because our carport floor is so slippery under certain humid conditions, Lyman has ordered a kit from U Coat It to provide some texture.
Do any of you have experience with this product?
Just about any product of this sort will work, but if you're worried about slip resistance, they do recommend that a non-slip additive be added to the top of the compound as it is applied. Without the additive (usually some sort of coarse mineral grit--in the case of UCoat, they have something called UTex, which is aluminum oxide), the floor will be even more slippery when wet than plain concrete. And even when it's new, the slip-resistant kind can still be slippery, since the grit can have a thin layer of the epoxy covering it as well. As it wears down to the actual grit from foot traffic, the slip-resistance gets better.
We've got a similar product that was applied to the floor of the crosswalk from the parking deck to our building. It was originally carpeted, but since the roof leaks all the time, the carpet stayed wet. Tearing out the carpet left a concrete ramp walking surface, but oddly enough, it did nothing to stop the roof from leaking. The solution was obviously to apply a coating over the concrete to enhance its slip-resistance, but as I noted, it can take a while for the grit to be exposed enough to provide optimal grip. It's better now, so I can walk confidently when the roof is leaking and not worry so much about keeping my footing.
Anyone else have anything to share?
Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 22, 2007 11:55 AMYes, a grit is included.
Posted by: Janis Gore at June 22, 2007 11:58 AMI don't imagine fixing the leak was an option?
Posted by: skinnydan at June 22, 2007 12:13 PMFixing the leak?! Why that's just crazy talk!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 22, 2007 12:35 PMThe Durabak (http://www.nonslipcoating.com/) coating for boat decks is supposed be pretty good. The same company makes a concrete coating as well.
Posted by: steevil (Dr Weevil's bro Steve) at June 22, 2007 12:38 PMWe dumped some gravel after moving in about 7 years ago (good gosh, has it been that long?) and we have been quite satisfied with its non-slipperiness. Trying to walk on the driveway in bare feet to fetch groceries from the vehicle is another matter. Plus the kids have a problem with picking up rocks and chucking them. Eh, kids, whaddya gonna do?
Posted by: Marc V at June 22, 2007 02:03 PMKids? I've heard that an epoxy coating with a gravel topcoat works wonders.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 22, 2007 02:32 PMThe Durabak does look good, and I like the recycled tires for the texture, but compare the costs -- Durabak at $1.15 a sq. ft. vs. roughly $0.56 a square foot. (We have 441 sq. ft. to cover.)
Posted by: Janis Gore at June 22, 2007 06:36 PM