We really had some lovely climate over the weekend, so I headed exterior, decided to make some progress on the entrance porch. I actually needed to get the previous, rotted fascia boards eliminated and changed with PVC boards, after which make some headway on the skirting to cowl up the concrete.
Simply as a reminder, that is why I’m even specializing in the entrance porch (when now we have good climate exterior) proper now. You’ll be able to see right here how rotted the previous boards have been.
And it wasn’t simply the entrance board. The board on the aspect of the porch was even worse.
It took fairly some time to get these previous fascia boards off. Let’s simply say that after I construct issues, I don’t intend for them to be undone. 😀 However as soon as I acquired the previous boards off of the entrance of the porch, I began by portray the entire thing strong black. After which my thought was to connect the brand new PVC fascia boards, after which to cowl over the underside skirting space, I used to be going to make use of PVC 1″x4″ boards vertically and spaced about 1/4″ to 1/2″ inch aside. (And as you possibly can see, the rain got here again whereas I used to be working. I took most of those footage after the rain began once more.)
That is the paint that I used to color the concrete, and I requested them to combine a strong black for me. I didn’t select a shade from the paint swatches. I simply requested for pure, strong black. I used to be fairly impressed with this paint. It went on very simply and lined very well.
I did all the portray very first thing on Saturday after which gave it over 24 hours to dry earlier than I continued. My thought was to easily glue on the vertical boards utilizing a polyurethane adhesive. That’s what I used to stick the fake stones that have been right here earlier than, and I figured if the polyurethane adhesive will work on fake stones (they usually have been nonetheless on there very well after I took them off), it can work on PVC boards as nicely.
My concrete does have these horizontal ridges the place the boards for the framing met when the concrete was poured, however I didn’t assume they might be an issue since they weren’t an issue after I glued on the stone.
However I wasn’t fairly positive about areas like this. I’ve two areas like this, and I believed they is likely to be an issue, however I used to be ready to notch out the again of the PVC board to accommodate these areas.
However my entire thought fell aside fairly shortly. I made a decision to carry off on attaching the opposite fascia board on the entrance till I had all the vertical skirting boards on. It appeared like it could be simpler to connect these with out the fascia boards in the best way. My thought was to begin on the appropriate nook of the porch with two vertical boards connected to one another at a 90-degree angle, and the work in both route from that nook, spacing the remainder of the vertical boards about 1/4″ aside.
I connected two vertical items collectively utilizing PVC glue.
And the I put polyurethane adhesive on the again. And that’s the place I bumped into issues. I imply, proper off the bat, my confidence went proper down the bathroom. Initially, I put a beneficiant quantity of polyurethane adhesive on the again, and the put the piece in place on the nook of the concrete. However I couldn’t get the nook PVC items plumb on each side to save lots of my life. So I took it off after which noticed that just about not one of the polyurethane adhesive had even touched the concrete on one of many items. To ensure that it to look plumb on the entrance piece, the aspect piece wasn’t even touching the concrete in most areas.
So I took it off and determined to load it down with a ridiculous quantity of polyurethane adhesive and take a look at once more.
It doesn’t matter what I did, I couldn’t get that nook piece located in order that it was plumb on the entrance and the aspect on the similar time. Labored and labored and labored with it, after which I lastly gave up. And naturally, it left a whole mess.
And that’s in regards to the time it began raining, and I definitely didn’t wish to be gluing PVC boards to moist concrete, so I referred to as it a day.
And now, my confidence in my plan is completely shattered. I truthfully thought it could be a fast and easy challenge, however it’s clearly not. And since that nook of the concrete is so wonky, I don’t assume I’m going to have the ability to do any type of skirting that requires me to connect something to the concrete. I had this very same drawback after I was making an attempt to do the fake stone facade as nicely. The items that wrapped across the nook regarded nice on the entrance, however they have been method off on the aspect.
So yesterday night, after being pressured to cease due to the rain, and compelled to rethink my plan due to that wonky concrete nook, I got here inside and began in search of different concepts for the skirting. I got here throughout this actually nice YouTube channel referred to as Michael Builds, and he has this video on easy methods to create totally different appears to be like straight on concrete utilizing mortar combine. He created a stone look, a stucco look, and a brick look on these concrete blocks simply utilizing mortar combine and some instruments.
I feel I’m going to vary course fully and do that as a substitute. The one drawback is that it needs to be utilized to unpainted concrete. After all it does. 😀 And naturally, I simply painted my concrete. Ugh. However I feel I can use my grinder and get the paint off pretty shortly and simply. However I feel an thought like that is the one method I’m going to have the ability to work round that wonky concrete nook on the porch and get a constant look from the entrance to the aspect of the porch skirting.
Additionally, it appears to be like enjoyable, and I really like making an attempt new issues. I’ve by no means labored with mortar combine earlier than, so it might find yourself being one other fail, however I feel I’ll at the least have enjoyable making an attempt! And to make it simple, as a substitute of making an attempt to match the stone on our home, I feel I’ll simply go along with a brick sample. As soon as it’s painted, I feel it’ll coordinate nicely with the stone. I’d somewhat or not it’s apparent that it’s a special materials as a substitute of making an attempt to match the stones and failing.
That’s the brand new plan. Now I simply should get that black paint off of the concrete after which wait for one more day of fairly climate earlier than I can check out this new thought.
Extra About Our Home Exterior & Yard
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Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and beautify the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You’ll be able to be taught extra about me right here.
