A very commonly asked question is: ‘Are porcelain pavers slippery?’ Of course, the response is likely to be ‘Relative to what?”. So perhaps it’s best to delve into technical specifications.
All manufacturers of porcelain pavers will test their products to check they comply with relevant standards in the country of manufacture and/or the country in which they are sold. In the USA this generally means checking for compliance with slip resistance standards established by the ceramics industry – ANSI A326.3 American National Standard Test Method for Measuring Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) of Hard Surface Flooring Materials. This test requires non-slip pavers to achieve a rating of >0.40 on DM236/89 B.C.R.A. DCOF.
However, if required for a specific application, this DCOF can be increased to 0.87 or greater by applying a mildly acidic anti-slip solution that slightly etches the surface, allowing for an increased suction effect between the paver and bottom of shoes when downward pressure is applied. This treatment can be effective for increasing the DCOF of dry and wet porcelain pavers but is ineffective when covered with snow or ice, so under such conditions, even non-slip pavers can become slippery.
It’s very important however that you carefully test any etching product on an inconspicuous part of you deck surface first as some etching products can be too severe and could damage the surface, dull the color or produce a milky haze on the surface.
One suggested product to try is as follows:
CoverTech ‘GripTreat’
CoverTec ‘GripTreat’ contains a blend of mild acids that when applied on porcelain pavers, can produce Wet DCOF test results of 0.87 – 1.0.
Higher DCOF can be achieved with a second treatment of ‘GripTreat’.
Low odor ‘GripTreat’ is UV resistant, cannot be detected on paver surface and will not cause discoloration. A single application should last 3-5 years depending on the level of foot traffic and cleaning and maintenance methods. Routine cleaning with CoverTec ‘Emerald Floor Maintainer and Cleaner’ or similar products ensures the etched openings on paver surface remain free of dirt and grease, allowing for the suction effect to occur.
After cleaning pavers with CoverTec ‘SurfaceClean’ and letting them air dry, ‘GripTreat’ takes just 8-10 minutes to complete the etching process when applied between 40-100 deg F. ‘SurfaceClean’ is applied again to neutralize GripTreat and stop the etching process, and once pavers are flushed with clean water they are ready for foot traffic in an hour or less.
1 gallon of ‘GripTreat’ will cover approximately 400-600 sq ft.
Instructions and Technical Data Sheet