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Etching 1" steel plate to make non-slip surface

April 22, 2009

I'm proposing to use a steel trench plate for crossing a concrete drainage swale. The top (walking) surface must be slip resistant. What process can be done to the 5'x8' plate?

John Dahl
landscape architect - Fallbrook, Ca.

You could use a two part epoxy with grit mixed in it or spread a grit on it while the paint is still wet. Another option would be to cover it with the anti skid material used for steps. I have seen it in a wide variety of sizes in the past. Only one color-Black.

James Watts
- FL

Or use the 1" plate and tack-weld a sheet of steel checker-plate to it. Assuming you're going to use galvanizing for long life, you could attach the checker-plate first then have the assembly galvanized.

Bill Reynolds    consultant metallurgist Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

There are some proprietary paints manufactured for the top surface of wings on aircraft which are anti-slip for use during emergency evacuations. As was stated these are pretty much 2 pack paints with grit (usually pumice) added.
If you do a web search on aircraft walkway paints you will find multiple types and suppliers.

Ciaron Murphy
Aerospace - South Wales, UK

Non skid paint for garage floors is a lot more available and should be considerably cheaper than aircraft paint.

James Watts
- FL