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Customized Stop-the-Slip Solutions
For Outdoor Concrete Steps
Reducing Slips and Falls on Spalling Concrete Steps
Especially in locations that receive snow and ice in the winter, the structural integrity of concrete steps can suffer. As the photos below suggest, it’s not uncommon for concrete steps to chip and crack making them very dangerous any time of year. If you live in a colder climate, the freeze and thaw cycles will accelerate the concrete’s failure and the salt you apply to combat any ice formation will only make matters worse.
When shoveling the steps of snow and ice in the winter, the spalling chips of concrete will be scraped up by the shovel, creating even more cracks for water to invade and ice to form. It’s an endless cycle that often leads to cracked steps that promote slips, trips, and falls. It is crucial to address these structural issues before a loved one becomes injured while using the stairs.
Your Stop-the-Slip Solutions Graded:
HandiTreads: A-
If your concrete steps are starting to crack or pitted, HandiTreads will extend the life of the concrete treads. Since HandiTreads are made from a single piece of aluminum, they act as a splint when attached to concrete with screws and lags. HandiTreads can simultaneously stabilize the concrete and improve traction in nearly any weather condition, when properly installed.
The patented raised-button traction surface of the aluminum treads is uniquely self-cleaning. The pressure from a foot stepping on the rigid raised buttons disperses the layer of snow, water, or frost, creating solid contact between the shoe and tread.
No maintenance is required for HandiTreads aluminum treads once installed, which are guaranteed to last a lifetime in residential applications. It’s important to remember that even though installation is simple and straightforward, you’ll need to order concrete anchor pins for installation.
Snow shovels can be used on HandiTreads without fear of damage to clear large amounts of snow, unlike other anti-slip solutions!
Since HandiTreads are a lifetime solution, their initial cost may be higher than other anti-slip products. However, when calculated over a three to five year performance period, the investment in HandiTreads is often the most cost-effective solution for homeowners.
Total Score: A
Effectiveness: A
Installation & Maintenance: A
Durability: A
Initial Price: C
Long-Term Value: A
HandiTreads Nosings: A-
Slip and fall hazards are often caused by cracks or chips at the front end of concrete steps. HandiTreads Nosings are single pieces of aluminum that act as a splint when attached to the chips and cracks at the front of the concrete steps.
HandiTreads Nosings are available in several lengths, including 2.75″, 6″, and 9.″ These various sizes allow for application in a variety of settings, often eliminating the need to do a complete rebuild of the concrete steps.
The patented raised-button traction surface of the aluminum nosings is uniquely self-cleaning. The pressure from a foot stepping on the rigid raised buttons disperses the layer of snow, water, or frost, creating solid contact between the shoe and tread. This ensures that your loved ones will be able to safely use the steps in all weather conditions!
No maintenance is required for HandiTreads Nosings. These nosings are guaranteed to last a lifetime in residential applications. The nosings have a straightforward installation process, but concrete pin anchors or 3/4″ #8 anchors and screws will be required in order to securely install the nosings into concrete.
Snow shovels can be used on your HandiTread nosings without fear of damage. This is not the case though for other products such as grit tape, rubber mats, or most other solutions.
Since HandiTreads Nosings are a lifetime solution, their initial cost may be higher. When calculated over a three to five year performance period, however, the investment in HandiTreads Nosings is often the most cost-effective solution.
Total Score: A-
Effectiveness: A
Installation & Maintenance: A
Durability: A
Initial Price: C
Long-Term Value: A
Rubber or Door Mat Style Treads: C-
Two of the most common solutions used for slippery outdoor concrete steps are rubber and doormat-style treads. These treads are virtually useless when the stair lip is deteriorating. Doormat-style treads improve grip when wet, but their effectiveness varies based on their aggressiveness of their texture and the material. With persistent use, the non-slip properties of the rubber and doormat-style treads are significantly reduced, requiring replacements.
Rubber and doormat style treads are both effective in winter weather, but only if they are kept free of snow. Using a snow shovel on the mats are fine, but extra caution must be taken when using a snow shovel with rubber treads, as even a plastic blade can severely damage the tread. Deeply grooved rubber treads also catch and hold dirt, requiring them to be hosed down or intricately cleaned several times a year.
The maintenance and installation of door-mat style and rubber treads can be challenging on outdoor concrete stairs that are deteriorating. Some of the manufacturers suggest just placing the treads on the stairs without any anchors. By doing this, the “anti-slip” mats and treads become a slip and fall hazard in themselves because they could easily catch the edge of a shoe and move under the pressure of someone starting to fall.
Rubber or doormat-style treads are only recommended if you permanently affix them to your concrete stairs with screws and lags. Rubber or doormat-style treads are expected to last for 1 to 3 years, depending upon the quality and thickness of the material, when installed on concrete steps that are deteriorating. These treads are not the most cost-effective long-term solution, when the cost of replacements is factored in.
Total Score: C-
Effectiveness: C
Installation & Maintenance: D
Durability: D
Initial Price: B
Long-Term Value: C
Grit Paint: F
Grit paint will not be an acceptable solution if your concrete steps are deteriorating. For example, if the concrete steps are flaking, the paint will flake off as well, leaving gaps in coverage that rainy and winter weather will turn into dangerous slip and fall hazards.
Similarly, anti-slip paint will do nothing to prevent or fix the deterioration of the lips of concrete steps. If there are irregularities on the lips of the treads that could cause a slip and fall, they will still remain and worsen even after grit paint is applied.
Total Score: F
Effectiveness: F
Installation & Maintenance: N/A
Durability: F
Initial Price: N/A
Long-Term Value: F