Dang, I clicked on the video because I expected this to be a bad idea... I work in the yacht industry, and of course we use fancy not skid particles, but I wanted to DIY non-skid my pressure treated dock and was considering using sand. Your idea of using a particle that can absorb fluid is GENIUS! Instead of the paint encapsulating sand, its actually penetrating grits and making it part of the paint. Such a good idea!
This is why I love the internet. Sharing information so that different people can see ideas and methods that they may never have even thought about! Absolutely awesome idea and thank you so much for taking the time to share it with the rest of the world!
I needed a non-slip surface for my homemade truck ramps and I felt that sand wouldn't be aggressive enough. I followed your instructions and it worked PERFECTLY! Your grits technique is awesome. Thank you so much for posting!
I just brought a new car hauler for storage well I'm in my temporary rental and the ramp will become incredibly slippery when I put the quality floor paint on the RAMP this is brilliant, Many thanks
I did this 5 yrs ago when you first posted your technique. I got a lot of jokes from my friends and family, but it worked! The stairs have been through multiple winters with ice and snow and the grits have held up well. A very clever idea that is much better than the alternatives. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing the idea! I am going to paint my parents outdoor staircase and trying to find a method to make it non skid. Your method really makes a lot of sense. Truly appreciate it.
Well, I tried it for parents stairs as well. You might want to test a small corner first and see how they like it. If they go out sometimes barefoot or in socks, the feeling under foot will not be pleasant. It is very rough on the feet, might even be a little sharp to the skin. For shoes only, it's okay. It's the same consistency as sandpaper. If you sit on it, as long as you are in jeans or something thick, it shouldn't be a problem. Aesthetically, not very pleasing. It takes more paint to do the coat over it. If you don't like it, you can use a paint scraper to remove it. But to each their own taste. Just thought you'd like to know my results. I ended up scraping it off. So, it was a good try. Depending how many stairs and how large the area you need it for, one bag of 2 lbs of grits doesn't cover that much. I put it on sparingly unlike instructions in the video, but still ended up using half the bag for 5 steps and a porch. I used a coffee creamer container with a small opening to shake it onto the surface, instead of doing it by hand like the video suggested. I still have half a bag of grits and will use the idea for some other application if needed. Still a good idea for something. Not so much for parents stairs, at least not for my parents. I'll probably opt for a rubberized paint for parents stairs instead
If you have ground walnut husk for brass polishing or sandblasting, that’s what I used and it worked great. I tried sand, mixed the husk in paint and sprinkled it on the paint like he does here and the best method was painting then sprinkling then painting again.
I guess I could also use this with deck sealer. I'm not sure how thick the sealer will be, as I just ordered some. I have slipped and fallen down my wooden outdoor stairs four times in three or four years. I'm over it. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Man thank you for making this video! I've been trying to find the best way to make my grandfather's ramp to his house nonslip and now he'll for sure have some grip!
I laid down a thick coat of paint and while still wet sprinkled heavy whit sugar. Once the paint dried I poured boiling water onto it which melted the sugar and leaves depressions in the paint making it non slip. Sweet
I'm blown away. I was researching crumb rubber, sand, aluminum oxide, and polypropylene granules (brand name Propyltex) and all the while there is a non toxic version which does not off gas, costs nothing, and birds can eat the left overs. Wow! Very impressed by this simple technique. Many thanks!
I had my pool deck painted and it was slippery on the step out of the pool..did this trick and it worked great...on my concrete deck it almost looks like a rug is down...and is very non slip and easy on the feet.
@@donaldporta I must say I was quite skeptical....but gave it a shot....the spot were I put it had the non slip grit in the paint but was still really slippery...your trick fixed it......thanks again for sharing !!!!!
I built a boat ramp for a Jon boat, and I used this method on the walkway. It has been there 3 years and looks the same as the day I built it. Grits works a lot better than sand. Sand will come off where grits has become a part of the paint and will stay there.
Thank you for sharing. I applied your method on my 6 feet slippery wood shed ramp and after 2 years still good. Question: need to do it on my concrete 4" x 20" . Does it work on concrete? Can I paint with roller instead of brush which will take me whole day? Please advise.
I know this will work--- I used it on boat decks and is the best method out there with a paint additive, The paint will wear and at some point will have to be re-coated.
Going to try to use an acrylic latex on the aluminum ramp for my van, sprinkle some grits and then put another coat. Oh, we can't buy instant grits in Canada. Maybe I'll use cream of wheat. 😛
Is that a USS INTREPID CV-11 hat you have on? I’m very positive it is! That’s cool thank you for your service. I served 1992-1996 USS UNDERWOOD FFG-36 Just Friend and Brave Enemy was our motto.
I have a galvanized ramp behind my car. Do you think that will work? I felt already when it was raining 2 months ago while I was bring it down some cleaning equipments from my woeking nissan nv250 high roof. I need to paint it non slip somehow soon. Thank you. I subscribe
How is this now? I have a wheel chair ramp to my front door that gets extremely slippery that I am repairing...If this held up thus far I think its a winner...
that you will have to experiment with, I have never premixed mine, and the reason is when painting I only wanted the grit on the walking surface, this allowed me better control when applying.
Would this work on a wooden ramp used to drive a motorcycle over ? How grippy is is in the wet weather and will it survive motorcycle weight and rear wheel torque? ;)
I'm going to try this, I'm going to use a paint sprayer, spray a heavy coat sprinkle the grits spray another heavy coat, will that work? or is it better to be brushed?
spraying is good--- but I like to let the first coat to set up then brush off the loose grit so you don't end up with large clumps of grits in some areas. then apply the second coat of paint.
I never really cared for grits that much until I saw your video! Well maybe cheese grits! Great idea Donald, the absorbing qualities of the grits versus the sand makes sense., I'd like to try this on my deck ramp. I normally use solid stain for maintaining the entire deck, wonder if the stain may work with the grits or do you think I'll need maybe a matching paint for the just ramp itself?
@@donaldporta Thanks for the reply. Subscribing! The stain is from Sherwin Williams, I can probably just have them mix up a good deck paint to match the stain to play it safe.
Amazing. Do you think this could work for a climbing wall? Obviously, it would be vertical. I'd paint my plywood when it's flat on the ground then screw it to the wall. It would need to be able to take some lateral and vertical pressure whenever I'm not using the footholds and need to grip my toes against the wall.
im about ready to prep my new steps i was wandering if i should do this while priming the steps or while painting them, i was thinking if i did it while priming the paint might cover up the grits to much making then not so non skid, any thoughts? Thanks
Has anyone tried (or have thoughts on) using steel cut oats? As I’ve got a good size sack of those (my breakfast) and grits are not readily available in my area.
Did you try anything? Other than sanding, maybe a hard-bristled floor scrubber? Wire brush? Power washer? Or, like T Lea said, a few thick coats of paint. Make sure you clean it first, or you'll have peeling issues sooner than later. It sounds like sand would be better for you than grits in that application.
How is this for shoveling snow? Will the shovel get caught of still be smooth? Do any birds/animals eat the remainder that you swept off? I would worry about them eating painted grits.
Question: what if I mix the grit with paint in the paint tray? I’m planning to paint my porch which is 8’x16’ and of course I would use the roller. Thanks in advance
I'm having trouble wrapping my brains around this bc grits are edible and wouldn't they dissolve over time unlike sand? I'm painting garage and basement steps and plan to use sand. Then I came across this video and am questioning now which one is better for non skid. How long will this last for indoor use?
They should be well-preserved due to air-sealed from the paint, I would think an oil-based paint would work better due to it seals completely unlike most water-based paints slows some breathing of the underlying surface. My guess as a retired carpenter and licensed contractor. I'm going to research further before I decide which kind of paint to use.
If you have a larger surface- like a ramp - how much area can you do in one coat? Ie how long do you have to work with before the first coat has gone off too much for the grits to stick?
I do a smaller section at a time, water base paint dries so fast--- you will have to experiment to see how far it will go before skimming over. It will also depend on the temperature and humidity.
If the grits will absorb the flexall before it dries, I think that might be a superior non-skid. If you try it, let me know of the results--- you might be on to something good!
the paint drys as a hard surface, the stain will absorb into the grits, but may not be a strong attachment to the wood. If you try it let me know if it works
I thought of that as well but, then thought maybe the grits would absorb all the paint and end up in an unusable gelatinous blob if you didn't use it all in one shot -- quickly.
Dang, I clicked on the video because I expected this to be a bad idea... I work in the yacht industry, and of course we use fancy not skid particles, but I wanted to DIY non-skid my pressure treated dock and was considering using sand. Your idea of using a particle that can absorb fluid is GENIUS! Instead of the paint encapsulating sand, its actually penetrating grits and making it part of the paint. Such a good idea!
Not my idea--- credit goes to the Yachtsmen of Fairhope Alabama, who stopped me from using sand on my sailboat, it worked great!
@@donaldportahi what would be the best type of paint to use for this project?
This is why I love the internet. Sharing information so that different people can see ideas and methods that they may never have even thought about! Absolutely awesome idea and thank you so much for taking the time to share it with the rest of the world!
This really works,I applied it two years ago and it's still working awesome
great to here, thank you!
I needed a non-slip surface for my homemade truck ramps and I felt that sand wouldn't be aggressive enough. I followed your instructions and it worked PERFECTLY! Your grits technique is awesome. Thank you so much for posting!
Glad I could help!
exactly what I need to do. very interesting. my snowblower likes to slip off the ramps when its wet. still holding up?
Still good?
I just brought a new car hauler for storage well I'm in my temporary rental and the ramp will become incredibly slippery when I put the quality floor paint on the RAMP this is brilliant, Many thanks
Finally, a good use for instant grits.
LOL. Couldn't have said it better.
Used the grits on my steps this week and it works. Best idea and advice I got in many years.
Thank you
Great to hear!
How cool is that dude I'm a painter an have alwazed used sand but I like ur method will use that from now on Donald thanks
I did this 5 yrs ago when you first posted your technique. I got a lot of jokes from my friends and family, but it worked! The stairs have been through multiple winters with ice and snow and the grits have held up well. A very clever idea that is much better than the alternatives. Thanks.
What kind of paint did you use?
Thank you for sharing the idea! I am going to paint my parents outdoor staircase and trying to find a method to make it non skid. Your method really makes a lot of sense. Truly appreciate it.
Good luck!
Well, I tried it for parents stairs as well. You might want to test a small corner first and see how they like it. If they go out sometimes barefoot or in socks, the feeling under foot will not be pleasant. It is very rough on the feet, might even be a little sharp to the skin. For shoes only, it's okay. It's the same consistency as sandpaper. If you sit on it, as long as you are in jeans or something thick, it shouldn't be a problem. Aesthetically, not very pleasing. It takes more paint to do the coat over it. If you don't like it, you can use a paint scraper to remove it. But to each their own taste. Just thought you'd like to know my results. I ended up scraping it off. So, it was a good try. Depending how many stairs and how large the area you need it for, one bag of 2 lbs of grits doesn't cover that much. I put it on sparingly unlike instructions in the video, but still ended up using half the bag for 5 steps and a porch. I used a coffee creamer container with a small opening to shake it onto the surface, instead of doing it by hand like the video suggested. I still have half a bag of grits and will use the idea for some other application if needed. Still a good idea for something. Not so much for parents stairs, at least not for my parents. I'll probably opt for a rubberized paint for parents stairs instead
If you have ground walnut husk for brass polishing or sandblasting, that’s what I used and it worked great. I tried sand, mixed the husk in paint and sprinkled it on the paint like he does here and the best method was painting then sprinkling then painting again.
I guess I could also use this with deck sealer. I'm not sure how thick the sealer will be, as I just ordered some. I have slipped and fallen down my wooden outdoor stairs four times in three or four years. I'm over it. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
So that's what "grits" is for 😂👍🏻 I 💕 it, thanks for sharing, my porch is slick as snot when wet
Love it!!
Man thank you for making this video! I've been trying to find the best way to make my grandfather's ramp to his house nonslip and now he'll for sure have some grip!
Glad I could help!
I laid down a thick coat of paint and while still wet sprinkled heavy whit sugar. Once the paint dried I poured boiling water onto it which melted the sugar and leaves depressions in the paint making it non slip. Sweet
I'm blown away. I was researching crumb rubber, sand, aluminum oxide, and polypropylene granules (brand name Propyltex) and all the while there is a non toxic version which does not off gas, costs nothing, and birds can eat the left overs. Wow! Very impressed by this simple technique. Many thanks!
give it a try--- it works great!
AWESOME TIP!!! Using this to add anti-skid to our deck and wheelchair ramp!!
Sounds great!
I had my pool deck painted and it was slippery on the step out of the pool..did this trick and it worked great...on my concrete deck it almost looks like a rug is down...and is very non slip and easy on the feet.
that is great to here--- you can see why the sailors are doing this!
@@donaldporta I must say I was quite skeptical....but gave it a shot....the spot were I put it had the non slip grit in the paint but was still really slippery...your trick fixed it......thanks again for sharing !!!!!
Perfect. Thanks for posting
I built a boat ramp for a Jon boat, and I used this method on the walkway. It has been there 3 years and looks the same as the day I built it. Grits works a lot better than sand. Sand will come off where grits has become a part of the paint and will stay there.
Thank you for sharing. I applied your method on my 6 feet slippery wood shed ramp and after 2 years still good.
Question: need to do it on my concrete 4" x 20" . Does it work on concrete? Can I paint with roller instead of brush which will take me whole day?
Please advise.
Yes, absolutely on both questions
@@donaldporta Done. Gracias.
Nice 👏🏻👏🏻👍
Ingenious - much appreciated. I'm doing our deck steps now. Thank you sir.
Glad to help
Nicely done thanks for the video man!
I'm probably gonna try this for my shed I park my motorcycle in every day. When the ramp gets wet it's pretty sketchy backing out and pulling in.
I know this will work--- I used it on boat decks and is the best method out there with a paint additive, The paint will wear and at some point will have to be re-coated.
Going to try to use an acrylic latex on the aluminum ramp for my van, sprinkle some grits and then put another coat. Oh, we can't buy instant grits in Canada. Maybe I'll use cream of wheat. 😛
Genius! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much! God bless!! I have an older pup that has to go down slippery concrete steps .
Be careful. may make your pups feet sore. Too rough.
Man!!! That's perfect!! I'm doing it!!!
Very cool. Thanks for this. Off to the store!
Glad you like it!
Is that a USS INTREPID CV-11 hat you have on? I’m very positive it is! That’s cool thank you for your service. I served 1992-1996 USS UNDERWOOD FFG-36 Just Friend and Brave Enemy was our motto.
en mare en chello---- in sea in air, was the Intrepids motto! thank you for you service!
It looks fantastic will it hold up to outside
I have a galvanized ramp behind my car. Do you think that will work? I felt already when it was raining 2 months ago while I was bring it down some cleaning equipments from my woeking nissan nv250 high roof. I need to paint it non slip somehow soon. Thank you. I subscribe
How is this now? I have a wheel chair ramp to my front door that gets extremely slippery that I am repairing...If this held up thus far I think its a winner...
showing wear, but going on two years.
thanks for sharing your genius ideas
My pleasure 😊
Thanks for this great idea!
Love this idea. If I want to premix mine, how many grits would I use in a gallon of paint?
that you will have to experiment with, I have never premixed mine, and the reason is when painting I only wanted the grit on the walking surface, this allowed me better control when applying.
Stupid question? Notice you are using quick 5 min Grits, Old Fashioned as good? Got a ramp to do. Thanks in advance. Looks like a brilliant hack 👏
You bet
Great Tip, I’ve got a smooth red brick walkway that gets slippery with rain and dew. What could I use that’s Clear to paint on then apply the grits?
Would this work on a wooden ramp used to drive a motorcycle over ? How grippy is is in the wet weather and will it survive motorcycle weight and rear wheel torque? ;)
I'm going to try this, I'm going to use a paint sprayer, spray a heavy coat sprinkle the grits spray another heavy coat, will that work? or is it better to be brushed?
spraying is good--- but I like to let the first coat to set up then brush off the loose grit so you don't end up with large clumps of grits in some areas. then apply the second coat of paint.
I'm pretty sure it's common back-brush after using a sprayer anyhow.
Thank you very much for the helpful tip. I happily hit the Subscribe button and can't wait to learn more from you !
Awesome, thank you!
Will it be OK to just grind whole corns into grits or does it need to be deshelled grits?
What a great tutorial video. Thank you so much.
You're very welcome!
Can this be used on fiberglass swimming pool steps using epoxy paint?
Hi Don great idea what's the score when you jetwash it please thinking of doing my decking
the cornmeal is part of the paint, if the paint will hold, the nonskid will stay.
How clever! Thanks for the tip
You are so welcome!
Can I use this method on silicone reflective roof paint? Will it affect the heat deflection negatively?
I never really cared for grits that much until I saw your video! Well maybe cheese grits! Great idea Donald, the absorbing qualities of the grits versus the sand makes sense., I'd like to try this on my deck ramp. I normally use solid stain for maintaining the entire deck, wonder if the stain may work with the grits or do you think I'll need maybe a matching paint for the just ramp itself?
I don't think stain will since it doesn't harden like the paint does. If you try stain--- give me feedback on it!
@@donaldporta Thanks for the reply. Subscribing!
The stain is from Sherwin Williams, I can probably just have them mix up a good deck paint to match the stain to play it safe.
Amazing. Do you think this could work for a climbing wall? Obviously, it would be vertical. I'd paint my plywood when it's flat on the ground then screw it to the wall. It would need to be able to take some lateral and vertical pressure whenever I'm not using the footholds and need to grip my toes against the wall.
I think it would do fine--- it will wear with time and and will feel like course sand paper when first done, if that is ok with the wall.
🤣😂🤣GRITS! I love it!
im about ready to prep my new steps i was wandering if i should do this while priming the steps or while painting them, i was thinking if i did it while priming the paint might cover up the grits to much making then not so non skid, any thoughts? Thanks
defiantly more traction with the second application.
would oil dry work as well as grits to absorb the paint ?
What kind of paint did you use?
What if you need to re-do the surface on wood if it wears out over time, can you remove the painted grits on the wood surface to re-apply?
I have re-applied over the old and no ill effects.
Has anyone tried (or have thoughts on) using steel cut oats? As I’ve got a good size sack of those (my breakfast) and grits are not readily available in my area.
Obviously we added too much of the grits mix! We can't walk on our deck surface, it HURTS OUR FEET! How do you suggest smoothing it out a little???
I don't exactly know but, maybe a couple more coats of paint? Sanding feels like starting all over.
Did you try anything?
Other than sanding, maybe a hard-bristled floor scrubber? Wire brush? Power washer? Or, like T Lea said, a few thick coats of paint. Make sure you clean it first, or you'll have peeling issues sooner than later.
It sounds like sand would be better for you than grits in that application.
maybe just go over the top a few times with a belt sander to your liking & add another top coat!
can I add grits into paint and roll it on? Might save a 'step'.
that may work--- give it a try and give me feedback!
How is this for shoveling snow? Will the shovel get caught of still be smooth? Do any birds/animals eat the remainder that you swept off? I would worry about them eating painted grits.
Use your shop vac to clean up what is swept off
Will try.
Thanks for sharing
Welcome 😊
i nearly tripped over our icy railways sleeper so need something like this done quick thanks
You're welcome!
Could I use this for a truck bed?
What's the uk versions of grits plz
course corn meal
Thank you. This was very useful.
Glad it was helpful!
Question: what if I mix the grit with paint in the paint tray? I’m planning to paint my porch which is 8’x16’ and of course I would use the roller. Thanks in advance
you can try that, but I found that I could not get an even distribution this way,
I'm having trouble wrapping my brains around this bc grits are edible and wouldn't they dissolve over time unlike sand? I'm painting garage and basement steps and plan to use sand. Then I came across this video and am questioning now which one is better for non skid.
How long will this last for indoor use?
They should be well-preserved due to air-sealed from the paint, I would think an oil-based paint would work better due to it seals completely unlike most water-based paints slows some breathing of the underlying surface. My guess as a retired carpenter and licensed contractor. I'm going to research further before I decide which kind of paint to use.
Great idea!Did you use latex, acrylic or oil base paint?
latex,any,will,work
If you have a larger surface- like a ramp - how much area can you do in one coat? Ie how long do you have to work with before the first coat has gone off too much for the grits to stick?
I do a smaller section at a time, water base paint dries so fast--- you will have to experiment to see how far it will go before skimming over. It will also depend on the temperature and humidity.
With the painted step texturized with Grits would corn meal work as well?
it may do very well, just a smaller and smother finish.
I love genius.
WILL THE GRITS start loosing its texture and shrink
I have not noticed that happening
If I only wanted to paint one coat on my deck how would it be if I just mixed the grits in with the paint in the paint can? Any comments appreciated
it will work, however I found that it is hard to apply that way
Can grits be used with ribberized paint,like Flexall?
If the grits will absorb the flexall before it dries, I think that might be a superior non-skid. If you try it, let me know of the results--- you might be on to something good!
Great idea!
Glad you think so!
i wonder how well this would work with a cattle trailer floor
With or without cow patties?
Any grits work or some specific corn suits best?
any is fine
Can I use clear coat to keep wood finish?
I don't know what the grit's will look like in the clear coat, but it would be interesting to do this. Give it a try and post me back on the results!
Try it on a piece of scrap wood to see how it looks like.
That or polyurethane. But that'll get expensive quick!
How does this hold up against rough New England winters & frequent shoveling?
you may have to re-do every year
what kind of paint are you using ..latex ?
yes
Could I use the grits with wood stainer or would it not be thick enough to hold?
I don't think it will work
@@donaldporta thank you so much for the video and the reply. I'll stick with paint. Such great info!
Hi Don. Do you think grits would work the same way with stain?
the paint drys as a hard surface, the stain will absorb into the grits, but may not be a strong attachment to the wood. If you try it let me know if it works
Thanks! Did it work with stain?
What kind of paint did you use thanks bill
walmart deck and floor
For water based or oil based paint?
I used water based paint, but I think it works with either
Would you say that would be good for a wheelchair ramp?
Unless you want a slippery ramp, I don't see why not...
Thank you great idea.
You are so welcome!
Instant or slow cook grits?
I use slow--- but I think either will work fine
@@donaldporta Your video shows you using Quick 5 min grits.
Great idea needed one for ramp which other options were far too expensive
Glad you liked it!
Quick or traditional?
traditional
How has this held up?
good thru the winter here, I got two years before doing it again!
Thanks so much!
You're welcome!
Would quaker oats work too?
don't know, I never tried it probably because I love this method, If it works, don't fix it!
good tip Don!
Can I do this on a smooth flloor tile? Thanks.
sas lonf as the paint you use will stick to the tile
@@donaldporta I hope it does. Thank you.
What paint was it please. Great video 👍
I use a latex paint since it absorbs into the grits and bonds well.
Donald Porta ok 👍 thanks for letting me know
Donald Porta I might give it a go with some wood varnish I have over. It’s just for a motorcycle ramp I made
How does this feel on bare feet?
like walking on coarse grit sandpaper
Can someone please tell me what that grit is? Type of ground up rice maybe? Lol .I’m not American
it is ground up corn, but not real fine like flour, that is why it is called grit!
@@donaldporta Ok thank you
Why not mix in with paint and keep stirred?
you can, but I find this method easier to apply.
Have you tried to pre-mix the grit with the paint to make it easier to apply?
that would work well, the reason I don't do this, is I don't want the grits on the rest of the railings or deck.
I thought of that as well but, then thought maybe the grits would absorb all the paint and end up in an unusable gelatinous blob if you didn't use it all in one shot -- quickly.
Can you do the same with deck stain?
I don't think the stain is thick enough. worth a try, maybe after staining use a clear polyurethane with this process.
Any paint will do?
yes
Awesome!!!!
so true!