skip to main content

Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Porch ceiling dilemma

Stephanie Russell

2 years ago

I want to make our porch ceiling nicer. The guy we had come out proposed to put vinyl beadboard and either bring the ceiling down to cover the cross beams or notch around them. I personally like the exposed beams and I believe both options would cover them (only the cross beams would show pending our decision. I can’t find any great examples that I love so hoping you all might be able to share ideas?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

jck910
2 years ago
I would do the bead board in between the rafters (if that is even possible) in a wood tone. And I would lower the TV
Sharon Fullen
2 years ago
I like the exposed beams. Are you in love with the white? Why not find a light blue like the sky in the insets.
Related Discussions
Hang Porch Swing from Sloped Porch Ceiling?
Q
Comments (11)
To help visualize the problem, take a yo-yo or a plumb bob or anything similar and swing it at about three feet and note the frequency at which it swings back and forth. Now hold it at a couple inches and note the frequency. You cannot control the natural speed of these pendulums. So having a swing with different length chains, each side is fighting against each other. The longer side is trying to swing more slowly. A few more experiments with your yo-yo will support what I said above... The slope matters. The less difference in length, the better. The height of the rafters matters. You'll immediately notice a difference between the speeds of five inches and ten inches. The difference between three feet and 3'5" are much more subtle. The last part I'm just using intuition to say that if you're just lazily swaying back and forth you'll notice the out of balance a lot less than if you're wildly swinging.
...See More
Cute front porch dilemma
Q
Comments (53)
Privacy wall is very, very nice. 4 X 6 rugs - is that about the size of space on each side of middle pillar / post? If yes, then no, I don’t think it would be odd but will be very symetrical. A good thing for me! Question -do you need shade to sit out on porch? I’m thinking about roll up kind of shades mounted on the porch side of the fascia trim.. Invisible from the street. There are easy ways to hold or tie down the shades if breezes are a problem.. We have a rollup shade on our west facing porch. Makes our porch so much more usable. ETA Another thought - agree that table is too large. I’m thinking two small tables, one between each set of chairs…Goes well with having two rugs.
...See More
Porch flashing/caulking dilemma
Q
Comments (5)
Hi Joseph Corlett, thanks for your reply. I do not intend to recaulk. I'm just mystified about why they did this. Their carpenter did a much better job on the deck than we had on the old deck - really precise cuts for the most part, careful not to split the wood when putting in the screws, etc. I can only think they did this to appease me because I was so annoyed that they didn't flash? But honestly, it just seems crazy to me.
...See More
Front Porch Dilemma
Q
Comments (20)
Guys! I know the stone isn’t ideal. Trust me, I fought this one and lost. Notice my husband still got a massive garage though. My time will come! The true test of a marriage is trying to build a house together. Lol. Update-Met with the builder today and I think we worked out a plan that will tie the 9’ roof into the 11’ column/ceiling so I will have the 11’ posts on both sides of door as planned. My compromise is a shorter post on the far right but I think once we get everything in place, I can live with it. I also had agreed to that a long time ago so wasn’t going to fight it hard now. Anyway, engineer is being called and the parts are moving. Thank you for all your suggestions and sharing in my misery. Sometimes it just helps to know that I’m not the only person that thinks something is stupid. P.S. I thought about a pergola and that was my backup plan if they couldn’t give me anything else reasonable.
...See More
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
This appears to be a interior space not a porch but I do love pale blue ceilings in porches That TV IMO needs to be larger and alot lower.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
What don’t you like with what you have currently? Easy would be to install v groove pine on the underside of the sloped rafters which could be stained or painted. Trickier would be to install it between the rafters and use 1/4 round to cover the gaps.
3onthetree
2 years ago
Your roof framing is missing structural elements, so the roof loads are pushing your walls out. Google "rafter ties" (you have "collar ties" what you are calling "cross beams", and those are fairly insignificant compared to rafter ties). You can still have an open ceiling with a finished surface plane though, you just need some lower "cross beams."
Stephanie Russell
Original Author
2 years ago
@3onthetree I probably shouldn’t have taken the picture at night bc the only wall is the one the TV is on. You’re just looking at the open sides which are black bc its night 😉 No walls to push out!
Stephanie Russell
Original Author
2 years ago
@patricia it’s most certainly a porch - I didn’t ask about the TV but thanks
Stephanie Russell
Original Author
2 years ago
@hallett, how would we get it on the underside of the rafters? I feel like the only option would be to put it between but that seems like it would be really hard to line up
Stephanie Russell
Original Author
2 years ago
Our main issue is that you can see the nails that come through from the roof. We painted them white but it’s still pretty obvious and just doesn’t look as finished as we would like. Our floors are grey so I’m not sure a blue ceiling would look good.
3onthetree
2 years ago
Wall, columns, or levitating in air - physics is physics and over time the roof ridge will sag as the rafters push out. If heavier snow load climate then even quicker.

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Renovation Detail: The Blue Porch Ceiling

By Rachel Grace

Ghostly legends spurred the Haint Blue porch ceiling trend in the South, but you can pick this color just because it's pretty

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Porch Life: Modern Porches Step It Up

By Becky Harris

With dramatically different lines and sometimes not even a separate roof, modern porch designs leave tradition behind

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 12 Ways to Prep the Porch for Summer

By Becky Harris

Small Floor-to-Ceiling Projects for Your Front-Yard Perch

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Blow Past the Heat With an Outdoor Ceiling Fan

By Kristy Woodson Harvey and Beth Woodson

Drop some degrees on your porch or patio while boosting its style, with an energy-efficient ceiling fan

DECKS Trending: 10 Awesome New Outdoor Ceilings Popular in Summer 2018

By Annie Thornton

See the innovative covered decks, patios and porches that have been getting the most saves. Which is your favorite?

COLOR 11 Reasons to Paint Your Ceiling Black

Mask flaws, trick the eye, create drama ... a black ceiling solves a host of design dilemmas while looking smashing

OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES Cool Down With These Stylish Ideas for Outdoor Ceiling Fans

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

See how this outdoor accessory can work with a variety of porch and patio styles

LIGHTING Dramatic Lighting for Low Ceilings

By Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

No room for a big chandelier? See how your overhead lighting can still make a statement

DECORATING GUIDES How to Work With a High Ceiling

By Judith Taylor Designs

Learn how to use scale, structure and shapes to create a homey-feeling space below a grand ceiling

CONTAINER GARDENS Solve Your Garden Border Dilemmas With Planted Pots

Set your containers free from the patio — placed among plantings in the ground, they fill unsightly gaps, let you experiment and more

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Soffit and Deck Colour Advice

3

Should entry doors match?

6

Moving Deck Stairs- help!

0

hello Houzzers!

0

how can I add privacy to this screened porch?

12