[shumway]

I have a home in Chicago (lots of snow, ice needed for winter time) where there is a front staircase that has Concrete Treads in a Steel Tray. Pictures below.

These stairs should NEVER have been installed in a climate like Chicago. The concrete holds so much moisture, it is impossible for the metal NOT to rust. However, I can't necessarily afford to replace the entire structure (or even the treads).

Is there anything that I could do to paint the entire stair treads that would cover the entire thing and make it waterproof, so the steel doesn't continue to rust?

I had a contractor recommend the following:

• wire brush, etc. all rust
• prime metal with Corothane Pre-Prime + Mio-Aluminium
• top coat Corothane
• repair treads with concrete repair epoxy
• apply 2 coats of Sherwin Williams ArmorSeal Rexthane over entire tread - over the concrete + metal

The idea is to waterproof the entire top of the stair tread (concrete and steel) so the tray and supports will no longer continue to sit next to the moisture of the concrete. There would be some type of grit added to the Rexthane to make it anti-slip.

Any thoughts or other ideas? I'm open to any economical suggestions. Thanks.

Hi,

I have a similar problem with rusting concrete filled metal pan stairs (in Chicago as well) and was curious how you've addressed it in the past 5 years. I've had mine for about 6 years and last year I applied a rust converter to the rusted areas which seems to have stopped the rust on the visible parts of the metal, but every year rust is coming up through the gaps between the concrete and steel and staining the concrete along with starting to crumble the edges of the concrete. I'm sure this is due to the water penetrating the concrete and rusting on the inside. Did you try the concrete repair epoxy? I'm not sure that would seal the area but willing to try if it reduces it significantly. Thanks!