The Right Porch Ceiling Adds Charm

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	Home \| Find a Local Contractor Designs \| Decorating \| Ideas Screen Porches \| Enclosures \| Build Mobile Home Porches \| Build Porch Roof 3 Season Porch \| Screen Porch Windows Vintage Porch Parts \| More The Right Porch Ceiling Adds Charm If you purchase an item through affiliate links within our content, we will earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See our disclosure policy. Add ceiling porch bead board to an existing plywood porch ceiling or install tongue and groove and you've just created a warm inviting porch. Most porches are either open with visible rafters/joists or covered with various materials. Like other parts of your porch you have options. Mary and I also have ideas for ceilings like porch ceiling lights and more. The ceiling on your porch can be a wow! Porch Ceiling Materials Vinyl bead board - Photo courtesy of Shelly Plywood: Probably the most typical ceiling covering, plywood can be painted. We recommend a quality exterior grade plywood be used as it is susceptible to moisture and will separate if wet over time. I'd prime the edges as well to keep out moisture. Tips: Plywood installation is quick because you are using a minimum of 4' x 8' sheets. Recommend using larger size sheets if available to minimize the seams. Before doing so remember that plywood is heavy and will require several people to assist in installation. To hide the unsightly seams, consider using decorative strips in a 2' x 2' square pattern. You can paint the strips either a complementary or contrasting color depending on the effect you want. You'll love the results! Bead board: A mainstay for ceilings, bead board panels are easy to install over plywood. Bead board can also be painted or stained and will really add warmth to your porch. Bead board panels can be applied directly over exposed joists (if the joists run parallel to your home. Tips: When installed leave a 1/4 inch gap around the edges for expansion. Vinyl Bead board: Vinyl bead board is virtually maintenance-free. Shelly from New England submitted some excellent tips about putting up a vinyl bead board ceiling. Her photo is shown above. Photos courtesy of jeffmullins9 Photo courtesy of JulieArnan Tongue and Groove: Perhaps the most beautiful of all ceiling materials, tongue and groove comes in a variety of woods, can be custom made to your specifications, and looks fantastic. Tongue and groove boards come in various widths also. Normally, tongue and groove ceilings are stained. Tips: When installing tongue and groove, use stainless steel ring nails. Also, allow for expansion and if using wide boards (4" or more) nail the board to the joist in several places. Also, miter the end cuts so that the boards fit together end-to-end nicely. This prevents separation lines when the wood expands and contracts. Photo courtesy of Jay to the Nathan PVC: There are several products on the market that do very well such as Azek ® and Variform ®. This solid core, cellular vinyl (PVC) material stands up under the most severe weather conditions and is perfect for that beach or coastal porch. It is very stable to minimize expansion. PVC ceilings come in a variety of colors and usually has reversible edges so you can have either center bead or v-groove designs. Tips: Install solid sheathing to the underside of the porch ceiling joists if you live in a hot climate. Composite: Need a low maintenance ceiling. Try composite panels such as Try Royal Wood® Tongue-and-Groove panels. They are ideal as they resist moisture absorption, won't rot, and have both v-groove and bead design. Tips: Composite ceilings can be painted but should be scuffed with sandpaper first or apply a coat of primer. Advertisement Now that you have the right porch ceiling, add a ceiling fan! Easy to install, an outdoor ceiling fan will add a steady breeze on those hot summer days. They look great and will add both ambiance and comfort for your family and guests. Did you know porch ceilings are traditionally painted blue? Word has it that it reminds people of the sky or that it wards off mosquitoes. Either way, a blue ceiling is especially traditional in the South. Porch Ceiling Trivia Beadboard ceilings became popular long ago (like in the 1800s) to cover up unattractive joists in porch ceilings. Fast forward to today: Beadboard ceilings are considered a classic, timeless look on porches. If you plan to have a wood ceiling, keep in mind you must maintain it to keep it fresh and to prevent rotting or warping. If your wood porch ceiling is in good shape, you may just need to paint or stain it regularly to keep it protected. If, however, you see warping or rotting, boards may need to be replaced or repaired. If you prefer less maintenance for your porch ceiling, a metal like tin or aluminum is a good choice. Metal ceilings can be painted any color you like and they are less vulnerable to damage from moisture. Another option is a vinyl ceiling. For an elegant, more formal ceiling, coffered ceilings are beautiful. A coffered ceiling features recessed panels and framing. You often see coffered ceilings in living or dining rooms, too. Porch Ceilings: More Than Meets the Eye Did you get some insight about ceilings on porches? We hope you did. Now take a look at a porch ceiling transformation that our reader Shelly shared with us. 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