OK guys, I’ve been working on this renovation (read throw the old ranch house away and build a new house while still living there!) for over a year and I’m trying to plan the final touches for the porch. We have decided to use Brazilian redwood (similar to IPE) for the porch floor which will be oiled and left as natural reddish brown color. The ACQ will all be covered with Azek to be consistent with the rest of the trim on the house. I’ll need some kind of lattice around the front and sides even when I bring the grade up a little. I’m trying to decide what to use for the porch ceiling. I was thinking about some type of beadboard, but I want to maintain the theme of maintenance free (or almost)! If I use the Azek beadboard or some other similar product, do I need to “sheath” the underside of the ceiling with 3/8 or 1/2 ply so I can attach to a solid substrate. Ceiling rafters are 2X6 on 16″ centers and the span from back to front is 8′. Appreciate your help and thanks for all the contributions in the past! Many here at BT university have helped with this project in more ways than one!
Darin
Edited 10/4/2004 9:50 pm ET by Darin
Replies
I tried to attach a picture, but I was a little too impatient, so here we go again!
What kind of sidiing are you going to install on the house? Matt
Dirishinme,
I have started the siding as you might have noticed on the dormers. I am using Hardiplank in the pre-finished "Monteray Gray" color plus product. Hardi has a 15 year gaurantee on the finish, and I knew I would be pusing the winter envelope, so I didn't want to have to paint when everything is done.
Ed,
Do you know if the 1X6 T&G is available pre-primed on all sides? I will check with my local lumber yard, but that is an option. I was thinking along the lines of engineered or composite products, but you make a good point about the durability of the ceiling since it will not see any weather. I'll look into that...thanks for the suggestions!
darin.. we like Alcoa ProBead vinyl.. both the vented and the solid.. they have a nice low profile j-mold ( 5/8 x 2 )...
we usually use the white... but we've alos painted it to match some of the essex green trim
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Hardy makes a 4'x8' sheet product that a little like T-111 that you may like.
Another idea is a vinyl product that I have used called Certainteed T-2 soffit. T-2 stands for triple 2" I think the product looks great, and if installed properly (no seams showing), 8 out of 10 people (carpenters/builders excluded) would never know it is not wood beadboard. It has a very low profile. Attached is a pic of my own porch ceiling with the product. It is available in both vented and "invisivnet". In the pic, both types were used. It is a bit difficult to tell them apart.
Well, for some reason I can't attach a file... Anyway, here is a link to the Certainteed web site that shows the vinyl soffit material: http://www.certainteed.com/NR/rdonlyres/2926431D-DA04-4C01-8D4A-65914FACD499/0/CTvinylbeadedt2colonialwhitelr.jpg
Or use this one: http://www.certainteed.com/CertainTeed/Pro/Builder/Siding/DML/Vinyl/CertainTeed/Soffits.htm#BeadedT2Matt
try heartland vinyl bead soffit, comes in colors, linen is good.
I just finished a screened porch in it and it turned out good.
12'6" lengths.
you will either have to order smaller J or do some shimming of the joists since the bead is thinner than the standard J, but you can find slats that can take out the difference
nw
The material I was recommending also comes in 12'6" lengths. If you can figure out how to install the vinyl so there are not joints - ie - ceiling width is < 12'6", or you break the ceiling into sections, again, so there will be no exposed joints it doesn't scream vinyl. Also, if you can figure out how to do the ceiling with no J-channel, that helps the look too.
In summary, no seams exposed seams in the vinyl panels, and not J-channel = vinyl without the vinyl look, and in the end a ceiling with the lowest maintenance requirements possible. Matt
You could use 1x6 T&G v-groove car siding for the ceiling. Prime all six sides before installing and it should be very low maintenance. Don't forget that it will not get any sun or rain, and no foot traffic, so there's nothing to wear on the paint or varnish.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
In the process of doing a porch myself. Doing the ceiling in clear 3" cedar T&G. The cedar lined skylight wells look great when the sunshine washes down them (until they leak and leave water marks all over the cedar that is!)
We are presently using the Azek on ceilings under our decks.We are installing direct to the joists with no problem, other than the occasional bad joist. I like the look, but for my money I'd probably like the look of Mike Smiths vinyl better.The stuff sure is pricy, I have a small cube 4' x 20' x 1.5' on the ground I'm turning into a Pergola, and it was about $7000.
I guess it all comes down to dollars and cents.The Azek ceilings do look great.
Greg in Connecticut