Textured Paint for Stair Safety

Rough up slippery steps with these step-by-step instructions.
Colorful Painted Stairs

Colorful Painted Stairs

If your outdoor steps are a little too smooth for safety, coat them with floor enamel and a nonslip additive. Here's how to do it:  

Materials and Tools:

paint tray

paint roller

stir stick

orbital sander with 80-grit sanding pads

scrubbers

clean work towel

dust mask

plastic gloves

polyurethane floor enamel

all-purpose cleaner

paint thinner

nonslip additive

Steps:

  1. Clean stairs with all-purpose cleaner and a brush, and rinse thoroughly. Dry the stairs with a clean towel.
  2. Once the stairs are clean and dry, roughen the surface with an orbital sander using 80-grit paper. This is an important step, since the paint will adhere better to a rough surface.
  3. Wipe stairs down with a clean towel moistened with paint thinner to remove any residual dust.
  4. Mix a nonslip additive into exterior floor enamel and blend thoroughly with a stir stick.
  5. Pour paint mixture into a paint tray and apply with a roller to create a textured surface. Allow the paint to dry at least 24 hours before using the steps.

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