Anti-slip flooring finish: recommendations for a clear or translucent solution

[BUTTER]

A client has a pair of steep/narrow spiral staircases that he's slipped on several times.  He saw a finish used on some boat stair treads that was translucent but anti-slip, and would like me to replicate it on his clear maple treads.

Do any of you have a particular recommendation for a material?

 

[Holmz]

Elitecrete makes a VPA called AUS-V.
(Yes it is primarily for use on concrete over an epoxy.)

I mixed in 33gms of Aluminum oxide to 1 liter of the Aus-V.
People go as high as 200gms liter for really anti slip, but just wanted a satin finish and not a super matt.
(Personally I would do a test piece on wood using whatever varnish or urethane you used, and add in the aluminum oxide at 50, 100, and 200 gm/liter and let you customer decide)

After: https://www.flickr.com/photos/32230177@N06/16932850335/
Before: https://www.flickr.com/photos/32230177@N06/15931868224/

There are a bunch of dealers in SoCal.
If you are near Torrance I will be there in a week if you need a small amount of the aluminum oxide.

 

[Brent Taylor]

Sand or ground walnut shells added to spar varnish  finish is what I have used on outside stairs and in poly for inside stairs.

 

[Cheese]

A client has a pair of steep/narrow spiral staircases that he's slipped on several times.  He saw a finish used on some boat stair treads that was translucent but anti-slip, and would like me to replicate it on his clear maple treads.

Do any of you have a particular recommendation for a material?

I had the same issue, even the dogs would sometimes slip on the steps. We were to the point of almost carpeting the new maple treads & risers [eek] that I had just installed, because of the slipping problem.

Luckily, I cured that by applying 2 coats of Bona Traffic Anti-Slip Satin over the existing Bona Traffic coating. Fantastic results. Completely eliminated the problem and it's been about 4 years since they were coated, so the coating is tough enough to withstand the dogs' nails. (A 90# Golden & a 35# miniature Aussie)

I've included 2 pictures below to show that the coating does not change the look of the wood at all, it just imparts a non-slip finish.
http://www.bona.com/en-US/United-States1/BonaSystem/Coatings/Finishes/Bona-Traffic-Antislip/

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In this photo you can see some of the marks that the dogs' nails have made in the maple, yet the finish is not compromised. Very tough stuff. Bona recommends Traffic for commercial applications so it is durable.

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[Walk On Wood]

Bona Traffic Anti Slip gets my vote as well. It works great.