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What Type of Paint Should I Use On My Porch?
Sam Lutz • Mar 21, 2017
Painting your porch can be a challenge. Because porches are a high-traffic areas that require special paint, the first step is to find the right type of paint for the job. Once you have the right product, you can get started on your project.
Type of Paint
Most paint companies will make specially formulated porch and deck paint. This type of paint is an extra hard, glossy enamel that sticks to wood and forms a hard shell around your porch floorboards. It’s important to note that porch paint can be slippery when wet, so homeowners worried about slips and falls should look for non-skid paint or coarse paint additives that make the surface of the porch less slippery.
Color of Paint
You can paint your porch any color you want, but consider the following before choosing your color:
- Dark paint colors will hide scuff marks more readily, but will absorb heat in direct sunlight, making a hot surface for walking.
- Light paint colors will show dirt and mud more easily, but will reflect light to stay cooler in the summer.
Consider the color of your home’s trim and siding as you pick the color for your porch. If you’re feeling creative, try painting subtle stripes on your porch.
To Prime or Not to Prime
Priming the wood is often unnecessary, unless you’re applying a water based paint over an oil based paint. However, priming the wood before painting your porch may improve the durability of the paint job, which can extend the time between paintings.
Process
The process for painting your porch is similar to the process for painting a deck or your home’s siding. Start by gathering your materials. In addition to special porch paint and primer, you’ll need:
- Scrub brushes and sponges for cleaning the porch
- Angled and flat paint brushes
- Paint trays
- Painter’s tape
- Tarp or tarps
Once you’ve gathered everything for your project, this is the process:
- Clean the porch using a strong jet of water from a hose and a sponge.
- Wait for the porch to dry.
- Prepare the area by taping tarps to the home surrounding the porch.
- Cover the nearby landscaping with tarps.
- Prime the porch with a layer of exterior grade porch primer. Use an angled paint brush to paint the corners and edges near the house, and use a flat paint brush to paint the open, flat parts of the porch.
- Wait for the primer to dry. The primer is dry when it feels smooth and no longer tacky.
- Apply the first coat of paint using the same techniques you used to apply the primer.
- Wait for the first coat of paint to dry, then apply the second coat of paint.
It’s important to complete this project in good weather when no rain is expected. Keep in mind that paint needs to be applied within certain temperature parameters, so check out the manufacturer’s instructions if you’re planning to paint on a cold or hot day.
Stop in At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture
At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we carry a variety of paints for the porch
and other parts of the home. We genuinely hope that your paint projects go well this spring and summer, and we’re happy to offer any advice we can for getting the work done. To get started on your project today, stop in at one of our convenient locations.
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