Welcome to our Porch

Ceilings are one of those things in a home that don't get enough attention. So when building our home I wanted to opt. in for a few things that would add character to something that's normally looked over.

The back porch for us is a place where we can relax and unwind. A place where I might lay down and look up and never wanted the thought in my head of "wow this ceiling looks like hell." So when building our home, a wood ceiling was a must.

Here's what we used:

• 2x6 Tounge & Grove Cedar Planks

• Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner

• Minwax Oil Based Stain in Jacobean

• Minwax Helmsman Satin Oil-Based Varnish

Before you choose your stain color, use one small area of the worst looking plank you have for testing. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. We went through around 8 different stains and combinations for stains before we found the perfect one. Also consider any wood pieces you have nearby that might clash with the stain color. Remember that stains look very different depending on the type of wood as well. Be sure to use the pre-stain before your test stain spot to get the best results.

Another tip is that if you do want to get a darker tint, but still see more of the wood grain, you can dilute your stain with mineral spirits and once you apply the stain, wipe it off right away. Once the stain sets in the wood, there's not much going back.

I will say it's also easier to pre-stain, stain and then seal your wood before installing it. You will indeed have a sore neck if you wait to seal it once it's up, trust me on that one.

The sealer (varnish) makes a HUGE difference. Because we choose to use cedar we were not too worried about bugs. Apparently it's pretty resilient to flying insects. However, after leaving it unsealed for a few months, I wasn't liking the dull, chalky look it was starting to get. The wood looked thirsty. The sealer made SUCH a difference in the whole look of the ceiling.

All in all, we are so happy on how this all turned out. It's one of my favorite parts of the back porch. If you have any questions send them my way!