After writing Friday about how I wished to benefit from fairly climate to do some entrance porch upkeep earlier than the climate causes an excessive amount of injury to my porch, I awakened Saturday morning to completely attractive climate and determined that that was the day to get began. I assumed it might be good to start out on the high and work my method down, in order that meant that the primary undertaking can be repainting the porch ceiling.
Once I painted it again in the summertime of 2018, I didn’t take the time to prime the wooden earlier than portray it. I do know higher than to do this with uncooked wooden, and but, I did it anyway. And inside that first yr, the knot holes began exhibiting by, and it simply continued to worsen over time. So right here’s what the ceiling regarded like on Saturday earlier than I obtained began repainting it.
See all these knots and streaks? It was trying fairly dangerous.
So I headed to Dwelling Depot to get some primer and paint, and as an alternative of utilizing my favourite Zinsser oil-based Cowl Stain, I made a decision to check out Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer. I’ve by no means used this earlier than, however I’ve seen different DIYers use it and advocate it particularly for protecting cussed knots that preserve exhibiting by painted surfaces.
I nearly backed out and simply went with my favourite primer once I noticed the associated fee. This shellac-based primer price about $75 for a gallon, whereas my favourite oil-based primer was $35 for a gallon. So that is greater than double the value. However once I noticed that the label particularly says “seals knots”, I made a decision to go for it.
To use the primer, I used a 6-inch curler with a 3/8-inch nap.
I’ll be trustworthy right here. Initially, I used to be not impressed with this primer in any respect. I had hoped to simply prime proper over the ceiling, after which paint it. However as quickly as I rolled that primer onto the primary board, I watched because the primer began to separate over the knot holes. That was irritating.
So I obtained up on the ladder and felt the knots, they usually had been all easy, exhausting, and glossy, like a tough sweet. So mainly, I used to be priming over hardened sap, and the primer didn’t need to keep on with these hardened shiny sap. I used to be irritated, as a result of this was particularly labeled for priming over knots, and right here it was, separating over the knots. I’m about 99% positive that my favourite oil-based primer wouldn’t have separated over the knots like that.
I debated taking the primer again and exchanging it for the oil-based, however I made a decision to press on. However it wasn’t going to stay to these knots with out some prep work first. So I needed to sand each single knot on the ceiling (and there have been lots of them!) earlier than priming.
As soon as I did that, the primer went on simply effective. It’s very totally different from what I’m used to, although. The oil-based primer that I really like is the consistency of paint. This shellac-based primer is the consistency of entire milk, which appeared very unusual to me. However after sanding the knots, it did go on very properly, and it coated the knots simply effective.
I did two coats of the primer, after which let it dry for about an hour earlier than portray. Once I painted the ceiling in 2018, I ended up mixing my very own blue to get it excellent. And sadly, I didn’t have any left over to take for a shade match. So I simply had to take a look at the paint swatches and use my greatest judgment.
I ended up deciding on Behr Air Blue, however I believe it’s a bit of too darkish.
Right here’s the way it sorted I completed the primary coat.
I didn’t get to the second coat as a result of I made a decision to do a complete lot of caulking earlier than doing the second coat, and that caulking took me the remainder of the day (and I’m nonetheless not completed with it). However earlier than I do the second coat, I believe I’m going so as to add some white to lighten the colour only a bit.
That’s the place the ceiling refresh stands as of this morning. Right now goes to be one other stunning day, so I’ll get the ceiling completed right this moment and transfer on to another porch initiatives.
Now let’s discuss “haint blue” ceilings for a second. Do you have got a blue porch ceiling? It’s a practice within the southern a part of america (the area often known as the Deep South) to color a porch ceiling “haint blue”, and the unique function was for superstitious causes. The colour was stated to thrust back evil spirits. However over time, folks have seen that blue ceilings on a entrance porch appear to thrust back spiders and wasps.
So is that this true? Do “haint blue” ceilings actually work for this function?
Properly, I haven’t performed any precise scientific research on it. 😀 And in response to Wikipedia, there’s no proof that blue porch ceilings thrust back 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 spider and wasp-deterrent. Nevertheless, the colour has not really been scientifically proven to stave off bugs. The related repellent impact could stem from the usage of milk paint containing lye, which does act as an insect repellent.
Properly, I don’t have any scientific knowledge, however I do have my very own private expertise with it. Earlier than I painted our porch ceiling blue, we had wasps on our entrance porch continuously. I’d take away one wasp nest, solely to have one other one present up just a few days later. I used to be continuously having to , run, duck, and weave to keep away from wasps diving at me as I’d attempt to get into the entrance door.
I can fortunately report that ever since I painted the ceiling blue, we haven’t had one single wasp nest on our entrance porch. Not one. And I didn’t use milk paint with lye. I simply used common ole latex paint.
So from my very own private expertise, I do assume there’s one thing to the concept “haint blue” porch ceilings thrust back wasps. And now that I give it some thought, I don’t keep in mind seeing any spider webs on our entrance porch, both.
I don’t know if it’s simply coincidence that we used to have wasps and the occasional big spider internet earlier than the blue ceiling, after which after the blue ceiling, there haven’t been any in any respect. Possibly, probably, it’s attributable to another issue. However simply from my very own expertise, I can inform you that I’m a giant believer in “haint blue” porch ceilings to maintain spiders and wasps away. I’d like to know your expertise with it.
Anyway, again to the entrance porch progress. Yesterday, I made a decision that earlier than I transfer on with extra portray, I actually wanted to simply get all the pieces clear. The porch hasn’t had cleansing in years, and all the pieces was coated with filth and dirt. So I obtained out my strain washer and cleaned the entire partitions, columns, trim, home windows, door, sidewalk across the steps, and so forth.
I additionally determined to see if the strain washer would work to take away the present end on the porch and steps to prep them for the brand new stain/sealer that I’ll be utilizing. And it labored splendidly! Right here’s a have a look at how the steps and porch regarded earlier than with the very worn and ugly end…
And right here’s what it seems like as of this morning after strain washing yesterday night. It nonetheless wasn’t fully dry by this morning, nevertheless it seems so a lot better already!
Actually, I actually love this gentle, extra pure shade. I had bought Darkish Walnut stain and sealer to make use of, however now I’m unsure if I need it that darkish. Though I do love the darkish contrasting with the white trim, so I don’t know. Possibly I’ll persist with the Darkish Walnut. Ugh! I can’t resolve! 😀
I really feel just like the strain washing saved me an enormous quantity of sanding. And I’d a lot somewhat use a strain washer than a sander! It’s a lot extra satisfying and enjoyable to strain wash.
I’ll nonetheless must do some sanding, although. The strain washer did an important job at eradicating the filth and what was left of the unique end, nevertheless it raised a complete lot of the wooden fibers, which you’ll see right here…
And it’s also possible to see it under. However sanding all the pieces to take away these ought to be fast and simple.
After which it’ll be prepared for a recent, new coat of stain and sealer. However first, I would like to complete up the portray. I’m nonetheless working from the highest down, so it’s going to have a pair extra days to dry earlier than I stain. I simply hope we don’t get any rain within the meantime!
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and embellish the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
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