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Updates on the Porch: Blue Ceiling

June 2, 2013 By Rhoda 87 Comments

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It’s really coming along now and I’m getting closer and closer to moving my furniture out there and can I just say this….I can hardly wait!   Oh, and I now have a blue ceiling!

The temps are also heating up here in Georgia and being on a covered porch will be so exciting this year, with our heat and humidity that’s a must.  My big dreams of having a screened porch are about to come true.  Thank you, Lord!  He knows our heart’s desire, doesn’t  he?

Can’t wait to share all the progress with you, it’s really looking like a porch now!

working on door frame

Dad had to enlarge the doorway going outside, so he cut back the door jamb to allow for a 36” vinyl screened door that I got from Lowes.  By the way, all my materials came from Lowes by working with them as a Creative Ideas blogger.  I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to use gift cards from Lowes for my project, what a blessing that has been!

dad adding door frame

He’s in the process of finishing out the door jamb and trimming it out. You can see the progress on all the posts and around the windows have been trimmed out and primed.

door frame work

So, after this door jamb is finished, it was time for me to paint the inside.

dad resting

Dad taking a break.

door frame

Adding wood to the doorway to trim it out.

framed door way

Door way trimmed out and ready to paint.

vinyl screened door

I chose this vinyl screened door from Lowes and love the looks of it.  I am adding a spring to it so that it will sound just like a Grandma door.  You know the sound when a screen door slams?  Yeah, that sweet sound!

In fact, my dad’s mama (my grandma) had one such screen door on her front porch and I STILL remember that sound vividly!

door installed

And here’s the door in place.  We had to take down the old steps outside, because they were just not put together very well and the guy who installed them before I bought the house had them spaced about 4” apart, which made for a very awkward climb up and down.  We are re-working the outside stairs and adding a landing to accommodate my grill, thanks to a great idea from my sister who suggested that.  It’s going to work out very well and we are running the stairs down next to the porch instead of straight out like they are now.

taped off ceiling

So, to get ready to paint the ceiling, I taped it off with FrogTape, my favorite green tape.

frogtape

I decided to spray the ceiling with a sprayer I received from Black and Decker to speed up the process.  So glad I did!

Frogtape on ceiling

To keep down on the overspray, I taped a line of FrogTape all around the ceiling.

Black & Decker sprayer

And a big thanks to Black and Decker for giving me a paint sprayer to use.  It worked pretty well, although it did sputter a bit and I found that it did put quite a bit of paint up on the ceiling, but I did need to go back and spread it out with my paint brush.  I did add water to the paint before putting it in the container.  But, having the sprayer really made that go fast, so I’m glad I used it.  I sprayed one section at a time and then smoothed it out with my paintbrush, moving on to the next section.  Then I went back and added more paint as needed until the whole ceiling was covered well.

Rainwashed blue ceiling after

I used Sherwin Williams Rainwashed on the ceiling and I was very blessed to get 2 gallons of paint from them for my project, which really came in handy.  I used Alabaster for all the white trim in their Emerald Exterior Satin paint collection.  It really is a great paint and goes on very smooth.

Somewhere along the line, this blue on the ceiling was called Haint Blue and that seems to be a Southern thang!  You can read all about blue porch ceilings at Sherwin Williams and it’s interesting how it all got started and spread all over the country.  Some say blue ceilings repel spiders and other critters and if so, I hope that is correct!  Regardless of the why’s on blue porch ceilings, I knew I wanted one on MY porch too!

Rainwashed ceiling

The ceiling is a nice shade of blue now and just what I wanted.  I had used Rainwashed before so knew it was a safe blue to use for my ceiling.  Just enough!  This is a good shot of the blue and white together.

porch progress

After painting the ceiling, I then got on all the white trim and gave it 2 coats of Alabaster.

porch

And it’s looking SO good!  I love how it’s turning out.  Once it is all painted, floor included, then we’ll go back and staple on the screening from the outside and trim it out with a small trim piece on the outside of the porch. Where the seam came together on the beadboard in the middle of the ceiling, I added a flat piece of pine molding that gives it a finished look.

screened porch

My dad has made this porch look amazing!  I’m so grateful he has been willing to help me get this finished.

working on landing

After removing the old stairs, we are ready to start building the landing for the new stairs. He added 2×4 boards and posts nailed to the house to stabilize it all.  He buried the posts and leveled them all.

posts for landing

He amazes me how he can still figure out all this stuff. He’s been doing it for years and has built some pretty amazing things over his years of carpentry and I know he has to think extra hard now to get it all together.

corner post

But, he finally gets things figured out and going.

adding posts

And we have a base for the platform which will be the landing for my grill.

platform for stairs

Here it is from inside the porch looking out.  Can you see it now?  The grill will be straight ahead against the railing that will eventually go up.  The new steps will go down to the right and also turn on another smaller landing.

So, that’s the latest progress on the porch!  I’m so excited to get this one behind us and I know my dad is too. He’s working hard on his garden too and has plenty to keep him busy.  Once the stairs are finished, it will be full speed ahead. I hope to get the floor painted in the next couple of weeks and then I think I’ll be moving furniture out there.  Yippee!

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Disclosure: As a Lowes Creative blogger, I am sent gift cards to spend on projects and blog about them.

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Filed Under: House Renovation, Projects and How-To 87 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Becky in SC says

    June 4, 2013 at 7:57 am

    Gah Rhoda! And I thought I was the only one that loved the sound of an ole’ squeaky screen door! Your porch is lookin’ great. And that Dad of yours…he’s something else!
    ♥ Becky in SC ♥

    Reply
  2. Christie says

    June 4, 2013 at 11:44 am

    I am sure you already know this, but your dad is amazing. I love to see the posts about him helping you with your home. He is truly amazing and your house is absolutely lovely.

    Reply
  3. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    June 4, 2013 at 5:00 pm

    Rhoda, it’s looking awesome! Can’t wait to see it finished and you drinking a big ole glass of sweet southern tea out there! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Nancy says

    June 4, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    Well, well, well… I can just taste the Sweet Tea, feel the cool breeze… and I am enjoying how lovely you decorated this southern porch! (oh, shoot I am a head of myself…aren’t I?) But I feel the end is in sight…Happy Summer to you, Rhoda!!
    ~Nancy from OHIO

    Reply
  5. Jason says

    June 5, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    It is looking amazing Rhoda and I love the blue ceiling – I’m getting ready to redo my breezeway and want a blue ceiling there – people think I’m nuts lol – they just don’t know what they are missing.

    I’m going to say I’m in favor of a screen underneath from my experience – mosquitoes love to live under those porches where it’s damper and darker.

    So happy for you as always!

    Reply
  6. Lady Delores LeBoeuf says

    June 5, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    DAD, such a dear ‘ol saint……what a blessing to have your parents so near……..your porch is looking AWESOME, Love & Blessings to you and yours…

    Reply
  7. Dena says

    June 6, 2013 at 4:49 am

    With 22 grandkids coming and going on the weekends I can surmise that’s the reason why my mamaw made us go off the front porch and not the back where the screen door was. Can you imagine how many times that door would open and close?

    Haint blue was a good bug repellent back in the day because they mixed it with lye. The color may confuse some these days and I’ve not seen one wasp nest since ours has been painted. I just wish it deterred house gecko’s as well.

    Everything looks great!

    Reply
  8. Patricia/Pat says

    June 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    Fantastic!!!!….You will get so much use of the new porch. It looks wonderful!

    Your Dad is an awesome Dad….I can clearly see that!! Tell him GREAT job!!!
    xx

    Reply
  9. Katie Mansfield says

    June 13, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Your dad is wonderful. The blue is supposed to repel flies as well. Let us know if it works.

    Reply
  10. Sandra @ Teacakes N' Things says

    June 14, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    Perfect and beautiful. I love everything about the porch. Your dad is a God-send. I am so impressed with his agility and work. May I borrow him (smile). My dad always provided such loving care of this type. He is now 94 and in poor health. Thank you for all the wonderful DIY projects.

    Reply
  11. Pam says

    June 20, 2013 at 9:46 am

    I love your dad, he is such a blessing to you but you already know that. Your porch is amazing! The parsonage we live in has a screened porch also, it it a main gathering spot for morning coffee and entertaining. I know you will enjoy yours as much a we do ours. Thanks for sharing your dreams with us.

    Reply
  12. Sheri says

    March 17, 2016 at 2:57 pm

    Can bead board be put on the ceiling of a covered porch that’s not enclosed? I love the look and the whole concept of how the bead board was used and how it turned out. Your dad is awesome and reminds me of my dad in the wood working world. They love to create beauty!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      March 17, 2016 at 9:26 pm

      HI, Sheri, you should be fine with putting beadboard on a covered porch ceiling. I’ve seen many older homes with beadboard ceilings. Thanks so much, my dad is great!

  13. Jannette says

    October 25, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    It’s such a perfect blue. Want to use it on my porch ceiling too. At Sherwin Wiliams right now and rainwashed #6211 looks green to me?

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      October 25, 2022 at 7:16 pm

      It changes with the light. Great color!

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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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