Adding Paint To Your Walls

Painting a Back Porch? What You Need to Know

15 June 2020

Paul Lucas

If you have a bland porch and you want to add some pizzazz, painting it is one option. A fresh coat of paint can give it an updated and clean look, as opposed to fresh wood. Painting your wood can also make your wood last longer, as it won't rot out, as opposed to having nothing on it at all. When painting your porch, there are a few things you should know. Read on for helpful tips to get the job done right.

Tools and Equipment for the Job

• Paintbrushes (straight and angled, 2 1/2 and 3 inch)
• Thick nap rollers
• Roller trays and inserts
• Extension pole
• Knee pads
• Ladder
• Exterior paint
• Wood filler 
• Sanding block
• Garden hose
• Deck cleaner

Painting Instructions

First, you should wash your porch down with the garden hose and with a wood/deck cleaner to get off the years of debris stuck on your porch. Spray from the top to the bottom, clearing away as much dirt as you can. Pay attention to the cracks and crevices around your deck. Once washed, rinse it thoroughly to prevent it from hindering your paint from sticking to the porch.

Next, you need to take a close inspection of your deck and fill in any holes or gaps around your porch with wood filler. Fill in all of the holes on the porch to give your porch a more put-together look, and to prevent pests or water from getting into these spaces.

After your porch has dried thoroughly and you have filled in all of the gaps, you can begin painting. Use the paintbrush first to get in the small spaces around your porch. The angled brush is the best to use in these spaces. 

Next, use the roller or the flat brushes to paint your porch. Cover the wood in even strokes and with enough paint that it covers without leaving drips. Start at the top of your porch and work your way down, depending on the scope of your project. Start at the ceiling, then down the side beams, and finally the railings and floorboards.

Once you are finished painting the entire thing, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours. Take a close look at your work after it has dried thoroughly and check to see if it needs a second coat. The wood may have soaked in much of the paint, so a second coat may be necessary. Repeat the painting steps when adding a second coat and allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Painting a porch can be a big job. If you don't have the time to complete this project on your own, hire home painting services to get it all done for you.

Share  

Search