Slippery When Wet!

Okay...we promised to be honest in our reporting so here goes: we love our FSC-certified Tigerwood decking but must say that it can be downright dangerous when it gets wet! We've had a couple of falls ourselves and a few friends (and this was when sober!) who have slipped. We've had some discussions with others about the issue looking for a solution and so far nothing really satisfactory.

One idea was to put on a clear-coat (obviously earth-friendly) finish with some sand or other type of grit in it. The problem here is two-fold: 1) this eliminates the low-maintenance feature of letting the wood age naturally without refinishing; and 2) as the finish wears off--in the higher traffic areas--the grit will get carried into the house.

Another, even less desirable solution, was to attach adhesive tread strips to the steps and deck. Of course, besides the obvious downside--not very attractive!--these also have a tendency to come "unstuck" within a short time making them even less attractive and presenting a whole other tripping hazard!

We're still investigating this. Any suggestions from you, dear readers, would be most welcome!