Is Stamped Concrete Slippery?

Posted by admin on November 1, 2022 in Blog

When it comes to designing a surface, stamped concrete provides a plethora of options. You can get a gorgeous custom pattern, textures that resemble stone, and you can even get the look of just about any material such as wood, tile, brick, limestone, and more. The opportunities are endless.

SUNDEK in San Antonio stamped this pool coping in San Montego, TX, to give it a stone pattern.

With stamped concrete, though, a question that commonly arises during our conversations with clients is whether stamped concrete is slippery. It’s a great question—your safety and the safety of everyone who walks on your surface is important to us. That’s why we’ve developed strategies for ensuring your stamped concrete surface does not get slippery when wet.

Though we don’t live in an area that gets a ton of rain regularly, we obviously still get it—so we need our surfaces to be prepared for it. While stamped concrete often includes a texture that provides traction, it’s the sealer that can sometimes make the surface slippery. Here are four things to keep in mind to avoid slip-and-fall accidents on your stamped concrete surface.

1. Select a Pattern with a High Texture

The depth of the texture of your stamped concrete not only affects the look of your decorative surface—it also affects its potential for slipperiness. Some stamp patterns are heavily textured, while others are more flat. If your stamped surface has a low, flat texture, it will be more slippery than a texture that is embedded deeper into the concrete. An experienced contractor knows that this means stamping your concrete coating at the right time so the stamp can imprint deep enough into the surface.

Outdoor patio surface at a residential home in San Antonio, TX, stamped by SUNDEK of San Antonio using SunStamp.

2. Know that Sealer Type Affects Slipperiness

Penetrating sealers are sealers most often chosen when the client is looking to create the look of natural stone—that’s because you can barely tell the sealer is there. Penetrating sealers soak into the concrete, which maintains the traction that the texture of the stamp creates. Film-forming sealers, which create that glossy look that some clients prefer, tend to get more slippery when wet.

3. Include Additives, If Needed

What if you want the look of a glossy sealer and a penetrating sealer isn’t right for your project? That’s fine! You can still have the glossy look, but your contractor needs to add grit by including a slip-resistant additive.

Here are some factors to consider with additives:

• Synthetic materials such as polypropylene beads or “Shark Grip” work well for residential and light commercial applications.
• Hard mineral materials such as aluminum oxide or silica sand work well for commercial, heavy traffic areas, or steep slope situations.

A textured pathway by SUNDEK of San Antonio provides a pretty and safe walkway for humans and this sweet pup to meander in Boerne, TX.

Choosing the right aggregate and application requires attention to detail. While smaller, particle size aggregates achieve good traction, they also make the surface more difficult to clean. On the other hand, if you have larger particles and space them father apart, they’re easier to clean.

4. Make Sure the Sealer is Applied Properly

A sealer can’t just be thrown on your surface by anyone. The application process must be done carefully and strategically. Thin coats of sealer are best as they tend to not get slippery. If your sealer is laid on too thick, it gets more slippery and it can sometimes create an unsightly whitish film on the surface.

How SUNDEK of San Antonio can help

Do you have a stamped concrete surface that’s slippery? We can seal it using additives.

Are you looking to get a new stamped concrete surface? Let us help! We can ensure that it’s not slippery by applying good texture and sealing practices.

Contact us for a free quote. We’ll come look at what you’re working with and recommend the right solution for your surface.

Other decorative systems for slip resistance

If you’re not set on stamped concrete and mainly seeking a good slip-resistant surface, you may want to look into SUNDEK’s Classic Texture. This product is well-known in the industry for many reasons and being slip resistant is just one of them. In fact, it’s commonly requested for pool decks because of its reputation for not getting slippery when wet.

With Classic Texture, you don’t need to include a finish coat with slip-resistant additives, but clients like to include them for additional peace of mind.

Related

Learn more about stamped concrete.

Get more information about slippery stamped concrete on the SUNDEK corporate website.

Contractor in the San Antonio area

If you’re in the San Antonio or surrounding areas, we’d love to help on your project! We have decades of experience working with homeowners and commercial property owners in the area to create beautiful surfaces that are also safe and durable.

We work in San Antonio and all the major cities in the area including Boerne, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Castle Hills, Cibolo, Fair Oaks Ranch, Garden Ridge, Helotes, Hollywood Park, New Braunfels, Schertz, Shavano Park, Spring Branch, and Terrell Hills.

We’d love to help with your project. Contact us for a free quote!

Call us (210) 491-0280

Or fill out the form on this page

If you’re not located in or near San Antonio, TX, find a contractor near you.