Non slip wood varnish for floor and stairs

[Floordilemma]

I'm so happy to find this property section! Google has not been helping me..

We are about to start sanding our hallway floor. Its parquet flooring, and will hopefully look beautiful once finished. Our stairs are also wood, and we've recently had new doors throughout (obvs don't need non slip for these!)

The floor and stairs are currently quite dark, but I've sanded a bit to look underneath and the bare wood is quite light.

We're currently unsure on whether to use a clear varnish or whether to go for a slight oak colour (light or medium). What we do need though is non-slip - especially for the stairs. All I seem to be able to find is decking stain, which I'm not sure is appropriate.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use? I've heard there is some sort of grit I can add to varnish that is non slip?

Also happy to take any advice on what equipment to use to apply the varnish, any tips or hints, what coarseness sandpaper to use etc.

We're going to hire a floor and edging sander, and already have a mouse sander.

I'm excited to finally have the hallway finished, but it's very daunting.

We removed the living room carpet and also have parquet throughout the living room too, but are starting on the hallway first.

This is our parquet hallway, sanded and a mixture of oak and pine (original to the 1920s date of the house). They are sealed with an ‘ultramatt’ lacquer, think it’s a Swedish brand. It’s not especially slippery, though sometimes small children in socks running have come a cropper. I don’t think stairs should be completely uncovered though. At very least you would need a runner

The stairs...

Please excuse the mess...we'd just finished decorating and not put the room back together

My stairs were like those. Hardwood and polished. They were utterly lethal and nothing I did made them any safer. When I was pregnant we carpeted them.
Quite honestly the risk of falling downstairs at any age was not worth the beauty of the wood.

@Housepicturetime
Beautiful!! I love the pattern.

A runner isn't going to be possible on the stairs, as you'll see from the photo. We did consider replacing the stairs, but couldn't bring ourselves to do it. The hallway is what made me fall in love with the house!

@Mosik I was worried about them before we moved in. But they're not at all slippery, and I can't work out why/how!

I used Osmo anti slip oil

@hesbeen2021 perfect, thank you! I'm looking that up now

Anything that increases friction underfoot like grit will inhibit slipperiness. But the surface would then be akin to sandpaper, all the dirt/dust would get stuck and need scrubbing off.
Bonakemi sell a product called Traffic that is probably about as non slip as you'll get without actually resorting to grit.

The banisters are I suspect totally illegal Gap wise now for good reason. If you wish to keep them line with glass. Oil is better

Whatever you decide to use, always test in an inconspicuous area before starting work. Varnishes/oils can change the look of the wood, so make sure that you like the effect before using all over.

@justasking111 I'm sure we couldn't install it now, but I don't think it's illegal to keep it.

The metalwork will be painted the same colour as the skirting/doorframes, then we were thinking of adding a metal rod to the back to make the gaps smaller.

A secondary worry now...I'm sure that any non stick product is not going to be as quick drying as the ones I was looking at! We can't exactly not use the hallway or stairs - even to access the toilet.
I suppose I could pack the kids off somewhere and oil myself out the door to join them for the night. And again for the next coat!

OMG! 😂

I see your issue. It’s not unusual for people to retrofit the backboard between the treds and then a runner becomes an option. I love the banister though.

and as per a PP I think the product used in our house was Bona Traffic.

regarding colour, your house looks to be mid-century and then a honey colour might have been fashionable (or dark like you have it).

I'm going around in circles here...by the time I've hired sanders, bought all the equipment and varnish/oil (if I can even find it) + a week off work, maybe I'd be better off paying someone to come in and do it!
I haven't even got quotes as I assume it'd be thousands, especially with the living room too.

OP I've just finished sanding ( lightly) every floor in my old dump of a Georgian terrace. It's taken two years, a room at a time, the last place being two flights of stairs and hallway. I've used the Osmo anti slip oil throughout just to give some unity to the look and am pleased with it ( yes it does take a long time to dry but I only needed one coat in most places except for stairs). I only used an orbital hand sander so no extra cost. However sanding floors isn't a cheap option, it's time consuming, dirty and can be expensive ( saying that I hate carpet and getting the final one out of this house was the best day yet!)

I use satin varnish which is not slippery, except if wet. Walking barefoot is safe, but in socks is not.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions so far.
I think we'll go with Bona Traffic HD anti slip.

Those that have used it...it says 2-3 hours between coats, does that mean I can step on it after 3 hours? Otherwise how could I get to the other side of the room to do the next coat?? Does that also mean it'd be OK after a few hours to briefly walk on to take the kids to bed?
How many coats does it need?

My plan is to get the first coats done during the day while the kids are out...use the side entrance to avoid the front door. Put the kids to bed, then the final coat just as I'm going to bed...basically varnishing myself up the stairs to allow it to dry overnight.

Is a wood primer required before applying?

Still seriously considering sanding it myself, and then paying someone else to varnish it over a weekend where I can be elsewhere with the kids. I'm stressed even thinking about doing it!!
The living room will be easier, as we can actually avoid that room if we have to.