Message Boards

Well, since my countertop dreams started turning into nightmares, I caulked the cracks and painted them with some paint from the basement and moved on to something else to let that project rest for a while. I’m actually rehabbing the front windows in the DR, but while I was out milling around, another project that I want to look into soon came to my attention. I’ll probably experiment with it anyway since it only paint, but wondered what y’all’s opinions are on it.

Here’s the deal. There are wrought iron posts and brackets between the walls of the carport and the roof. They don’t bother us, so we’re going to leave them. They’re in need of rust management and a repaint. I’ve been thinking since I have to paint them anyway, I might paint out the leaves and vines and stuff in the cream and pale green we’ve been using on the house. While I like the contrast of the black iron with the green and cream house, painting out the iron would give it a softer look that would probably appear lacy from a distance. There are pros and cons of both options which I’m sure you’ll discover in the thought process.
Here are the posts from the side of the carport.

From inside the carport looking out.

If the posts get painted, I’ll have to do something with the railing out front (in front of the windows I'm working on today, thus the tired looking windows) as well to make the whole thing cohesive.

Thoughts?

You mentioned that you were going to experiment with painting them out the way you are describing so why don't you do that and show us a picture so we can decide once we see it?

My initial thoughts without seeing what you are envisioning is to say repaint them black or paint them all cream. Unless your experiment WOWS me, that's my opinion for now. I reserve the right to change my mind though if what you do looks ultra fantastic. :-)

Well, as tempting as it is to play with one of them, my hand are busy on something else while my mind is busy elsewhere...as usual.

The black keeps the wrought iron in the distance. The light color brings it 'in your face' and it seems to block the view. So, try one piece and see if you like the change on the perspective view of the railing.

And my opinion your house does not need 'lace', the simple lines are great, the railing detracts even in black. How about a gray to cut its presence and weight? Ties it in with the cement rather than... ? what else is black to tie it in with kind of color. I would remove the railing from the front of the house, you don't need it, code is for higher than 24" or something to provide railing.

I had to repaint my outdoor furniture recently and I cleaned it all and painted it with Flood's Penetrol, this product I have been using for years, solidifies rust. So, tools can be coated with it, dries clear. You apply it like paint and let it dry a couple of days, then paint over it. I went to a Flood (company) seminar of the stuff when it first came out many years ago. It is a product they use to put into oil based paint when put into a sprayer to thin it out, and this was a by-product plus for it.

When they built up the walkway behind the railing, they buried it into the concrete. They buried some of the aluminum siding into it as well. We've investigated it for removal, but given what's involved, that's a project for another day...year.

Thanks for the info on the Penetrol. I've been using it for years to thin, smooth, and extend the dry time on my oils. Love the stuff. Didn't know about the rust thing though. I'll have to go roust it out of the basement and test it out.

I don't know what to think about the post thing. When I was looking at it today, it looked pretty boring. It does disappear overall, but I'm thinking I might like to see what having it visible might be like. While it extends the view into the yard, I might like a visual break there so that the carport feels like a separate space. The railing in the front, I'm not sure what to do with that in the interim. It doesn't add any positives to the overall. I could paint it out in the house body color in which case it would hardly be noticeable at all. Of course a hack saw might also do the trick.

Christie,
So that is what was up with the walkway, I couldn't figure out how it fit against the house!

I like the idea of painting it the color of the house in the front, that would take the 'add-on, after thought' look out of it. It sure is easier than using the hacksaw! Save the hacksaw for one of those times you need to 'tear out's something!

Penetrol, yes I went to a seminar and learned about this new product and they didn't want to compete with Rustolium when they had a good market on the thinning part of it. Just like anything else though, rust does always come back on any metal. Even powder coating, I saw something done a year ago already rusting at the places where the corners where the metal was welded. So, checking every year when the Spring comes and winter is over which is something you do anyway when you own a home. The work never ends!

Yes, your carport would feel more like a room with the iron painted lighter. If that is what you want, then you would probably spend a little more energy to increase that room feeling with more plants, and personal things.

You have your Estate well on its way Christie, you and Donnie found a nice place to settle in! And since you do not plan on moving from this place, just like we don't from our current house either, we notice we are slowly putting down deep roots here, that means every project has a 'future' use or maintenance factor in it.

How would you feel about "boxing in" your wrought iron pillars on the car port and painting them the same color as the house? If you do that, I would put a wooden railing on the front of your house or take the wrought iron one away completely. On the other hand...if you are going to paint your wrought iron, I can see it cream with green leaves. The squares in your front yard wrought iron railing could be painted the same....Would all look clean and nice, I think.

May,
Good idea with boxing in, just to get rid of the 'wings' at the top.