It’s like 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. You get some projects done and just about as many new ones pop up.

I finished my front-porch steps just in the nick of time before the snow fell last fall. I kind of knew in the back of my mind that the paint may not hold up too well when it was barely dry before it got frozen. But I did use 2 coats of exterior primer first. On top of that, pressure-treated lumber should dry out thoroughly before painting but winter came a knocking and I pushed the envelope…..and lost.

Ok, so the salt and the snow shovel hitting it constantly all winter has taken its toll. But if I paint it again this spring and it cures all summer, it better not do this again. I know exterior latex is suppose to be superior but snow shoveling never seemed to hurt the old, lead-based, oil-based paint that was on the original stairs.

Are there any die-hard oil paint lovers that have had better success with the oil paint outdoors on wood than they have with latex for high traffic area wooden stairs? I just don’t think latex works well under foot.