Life in the Country

Is your porch neglected? Is it affecting your curb appeal? A neglected porch can decrease your property’s value. However, financial analysts and real estate experts suggest that improving curb appeal could boost your home’s value by up to 7% and your return on investment for paint is typically 100%. Zillow states, “a well-maintained exterior lets buyers know that a home has been taken care of. It can even give the impression that the whole home is in good shape…”

Here’s an inexpensive solution to boost your home’s value and restore your porch back to its original glory…stain!

Homes located in areas that experience extreme fluctuations in weather often need more frequent exterior maintenance. The sun, wind, and rain can wreak havoc on porches and decks. It makes sense that extreme fluctuations in climate definitely impact how rapidly wood weathers. Therefore, annual cleaning of your porch, and assessing areas that need stain, will prevent weathering that eventually leads to rot. The result is a porch that looks great and invites onlookers! Your home’s value is boosted as well!

Disclaimer

First, a disclaimer! I’m not a professional, just an individual who enjoys most projects as a DIY. My husband tackles many of them with me, or has significant input before I️ begin. He’s an engineer with an eye for detail. I️ appreciate that he can see potential problems and mitigate them in advance. I️ also like to read tips from the pros, as well as novices like myself, who have already successfully completed the same jobs and share what worked and what didn’t. Failure is the best teacher! However, someone else’s shared failure is an even better teacher! Why reinvent the wheel? So, as one who does not claim to be a professional, I’ll share what has worked so far.

I’ve stained the porch quite a few times, but the products I used this time yielded results that were great! When we built this house, I️ was excited about the porch. It’s not large, so I️ felt the maintenance would be simple. It actually is simple, just not easy. It seems to me the cedar on this porch is very high maintenance. I’ve stained it multiple times already. This time, I️ am extremely pleased with the outcome, and I️ remain pleased. I found the results to be too good to keep to myself. In fact, I stained this porch more than 2 years ago and it still looks just as good. Normally, I would have started to see signs of weathering by now. This time, I have achieved success! Hence, this post.

Getting Started

Weather

Check the forecast. I️ allow prepped and cleaned wood 48 hours to dry BEFORE I️ begin applying stain. I’ve learned the hard way that if wood hasn’t had adequate drying time, stain will not adhere very well. Likewise, I️ also check to see if rain is in the forecast for 48 hours AFTER my anticipated stain application. Otherwise, stain will not adhere well if exposed to rain during the drying process. Do the math, and consider how long you expect the application will take and watch the forecast for that many dry days.

Safety

Safety! Assess whether the projects will require a ladder or something more robust and taller, such as scaffolding. A fall can drastically change or even end your life. The extra time required to ensure safety is critical.

Assess Your Wood

Look for rotted or cracked wood, or areas that are in need of repair. It’s not uncommon to find areas where the wood is twisting or separating from the screws. This is a good time to repair those areas.

Assess Insect Damage

Look for areas where wood boring insects have set up house. I inspect for holes that indicate unwanted guests. When I find them, I exterminate those areas, clean the out, and use wood filler if necessary.

Clean First

Now it’s time to clean. Sweep away dirt, dust, and cobwebs. Knock down wasp nests.

I’ve had good results with wood cleaners like Mold Armor Cleaner https://amzn.to/3kIV8mg when I’ve spotted mold or mildew. I’ve also used other cleaners and brighteners. The key is to follow directions for the cleaning products you use and only use stronger cleaners and concentrates if the condition of the wood on your porch warrants doing so.

Assess your wood to determine if a cleaner is sufficient for preparation. A more aggressive product, like a wood stripper, may be a necessary part of the prep process. While they get the job done, aggressive cleaners have their draw backs too, so make sure it’s what the wood needs before application.

Wood Fuzz

When wood turns gray, it is likely to need more attention, which may lead to wood that appears fuzzy after it has been prepped. This is also known as “furring”. Avoiding this fuzzy appearance is another reason to annually clean your porch and apply stain when you see signs of color fading. Don’t wait until the wood is crying out for attention. This will require more prep which can lead to fuzzy or furring wood.

I’ve been known in the past to prep with too heavy of a hand, resulting in fuzzing. Heavy power washing, or scrubbing with a brush, can also affect wood this way. Sometimes it’s necessary to power wash, but take care to do so gently.

A light sanding sponge, or buffing pad, is all that’s necessary to lightly remove the fuzz. Nothing abrasive or aggressive, please! Your wood will thank you for being gentle.

Before Staining

Assess your porch floor. Will you need to protect it? I prefer to use a tarp across the porch floor and along the brick steps to protect from drips, spills and occasional runs.

What about your columns? Any masonry that will need cover and protection? Take the time to prep and protect. I know the preparation can be tedious and take a long time, and honestly it may seem to take more time than the actual staining, but it will allow the finished product to be free from the distractions of unsightly drips, runs, and big spills on concrete.

Stain Choices

The wood under the porch was 10 years old and it still looked really good. It was largely protected from the elements of wind, rain, and sun. The only prep required for that area was a good cleaning and adequate drying time. That area shows the least wear, and needed the least attention. However, I️ like how the contrast of both colors turned out.

Since I prefer lighter colored wood stains, I kept the color natural under the porch. I applied Olympic Elite’s Advanced Woodland Oil Stain + Sealant In One. This stain in natural has not disappointed.

The rest of the wood showed signs of weathering. It had only been 3 or 4 years since I had previously stained it. No matter how expensive the products that I had used, or how long they claim to protect, it seemed the porch couldn’t go longer between applications. This time, I opted for an an actual semi-solid stain for the exterior of the porch and columns. I chose Cabot’s Semi-Solid Deck & Siding Stain in Cordovan Brown https://amzn.to/3EWXBQO. I applied 3 coats of each.

Dry & Savor

The Finished Product

When finished, allow ample drying time. Both Cabot and Olympic Elite indicate that it may take 24-48 hours to dry. Step back and savor your finished product. Your hard work and labor have increased your home’s value and your curb appeal!

For more projects like this one, visit my webpage at http://www.lifeinthecountryusa.com. Considering a greenhouse or need a man cave or she shed? Check out https://lifeinthecountryusa.com/diy-greenhouse-shed-she-shed-man-cave/.