Summer Project: Outdoor Stairs

Outdoor stairs can be a hazard if they are too smooth. A very smooth surface will cause them to be slippery when it rains, creating a hazard of falling.

So what can you do to remedy too smooth stairs? Textured paint.

A floor enamel with a nonslip additive can create much safer exterior stairs. So what do you need to get started?

Materials:
paint roller
paint tray
stir stick
orbital sander with 80-grit sanding pads
scrub brush
all-purpose cleaner
polyurethane floor enamel
paint thinner
non-slip additive
clean work towels
dust mask
gloves

(You will also need to use another entrance into your home for 24 hours while the paint dries, keep this in mind when choosing when to paint your stairs.)

Now that you've gathered all your materials, let's get started:

Directions: 

• Using a scrub brush and the all-purpose cleaner, give your stairs a thorough cleaning. When done, rinse all the debris and cleaner away. Take your clean work town and dry the stairs.
•  Once your stairs are completely dry use the sander to roughen up the surface. If the surface of the stairs is not rough, the new paint will not adhere to them.
• Moisten a clean towel with some paint thinner and wipe down the stairs to remove any dust from sanding.
• Mix your exterior floor enamel with the non-slip additive. Blend it completely with your stir stick.
• Pour this mixture into your paint tray. Use your roller to apply the paint and create your textured surface.
• Allow paint to dry for at least 24 hours before walking on your new textured stairs.