You would want to treat them with a waterproofing/sealer first and then wait the required dry time before painting them. You might be better off staining them brown. Stairs take beating and paint might just crack and peel off.

How do you protect outdoor wooden stairs?

For waterproofing wood stairs, choose a sealer designed for exterior applications. Look for the phrase “water repellent” instead of simply “waterproof.” A clear water repellant sealer will guard wooden stairs from water, UV rays and mildew. Reapply sealer once every year to maintain its water repelling ability.

How do you finish outside wooden steps?





Steps to Refinishing Your Stair Treads:

  1. Sand. Start by sanding down the treads to bare wood with the 80 grit sandpaper. …
  2. Clean. Vacuum between passes, then wipe down the treads with a tack cloth. …
  3. Sand again. …
  4. Clean again. …
  5. Treat the wood. …
  6. Stain the treads. …
  7. Apply the Finish. …
  8. Sand, then repeat two more times.

How do you treat raw wood stairs?

Best Finish For Wood Stairs

  1. Polyurethane (Surface Type Finish) Polyurethane is the best surface finish for stairs. …
  2. Tung Oil (Penetrating Type Finish) Using a penetrating finish such as tung oil is a good choice for stairs when you want a more natural option. …
  3. Anti-Slip Wood Stair Finishes. Bona Traffic (Anti-Slip Formula)

What to put on outdoor stairs?





To permanently prevent your outdoor steps from becoming slippery due to rain, snow, or other factors, use no-slip tape on the steps, install non-slip treads, or add a grit additive when painting your steps.

Is it better to stain or paint outdoor wood?

Paint allows you more color options, as where stain is limited to shades of brown. Because paint fills gaps and cracks, it hides the flaws of a weathered or old deck much better than stain does. It’s easier to clean a painted deck rather than a stained one.

How do you stain wood outdoor stairs?

Use a brush, roller, paint pad or sprayer to apply a thin coat for clear, toner and semi-transparent stains. For solid stains, apply two thin coats with a brush, roller or paint pad. To avoid lap marks, apply to a few boards at a time, keeping a wet edge. Treat all areas of the wood, including joints, edges and ends.

What to put on icy wooden steps?

Liberally spread sand over the stair treads to cover the ice and your stairs should be ready for foot traffic. If like many of us, your family doesn’t have sand at the ready, you can improvise by using household items such as cat litter or sawdust. These will all help to provide traction on icy wooden steps.

How do you treat slippery wooden stairs?



The best way to make your hardwood stairs less slippery is to add traction by installing carpet, anti-slip adhesive stair treads, or applying a coat of anti-slip floor finish to the surface of each stair.

How do I make stairs less slippery outside?

You can start by simply increasing your stair traction with carpet strips or anti-slip adhesive treads for stairs. You can also apply coats of paint to the stairs that are anti-slip and will keep you safer.

What is the difference between wood stain and varnish?

Wood stain soaks into the wood, and is intended to change the color of the wood. It doesn’t offer any protection. Comparably, wood varnish is a protective coating that sits on top of wood, and acts as a barrier against water and dirt. Often times, woodworkers will use both products when finishing a piece.

Why You Should Never paint a deck?



To get the most out of a wood deck it needs to be protected from the environment and harsh weather conditions. Harmful UV rays and moisture can lessen the longevity of a wood deck in no time.

Does stain protect wood?

Stain can do an excellent job highlighting the wood grain, but it will not protect it. As such, stained wood remains susceptible to damage from accidental scratching and discoloration from human and animal activity.

How do you preserve outdoor wood?

There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come.

  1. Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish.
  2. Seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.
  3. Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain-sealant combo.

Will stain keep wood from rotting?



Applying stain is a simple way to help protect wood surfaces and keep out termites, mold, mildew, and other pests that cause rot.

What is the difference between wood stain and wood sealer?

A sealer goes on clear or transparent to show the grain and the natural wood color. It prevents water from being absorbed and causing rot. Whereas a stain will do much the same as a sealer but also has a pigment added that blocks UV rays that can dry out the wood, causing it to crack or check, and gray.

Is Thompson’s water seal better than stain?

The advantage of this, they say, is the sealer provides additional protection against water and weather damage, while the stain helps reduce fading from UV rays. Sealers should last at least a year, with some lasting up to three years.

What is the best wood sealer on the market?

According to them, these are the nine most effective wood sealers:

  • Thompson’s Water Seal. …
  • Rainguard Premium Wood Sealer. …
  • DEFY Crystal Clear Sealer. …
  • Anchorseal 2. …
  • Roxil Wood Protection Cream. …
  • Eco-Advance Exterior Wood Waterproofer. …
  • Ready Seal Stain and Sealer for Wood. …
  • Pure Tung Oil Natural Wood Sealer.