Front porch upgrade progress (also, do haint blue porch ceilings work?)

After writing on Friday about how I needed to benefit from the great climate to do some upkeep on my entrance porch earlier than the climate did an excessive amount of harm to my porch, I wakened Saturday morning to utterly stunning climate and determined that this was it. day to begin. I believed it will be sensible to begin on the prime and work my means down, which meant that the primary undertaking can be to repaint the porch roof.

After I painted in the summertime of 2018, I did not take the time to prep the wooden earlier than portray it. I do know higher than to do that with uncooked wooden, and but I did it anyway. And that first 12 months, the knot holes began to point out and continued to worsen over time. So this is what the roof regarded like on Saturday earlier than I began repainting it.

See all these knots and stripes? It regarded actually unhealthy.

So, I went to House Depot to get a primer and paint, and as an alternative of utilizing my favourite Zinsser Oil Primarily based Cowl Stain, I made a decision to attempt Zinsser BIN Shellac Primarily based Primer. I’ve by no means used this earlier than, however I’ve seen different DIYers use it and particularly suggest it to cowl up cussed knots that hold exhibiting via painted surfaces.

I nearly gave up and went with my favourite primer after I noticed the price. This shellac-based primer was about $75 a gallon, whereas my favourite oil-based primer was $35 a gallon. In order that’s greater than double the value. However after I noticed that the label particularly says “seal knots”, I made a decision to take of venture.

To use the primer, I used a 6 inch curler with a 3/8 inch nap.

I will be sincere right here. Initially, I used to be by no means impressed with this primer. I hoped to only prime the ceiling after which paint it. However as quickly as I rolled the primer onto the primary plank, I watched because the primer began to separate on the knot holes. It was irritating.

So I went up on the ladder and felt the knots, they usually have been all easy and arduous and glossy, like arduous sweet. So mainly I used to be making use of the primer over the hardened sap, and the primer did not need to keep on with that hardened shiny sap. I used to be irritated, as a result of this was particularly labeled to organize the knots, and right here it was, pulling the knots aside. I am about 99% certain my favourite oil-based primer would not have separated in knots like that.

I thought of taking the primer again and switching to the oil-based one, however determined to keep it up. Nevertheless it would not get caught in these nodes with out some prep work first. So I needed to sand each knot within the ceiling (and there have been a variety of them!) earlier than making use of the primer.

As soon as I did that, the primer went on tremendous. It is so much completely different than what I am used to, although. The oil-based primer I really like is the consistency of the paint. This shellac-based primer has the consistency of complete milk, which struck me as odd. However after sanding the knots, it got here out very nice and lined the knots effectively.

I utilized two coats of primer and let it dry for about an hour earlier than portray. After I painted the ceiling in 2018, I ended up mixing my very own blue to get it proper. And, sadly, there have been none left to take for a shade match. So I simply had to take a look at the paint swatches and use my widespread sense.

I ended up choosing Behr Air Blue, however I believe it is slightly too darkish.

See the way it turned out after I completed the primary layer.

I did not make it to the second coat as a result of I made a decision to do a variety of caulking earlier than I did the second coat, and that caulking took me the remainder of the day (and I am not carried out but). However earlier than making use of the second layer, I believe I will apply some white to lighten the colour slightly.

That is the place the roof improve is that this morning. As we speak goes to be one other stunning day, so I’ll end the ceiling at present and transfer on to another porch tasks.

Now let’s speak about “haint blue” ceilings for a second. Do you’ve a blue porch roof? It’s a custom within the southern a part of america (the area generally known as the Deep South) to color the roof of a porch “haint blue”, and the unique function was for superstitious causes. The colour was mentioned to push back evil spirits. However over time, folks have seen that the blue ceilings on the entrance porch appear to maintain out spiders and wasps.

So is that this true? Do “haint blue” ceilings actually work for this function?

Properly, I have not carried out any actual scientific research on this. 😀 And in accordance with Wikipedia, there isn’t any proof that blue roofs on balconies hold away spiders and wasps. wikipedia says:

The usage of haint blue has misplaced a few of its superstitious significance, however trendy proponents additionally cite the colour as a deterrent to spiders and wasps. Nevertheless, the colour has probably not been scientifically confirmed to push back bugs. The related repellent impact could end result from using milk paint containing lye, which acts as an insect repellent.

Properly, I haven’t got any scientific knowledge, however I’ve my very own private expertise with this. Earlier than portray the porch ceiling blue, we had wasps continuously on the entrance porch. I might take away a wasp nest, solely to see one other one seem a number of days later. I used to be continuously having to run, duck and weave to keep away from wasps swooping down on me whereas attempting to get within the entrance door.

I can fortunately report that since I painted the ceiling blue, we have not had a single hornet’s nest on our porch. None. And I did not use milk paint with bleach. I simply used common latex paint.

So, from my very own private expertise, I believe there’s one thing to the concept that “haint blue” porch roofs hold wasps out. And now that I give it some thought, I do not bear in mind seeing any cobwebs on our porch both.

I do not know if it is simply coincidence that we used to have wasps and the occasional enormous cobweb earlier than the blue roof, and after the blue roof there have been none. Maybe, probably, it is because of another issue. However, simply from expertise, I can say that I am an enormous believer in “haint blue” porch roofs to maintain spiders and wasps away. I might love to listen to about your expertise with him.

Anyway, again to the entrance porch progress. Yesterday I made a decision that earlier than I went forward with the portray I actually simply wanted to get every thing clear. The porch hadn’t had a great cleansing in years and every thing was lined in dust and dirt. So I took my stress washer and cleaned all of the partitions, posts, trim, home windows, doorways, sidewalk across the steps, and so forth.

I additionally determined to see if the stress washer would work to take away the prevailing end on the porch and the steps to organize them for the brand new dye/sealer I shall be utilizing. And it labored splendidly! Here is a have a look at what the steps and porch regarded like earlier than with the very worn and ugly end…

And this is the way it regarded this morning after final evening’s stress wash. It nonetheless wasn’t utterly dry this morning, however it already seems to be so significantly better!

In reality, I actually love this gentle and extra pure shade. I had purchased Darkish Walnut dye and sealer to make use of however now I am unsure I need it that darkish. Though I really like the darkish distinction with the white end, so I do not know. Perhaps I will follow the Darkish Walnut. Yuck! I can not determine! 😀

I really feel stress washing has saved me quite a lot of sanding. And I would relatively use a stress washer than a sander! It is way more satisfying and enjoyable to stress wash.

I nonetheless need to sand it down a bit. The stress washer did a great job of eradicating dust and what was left of the unique end, however it lifted the wooden fibers so much, which you’ll be able to see right here…

And you can too see under. However sanding all of them down must be fast and simple.

After which it is prepared for a recent coat of paint and sealer. However first, I would like to complete the portray. I am nonetheless working from prime to backside so it should have a number of extra days to dry earlier than it stains. I simply hope it does not rain within the meantime!

Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and adorn the 1948 Fixer Higher that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has a number of sclerosis and is unable to do bodily labor, so I do many of the work work from home alone. You will discover out extra about me right here.

I hope you’ll be part of me on my DIY and adorning journey! If you wish to hold monitor of my tasks and progress, you possibly can subscribe under and have every new publish delivered to your e mail inbox. That means, you will by no means miss a factor!