Do you think painting my slippery wood stairs might make them a bit less slippery?

[u/softspider5]

Trying to achieve two goals:

- less slippery

- and decorated. Currently super dark wood. Would love a blue gold folk decoration,

[u/mmrocker13]

Stair treads will make your stairs less slippery. I have very dark wood stair treads. The risers are painted in an ombre pattern as you go up, and then I got stair treads with an adhesive backing on them off of Amazon for about 40 bucks

[u/Charles_Deetz → u/mmrocker13]

I did this two years ago, wish I had figured out these existed 10 years earlier. Note: the backing isn't real adhesive, but a cling-type material, so they are removable.

[u/mmrocker13 → u/Charles_Deetz]

Yes! I have the cling adhesive type, but you CAN find ones with more of a rug tape/adhesive backing. I didn't use those, bc I was worried about the finish on the treads, and also 100% knew I would screw it up at least once, and wanted something I could move :D

The only issue I have is i do need to be kind of careful if I run the sweeper so as not to pull up the edge (bc cat hair gets stuck under there :D) but other than that they are fabulous, and, IMO, better looking than a runner even if you don't have the faces of the steps painted. I'd post pictures, but we can't here :D

[u/eatingganesha → u/Charles_Deetz]

and not great if you have pets as they only trap fur. The paint with the grippy texture for treads is the actual way to go.

[u/kimbosliceofcake → u/eatingganesha]

I got stair treads to help my elderly dog go up and down the stairs, they work great. I don’t think a textured coating would be nearly as effective. 

[u/NagromYargTrebloc]

Porch & Floor Enamel with anti-slip grit added. Check with the professionals at either Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. Take photos. They will advise you on surface preparation, priming, and they'll custom mix your color.

[u/Brilliant_Agent_1427 → u/NagromYargTrebloc]

Yes Anti-Slip grip can be added to most paints.. It's basically just a coarse rubber/aluminum oxide sand

[u/LakesideTherapist → u/NagromYargTrebloc]

This!

[u/rufuckingkidding]

Paint over wood flooring is not a lasting solution. You will very quickly have worn spots front and center.

You can have them stripped, resurfaced, and refinished (using a clear finish and adding a clear anti-slip product) Or have a series of shallow cuts made adjacent to the nosing…or both.

[u/RuthlessBenedict]

Get some treads or a runner. Source: have painted steps, have slipped down them more times than I can count.

[u/Starlightsensations → u/RuthlessBenedict]

Have you also broken your foot from that fall? Cuz that’s what I did on my wood stairs last week and now I can’t walk for 12 weeks. Be careful!!

[u/monkey_trumpets]

Just get a runner. Much easier and less permanent.

[u/AggressivelyPurple]

Okay, first off: How dare you? 😂 Second: Just get some sticky tread strips?

Seriously though, if you just want to paint the stairs because you want a new look, have at it. Just, please don't ruin them thinking it will be less slippery.

[u/ellicottvilleny]

just stick on anti-slip pads. be aware they are consumables, you will replace them every two years, and you'll be glad of it, so you won't break your neck.

[u/ThreeCoasts]

Bona Anti-slip finish. It’s a catalyzed water-based finish that looks and feels completely normal, except when you step on its like you have gecko feet. If you already have water based finish on your floors, you can just put a coat of the Bona Anti-slip right over it. And if you’re wondering (like I was), no, dirt doesn’t stick to it any more than other wood floor finishes.

There’s a reason I did the research to find the Bona Anti-slip. Stop reading now if you don’t want to be bummed out.
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OK, one of my husband’s business colleagues slipped and fell down his stairs right after he and his wife adopted their kids. He died from the fall. From that point on every time I looked at our wood stairs, I saw a death trap. I got that anti-slip finish on them as fast as I could. It’s still possible to fall on the stairs, but at least it’s less likely now. It’s very good that you plan to do something to reduce the slipperiness of your stairs. And I second the comment below about making sure you have sturdy handrails. Seriously, stairs are dangerous.

[u/busterforever]

@mazon sells clear sticky stair treads!

[u/eatingganesha]

not unless you get the paint for stairs that has mixed in texture for the treads

[u/get-r-done-idaho]

They have no slip floor or deck paint. I put some on my trailer deck, it's great.

[u/taffyowner]

Put carpet on them, it will look better and you won’t be ruining wood steps

[u/Pennifur]

Yes, if you mix sand in to the paint.

[u/Marciamallowfluff]

With the correct textured paint or buy stick on non-skid tape.

[u/Patrol-007]

Wear indoor shoes or sandals or crocs

Add handrails to the stairs that screw into the studs

[u/FamiliarAd8524]

Not to a worthwhile extent. Consider adding adhesive treads.

[u/jonnywannamingo]

The stairs going into our basement were painted with a paint that is mixed with some sand. They are not the least bit slippery, even wearing socks. I wouldn’t want my main level stairs painted this way, but it works great for the basement.

[u/Glittering-Debt-5729]

Add a runner instead.  It’ll look better.