Thanks. I am actually asking about what helps the WOOD itself last longer.

i like paint on a fir porch floor, dont know what kind of wood you have but our painted screen porch floor lasted very well, weather wise. eventually sliding furniture around made us recoat. it was over 20 years old when we moved away from the house and the wood edges were pristine.

get a paint specific for porch floors, you can make it any color you like.

Stain

Well I just found this article:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/outdoor-projects/how-to/a3248/paint-or-stain-which-is-right-for-your-deck-15484621/

The upshot is VERY clear, and I thought I should share it with everyone.

Although many people choose to stain wood decks for aesthetic reasons, PAINT is far and away the superior protector. Paint itself lasts 5-10 times longer than stain, and it can preserve the wood about 5 times longer as well. Stains do not block out any UV rays at all, whereas paint blocks out 100%. In addition, many stains need to be re-applied every 3-4 years, but a good paint job will last 7-10 years, and is virtually 100% waterproof.

Do you guys live where it snows? Even with the best primer and paint after winter the paint doesn't last on a deck or porch floor. I also live in Ohio

I try to sweep the snow off my porches.