[pbamike]

One of the field I play at (indoor) is plagued by the "slippery ladders syndrome".

THere are a few 2 story buildings, but it's almost impossible to reach the second floor since the ladders (made out of wood) are just too slippery because of all the paint.

I'm pretty sure that some of you have been faced with this issue before. What is your solution ?

[Castro #66]

That 3M grip tape they make for stairs wouldn't be a bad idea, but there are also rubber mats generally used in food service that would work. They're cross hatched and usually come in black.

[GatSplat]

radical thought... clean it.

[MstrKey]

Lose the ladders and put in slotted ramps(not too steep) with side walls so nobody can fall off the edge.

I always hated ladders for renters. So many people fall and get their legs stuck in them. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

[Hellf1ghter22]

Paint with grit in it, clean the ladders, then apply.

[raehl]

Allowing rental players to climb ladders on the field of play seems like a very big liability hazard. I wouldn't build a field with ladders in the first place.

- Chris

[Horizon]

We have stucco wire on ours ramps and any slippery surfaces. It's the "diamond" mesh type and gives you ALOT of traction. The disadvantage to it is that it is a bit like a cheese grater when you fall on it with bare skin. We have had a couple of people break the skin on their hands on it. But it's definitely eliminated the slip problem.

There is a bit or a "grain" to it. You want to make sure you use it in the right direction so it gives you more traction on the downhill slope.

We've also used some of the regular stucco wire on other, flat slippery surfaces. It helps as well, but not nearly as much.

I played on a field a few years ago that had cleats on their ramps about 16-18" apart, but that wasn't a great solution. It was still slippery between the cleats and made it awkward to climb up. Going down, you would slip and gather speed until you hit a cleat at which time you came to an abrupt stop (at least your foot did, your body wanted to keep going with the momentum).

Oh yes, ladders are a really bad idea.

[warzonepaintgames]

Nail a couple shingles to the surface. Works great.

[pbamike]

Warzone: They tried the singles but they don't last long enough.

As for the "Cleaning" part, if it were my field, I would require my employees to clean those areas when needed.. But it's not my field...

What they did a few weeks ago was to nail some plastic material on the ladders. It does not give any more grip and hurts the hands when going up.

At the moment, I just avoid the second floors (and tell other players to do the same) since getting access to those area is just too dangerous.

I'll be at that field tonight. I think that if I see the owner, I'll just suggest the use of GatSplat's solution: A bucket of soapy water and a mop.

[PalmHarborPirates (Banned)]

Just ditch the stairs. Last thing you need is someone getting caught up on them or throwing/dropping your rental gear while using the ladder

[pbamike]

Originally Posted by PalmHarborPirates

Just ditch the stairs. Last thing you need is someone getting caught up on them or throwing/dropping your rental gear while using the ladder

Just to make sure, this isn't my field.. It's just a field where I play at.

[raehl]

Originally Posted by pbamike

A bucket of soapy water and a mop.

That's a solution good until... well, a couple minutes. Even if the surface is clean, the shoes of the party stepping on the surface are likely not.

Obviously you need to clean everything on a regular basis, but you're going to need some sort of traction like Reiner suggested for any hard surface you expect people to walk on.

Since it's not your field, stay off the ladders would seem to be the best advice.


- Chris

[pbamike]

Just an idea that I had.

What do you think about using cargo netting as a climbing apparatus ?

If you tie it to the 4 corners so it does not "wobble", that could be a good idea ?

[Castro #66]

I don't imagine that would be any more effective, no matter how tight it is. A nylon or cotton rope is going to be slippery still, and steel cable would be just as much trouble with the added benefit of possibly having painful splinters.

Slightly off-topic: I suggest the grip tape because I've used it on a pair of flat shoes for traction on various play surfaces. Obviously, this is backwards from its intended purpose, but it grips EVERYTHING. I just don't wear them on my wood floors at home.

[bigfootguy2002]

If it were me, I would replace the ladders with stairs, completely coated in the paint on bed-liner available at lowes, walmart, etc. With shingles on top of them. Make sure and have a hand rail, also coated with the grit-paint/bedliner.
-Will

[MstrKey]

Originally Posted by Castro #66

I don't imagine that would be any more effective, no matter how tight it is. A nylon or cotton rope is going to be slippery still, and steel cable would be just as much trouble with the added benefit of possibly having painful splinters.

Slightly off-topic: I suggest the grip tape because I've used it on a pair of flat shoes for traction on various play surfaces. Obviously, this is backwards from its intended purpose, but it grips EVERYTHING. I just don't wear them on my wood floors at home.

LOL. How long does it last? I may do that to my every day sketchers. They're sweet but not so good on the ice up here lol.

[_slash_1]

i dont let anyone climb at my field... ramps only. ladders are extremely dangerous.

[ericl1982]

Originally Posted by GatSplat

radical thought... clean it.

love this comment that is a lawsuit waiting to happen