How to Make Non-Slip Paint | DIY Grip Additives That Work

Making non-slip paint means mixing a gritty additive like sand into paint or scattering grit onto wet paint before it dries.

Whether you’re coating a slick porch, a wooden ramp, or poolside concrete, the goal is the same: texture. A rough surface creates friction, which stops shoes from sliding. The fix costs a few dollars and an afternoon, and you can do it with products from any hardware store. Here’s the working method, step by step, plus the mistakes that ruin the job.

What Actually Makes Paint Non-Slip

Texture is the entire trick. Non-slip paint works by adding grit to the dried coating, which creates ridges that grip shoe soles. You can buy paint with grit already mixed in, or you can add it yourself — the DIY route is cheaper and gives you control over how aggressive the surface feels.

The most common DIY additive is clean sand, and a standard ratio is about 4 parts paint to 1 part sand. Commercial products use heavier-duty materials:

• Silica or aluminum oxide grit
• Natural pumice (what DRYLOK’s Non-Skid Texture Additive uses)
• Polymer beads and plastic chips
• Ground walnut shell
• Synthetic granular additives, like AkzoNobel’s Non-Slip Additive for topside finishes

Which one you choose changes the feel. Sand gives a moderate grip that’s fine for decks and porches. Aluminum oxide and synthetic grits bite harder, which suits stairs and ramps.

The Mix-In Method: Grit Straight Into the Paint

This is the simplest route — you stir the additive into the topcoat, then apply the paint normally. AkzoNobel’s instructions say their additive can go into the paint before application, and you can use a brush, roller, or conventional spray.

1. Prep the surface — remove cracked or flaking paint, then sand or etch the area so the new coating can bond.
2. Clean thoroughly — wash away dirt, dust, oil, and wax, then let the surface dry completely. AkzoNobel specifies that substrates must be clean, dry, and free of contaminants.
3. Mix the grit in — stir the additive evenly through the paint. If you’re using sand, keep the ratio near 4:1 paint to sand. Commercial additives usually specify their own ratios — follow those exactly.
4. Apply the coating — roll it on for large flat areas, brush it for edges and corners. Work in even strokes so the grit stays distributed.
5. Let it cure — many paints dry to the touch in about an hour, but give the first coat 24 hours before walking on it, and follow the label’s recoat and cure times.

Skip the prep step and the coating will peel within a season — the paint needs a clean, rough surface to grab onto.

The Broadcast Method: Grit on Wet Paint

This approach gives a heavier texture — you scatter the grit onto the wet surface, let it cure, then seal it with a topcoat. AkzoNobel’s additive can also be sprinkled onto wet paint this way.

1. Apply one coat of paint — the same prep and cleaning rules apply.
2. Scatter the grit — while the paint is still wet, sprinkle sand or additive evenly across the surface. Don’t overload it; too much makes the finish lumpy and uneven.
3. Let it fully cure — give it the full drying time before touching it.
4. Remove loose excess — sweep or vacuum off any grit that didn’t stick.
5. Lock it in with a topcoat — apply a second, grit-free coat of paint over the top so the particles are sealed in place.

The lock-in coat matters. Skip it and you’ll leave loose abrasive on the surface that ends up tracked through the house or worn off within weeks.

For wood surfaces specifically, our tested roundup of the best anti-slip paint for wood covers pre-made coatings that skip the DIY mixing entirely — useful if you’d rather buy the finish ready to roll.

Where DIY Non-Slip Paint Works — and Where It Fails

DIY grit works on floors, decks, stairs, ramps, porches, and concrete paths. It’s a solid fix for residential surfaces where you want grip without paying premium prices for commercial coatings.

The common failures come down to a handful of mistakes:

• Skipping surface prep — the biggest one. Clean, dry, and slightly rough is non-negotiable.
• Painting over damp or dewy surfaces — moisture under the coating ruins adhesion. Low humidity helps curing.
• Ignoring manufacturer ratios — for pre-made additives, follow the maker’s mixing proportions exactly. Too little grit means no grip; too much means a lumpy mess.
• Using the wrong additive for the coating — some additives suit one-component paints, others are made for two-component coatings. Check compatibility before pouring anything in.

One safety note: if you clean the surface with TSP before painting, wear gloves — it’s harsh on skin.

Benjamin Moore’s Insl-X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip Paint shows what a commercial solution looks like — it’s a named acrylic product with the grit already suspended in the paint, ready for one-coat application on interior or exterior floors. That’s the convenience trade-off: premixed paint costs more than a bag of sand, but there’s zero measuring and you know the texture formula works.

For stair treads, poolside concrete, or anywhere a fall is serious, lean toward a commercial product with a known grit load rather than DIY mixing.