On the front porch mentioned in my recent post about painting cedar, there’s a overhang that’s finished with pine 1×4 T&G beadboard. It’s been up for a month or two. Porch faces south.
I had intended to paint it, but a couple folks have mentioned that it’d look much better with a finish that lets the wood show through. I can see the merit of their suggestion, but am a bit skittish about doing so; even though it’s not going to get a lot of direct sun or rain, it *will* get some, and I assume it’d have to be recoated every few years, though perhaps not as often as an open deck in the same spot.
I’m not particularly interested in a stain, so I’m guessing I’m a bit limited in my options. Any ideas?
Thanks.
Jason
Replies
Jason,
I built the exterior of my house with all balck walnut and really wanted to show it off.
I talked to every paint company on the planet and in the end the answer is always no..
no nothing will hold up as long as a decent paint will.
No, the wood behind whatever will eventually fade and turn grey.
No, annual maintinace is required on even the finest marine varnishes. (Epiphanes is the best)
So you can do as I did, keep looking and listening to a bunch of hype or accept the truth and just paint it from the start.
PS I gave everything the best marine varnish I could and 3 well applied coats lasted a little over 4 years before the wood behind started to bleach noticably.. the finish is still fine just the underlying wood has bleached badly now 6 years later..
Edited 10/6/2007 9:32 am ET by frenchy