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Discussion Forum

porch ceiling

paul42 | Posted in General Discussion on January 23, 2007 08:19am

Looking for good suggestion for the ceiling for a little over 800 sq. ft of porch space.  split between front porch, back porch, and the breezeway between the house and the garage.  Will probably go with 10′ ceilings to match the rest of the house.

First inclination is to go with hardi-plank – 4×8 sheets – maybe add some hardi-trim to hide the seams and something resembling a board and batten look.

Want something that is low maintenance.

Any other good ideas?

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Replies

  1. User avater
    JDRHI | Jan 23, 2007 09:44pm | #1

    Solid wood T&G beadboard shouldn't need any more maintenance than the hardiboard.

    Being a ceiling, it is not subjected to the suns rays or the elements in general.

    I'm not a fan of the "seam hiding battens".....because that's exactly what they end up looking to be doing.

    You're not a forum cop, are you?

     

     


    1. User avater
      txlandlord | Jan 24, 2007 12:11am | #5

      Did you ever think that they look like seam hiding battens because you know what they are? : - )

      Some HOs see them as decorative.

      I just visited a site today where we did some work about 15 years ago. I noticed we installed seam hiding battens and they actually looked pretty good.

  2. Hazlett | Jan 23, 2007 11:09pm | #2

     sorry,  i didn't take the time to shrink these pictures down--but since the ceiling was handy-------------------right outside my office door- I thought it might work for you.

     besides-it gave me an excuse to play around with moving picture files about,

    Stephen

    1. Hazlett | Jan 23, 2007 11:14pm | #3

       here we go-a bit resized

  3. smslaw | Jan 23, 2007 11:25pm | #4

    don't forget to paint it the traditional sky blue.

    1. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 12:41am | #7

      Now tell him why...;) 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. smslaw | Jan 24, 2007 03:58pm | #18

        Now tell him why...

        ;)

        I've heard several reasons for blue porch ceilings, among them that it deters wasps from building nests, keeps away insects and/or evil spirits, reflects light so it prolongs daylight, looks like the sky, etc.  I just did it on my porch because I like the way it looks.

        1. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 09:50pm | #21

          The insects see it as open sky where they fear attacks from birds so they avoid it, leaving it clear of cobwebs and such. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          1. User avater
            Sailfish | Jan 24, 2007 10:12pm | #22

            You guys do great work!

             

            I have my wife outside right now staining my porch ceiling. I hope it turns out a 1/5th as nice as some of yours!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

             

            WWPD

          2. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 10:28pm | #24

            LOL, please believe I had not yet read your post when I keyed that bit of wit in above. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          3. User avater
            Sailfish | Jan 26, 2007 01:15am | #26

            two days and she's complete 8 12' boards

             

            :headbang:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

             

            WWPD

  4. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 12:33am | #6

    aZEC t&g BEADBOARD

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. User avater
      JDRHI | Jan 24, 2007 02:07am | #10

      Can I ask how you justify the cost difference for such a project?

      You're not a forum cop, are you?

       

       

      1. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 02:21am | #12

        simple - no painting needed, no waste from split ends, cupping, checking, etc.But I have to admit I liked Hazlett's stained job. it shows the wood grain patterns nicely 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. User avater
          JDRHI | Jan 24, 2007 05:35am | #13

          I'll give ya points if its to be left white......but even factoring in the other possible defects in the wood, I don't think the cost is gonna be in the same neighborhood.

          But I have to admit I liked Hazlett's stained job. it shows the wood grain patterns nicely

          My mother has that ceiling in what is now a finished room. (It was a porch originally) She wanted to paint it until I threatened to cut off her hands.

          You're not a forum cop, are you?

           

           

          1. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 02:25pm | #16

            My painters really love painting Azec. I'm sure it is easier and faster, saving some bucks there, and with wood in areas exposed to varying humidity, the swelling and shrinking will not be kind at all those seams.so overall, given the higher quality of the job, easier painting, less long term maint, it is a no-brainer for me to use the Azec. I don't think it would be more than another five-ten dollars a year for the typical porche ceiling. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          2. User avater
            JDRHI | Jan 24, 2007 05:22pm | #20

            As far as "no brainers".....one has to accept that it is a "higher quality job".

            I'd take the example Hazlett posted over any Azec job I've ever seen.

            You're not a forum cop, are you?

             

             

          3. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 10:19pm | #23

            Stain vs paint is amatter of style and taste, not quality, as with so many things in life.
            Some of us like out women painted, and some like'm stained.;) 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          4. User avater
            JDRHI | Jan 24, 2007 11:58pm | #25

            Ah. Women. Painted or stained....I love em all.

             

             

             

             

             

             

            At least I did in my younger, singles days. LOL

            J. D. REYNOLDSHome Improvements

             

             

  5. User avater
    Matt | Jan 24, 2007 01:39am | #8

    Here is a pic of something I did.

    1. Geoffrey | Jan 24, 2007 02:20am | #11

      Matt,  very nice!

                                Geoff

  6. fingers | Jan 24, 2007 01:48am | #9

    Beadboard Azek? No labor to maintain, as long as you like white.



    Edited 1/23/2007 5:50 pm ET by fingers

  7. ANDYSZ2 | Jan 24, 2007 07:41am | #14

    This is a picture of a porch I did last month before final painting.

    WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?

    REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST

     

    1. JasonQ | Jan 24, 2007 10:04am | #15

      Resized for ye.  Nice work!  Is that Plybead?

      And just how much does that Azek beadboard run, anyway?

      Jason

       

    2. Piffin | Jan 24, 2007 02:29pm | #17

      Does your hand hurt from me slapping it?
      two meg photo indeed!;)We preprime for something like that. That way, when the wood moves, you don't have bare wood showing at the tongues, and with it preprimed on all sides, it does not move as much.used to prepaint too first coat, but then a designer decided to change the colour after it was up ....groan - wasted time 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. ANDYSZ2 | Jan 24, 2007 04:49pm | #19

        Yeah I know I spent a good hour trying to find a way to get my picture to attach then after I removed the popup protection I got it attached I went back to reduce the size and could not find a way.My computer is jinxed  my wife uses it.

        ANDYSZ2 WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?

        REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST

         

  8. User avater
    Matt | Jan 26, 2007 03:08am | #27

    I checked with my lumber salesmen:

    SYP 4x8 5/16" beadboard plywood:             $21 a sheet
    fir  4x8 5/16 beadboard plywood:                $28 a sheet
    Azek 4x8 beadboard:                                 $141 a sheet
    1x4 beadboard pine:                                    $.59 a lin ft

    that is excluding tax

    so, for sheet materials for a 12'x16' porch ceiling, again excluding tax:

    SYP 4x8 5/16" beadboard plywood:             $126
    fir  4x8 5/16 beadboard plywood:                $168
    Azek 4x8 beadboard:                                   $846
    1x4 beadboard pine:                                    $388

    Obviously, this doesn't include install labor and paint, and with the 1x4 there is quite a bit.  There is a fair amount of trim, etc required too, but probably about the same amount for each type of material.

     

    1. paul42 | Jan 26, 2007 03:38am | #28

      Thanks - exactly the kind of information I need right now.

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