Friday, November 25, 2011

Porch Ceiling Types

Vinyl beadboard is a common porch ceiling choice.


When building or remodeling a porch, you have several options to create a beautiful porch ceiling. The porch ceiling sets the tone and feel of the porch, so it is important to choose carefully. The type of material chosen determines the amount of maintenance the porch ceiling requires and establishes the character of the porch.


Vinyl Beadboard Soffit


Vinyl beadboard is available in a wide variety of sizes, styles and colors. Vinyl exteriors need no maintenance, other than occasional cleaning, and never need to be painted. Available as vented, solid or as panels with hidden vents, vinyl beadboard is a versatile product. These panels lock together creating a pattern of straight horizontal lines across the porch ceiling.


Plywood








Plywood comes in large flat sheets that are screwed into the joists or headers of the porch ceiling. Plywood is sensitive to moisture, and excessive moisture can damage the material. The seams made by joining the pieces of plywood can be covered with decorative trim pieces to create a pattern on the ceiling. Plywood should be painted with a high-quality exterior paint to protect it from moisture.


Wood


Tongue and groove planks are often used to create a porch ceiling. Wood is a visually appealing material for a porch ceiling, but it is susceptible to moisture damage. Wood porch ceilings must be maintained and treated with protective sealants and stains to maintain their beauty. Annual maintenance with a waterproof sealant is often recommended by manufacturers.


Aluminum Soffit


Aluminum soffit is an easy-to-maintain porch ceiling material. Aluminum soffit is available in many styles and colors to suit any type of home. These panels can have a baked-on enamel finish or they can be painted. A painted aluminum soffit panel needs to be periodically repainted because the paint peels away after a few years.

Tags: porch ceiling, ceiling Plywood, Aluminum soffit, moisture damage, porch ceiling Plywood, styles colors, These panels