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Hi folks
I have a tenant that broke her foot (or something similar) and will be on crutches for the next 3 weeks. her foot is also in a boot. The concrete work in front of the house that was done a year ago is a bit slippery when wet and her crutches just fly out from underneath her on it, and her boot is unstable as well.
I need to come up with something to either lay down or put on the bottom of her crutches/boot to increase traction. I'm pretty sure it's legally up to me to do so, as well (even if it's not, i'm going to help anyway).
the only ideas i've come up with are some of that fake grass stuff, which looks horrible, but would work until she doesn't need the crutches anymore. I was also thinking of something that can be attached to the bottom of her crutches or her boot, but can't come up with anything.
any ideas?
kiva
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The concrete should have been 'roughened up' with a broom while it was curing.
City work ? They didn't come back?
If it is really smooth it can be etched (any place that sells paint for concrete should have a prep-etcher (besides muriatic acid).
Whether that will be 'rough' enough is the question.
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I'd check the yellow pages for people who do concrete work and see what they can offer you. You wouldn't need to hire them, but you could harvest the information.
It would seem that something like sandblasting could expose some of the aggregate and make the sidewalk have more traction.
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They use "Non Skid" paint in manufacturing plants to avoid slips. Sherwin Williams has such. Besure the suface is as dry and rough as possible. Run "non-skid" on Google for more info.
Any good rental house will have scarifiers if you have a lot of surface. That or milling machines.
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scarifiers? As in scaring the surface? Interesting nomenclature.
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i should have clarified....
it is decorative concrete work done by a landscaper - stamped concrete. He put on this high gloss finish which looks all great, but is slippery.
I wasn't totally happy with his work...it looked good, but he overcharged big time. This is yet another issue i had with him.
So, i can't paint it....
kiva
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Some of that paint (rubberized, like Durabak) is $1.00/square foot and up.
Many require etching the surface first for adhesion.
I've seen the coatings on tug (and other boat) steel, plywood and concrete surfaces.
Pretty slick. :-)
A whole sidewalk that might belong to the town could be kinda pricey.
It could get water-blasted, too.
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I throw down those rubberized carpet runners.
BGnR
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You could use a non-skid epoxy paint. They make some that is clear. You could maybe even mix up your own if you were so inclined.
Cheaper than a lawsuit.
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Paint is going to be a giant never-ending mess any way you play it.
Don't do it.
I work side by side with physical therapists and am involved in crutch training constantly-- =no= to putting down any sort of covering like outdoor carpeting of faux gras of any sort-- major amplification of fall risk and automatic acceptance of liability.
Along similar lines -hands off- the bottom of her boot or crutches unless you are a health care professional covered by an active liability policy.
I think the suggestion to find a concrete guy to lightly score the surface is the best one-- It's not pretty but I've seen where it's needed to be done after the fact (remember I'm living in blue collar do everything yourself land here)and it's made the necessary difference.
It's done with a plain old circular saw and a steady hand,
The next best idea I have is to put down some sort of grit, or fairly fine gravel, or coarse sand.
