summer pots on front porch
Life,  Projects

A New FRONT PORCH MAKEOVER to the RESCUE!

Each year my front porch is always in some form of makeover.

In past years, there has been a new front door purchased or painted.

Last year, a new ring doorbell added. New planters or a change in those plants for the front porch to give life.

A different column, or paint on the concrete or new item of attention on the long side next to the door since that door is not centered is often in the plan.

There have been new light fixtures added in years past.

ALWAYS a new rug is added and the American flag hung from May through July.

Now, this year? You’ll need to read on to find out why a new front porch makeover to the rescue was needed.

So, what new changes would be needed this year for the front porch?

Yeah…this year the front porch plan has a twist.

A few weeks ago, in the wee hours of the morning, my husband shot up straight in bed. “Something just fell”, he said. I am a really light sleeper and that sound hadn’t awakened me.

Only his wake up call.

He went through the house with a flashlight in hand and saw nothing and came back to bed.

Guess what the surprise fall was?

The next morning, my husband rang the front door bell and said, “I found what I heard last night”, and there in pieces all across the front porch was one of the large lights that had hung next to the front door.

Shattered on the front porch in a pile of glass and bulbs and housing was that light. A complete loss. I was hoping that my ring doorbell showed the evidence of the culprit; but there was nothing recorded. Hmmmm….

Seriously! What a mess!

There right in front of me, that porch light had been completely pulled down.

There were black marks and prints and then I saw them…

Do you see those prints? What a mess! I asked my granddaughter to put her Nancy Drew club to work to solve the mystery.

Those pawprints had to be a raccoon’s.

Now, if he, (or heaven forbid, a she looking to nest!) had just knocked down that light and left, that would have been the best possible damage; but, no, the next night, I began to hear noises in the attic above the bedroom bed.

It only took opening the door and I saw it…the soffit above the porch had been pulled down!

SERIOUSLY!

Peace had left my home and I wasn’t about to let that happen!

We made the trek the next morning to find a cage. My husband researched the best “food” for capture. Set that trap to capture in the attic and take him (or her!) far away from our “city” and woodland surrounded home…hoping he (or she!) wouldn’t find their way back.

Well, that didn’t work so well! Three rounds of food and two eaten without capture, my husband used another trick to prevent entrance or food retrieval without capture.

That little critter was smarter than the average human and didn’t take the bait.

In the meanwhile, I could hear scurrying above and I was concerned that we were nesting or it was relieving himself (or herself)- Yuk! Which will now require removal and replacing insulation, resealing all of the soffit areas to prevent another entrance. I’m concerned more installation of ceiling replacements are in my future.

But, the problem at hand still remained…

REMOVAL!

Can I spare you the details?

Finally, that raccoon was removed–hopefully, not to return.

Soffits were screwed back into place.

Can I tell you that many things were on our DIY and home improvement list in March 2020 when COVID began? Reinsulating and sealing the attic was one that has moved up the list in priorities.

But, now?

The FRONT PORCH makeover has now taken on a new leading lady role in home repairs!

I began with the list!

  • Cleaning that siding, door frame and getting ready for new paint on the trim and porch concrete.
  • Selecting new light fixtures that are in better proportion and add a new and beautiful function to lighting.
  • Removing the old paint on the front porch with an environmentally friendly product.
  • Painting the front porch to match the slate sidewalk.
  • Planting new plants in the planters.
  • Hanging the American flag for Memorial Day , Flag Day and the 4th of July.
  • Creating a new front door decoration.
  • And adding a new bit of home to the front porch.

And you know what?

That uninvited guest may have just prompted me to create a new plan that is exciting…updates our home with a new and fresh look…and gives me an opportunity to invite guests in a wonderful new way.

(I am including shopping links for your convenience at no extra expense to you! Just sharing my finds for this front porch makeover!)

Power washing was the next item on the list to clean the siding and the porch floor.

A great way to get the winter dust and dirt off and help loosen paint to prepare it for removal and a new coat. It also helped remove those traces of raccoon prints!

The power washer took all of the dirt, grime, raccoon evidence AND paint right off that front porch!
New light fixtures selected was the next order of business.

The light fixtures that we had were large and impressive; but, with that said, they were a bit over sized for the front porch entry. Perhaps that little guy did a favor when he took one down and another to match could not be found.

Plans to change those light fixtures were suddenly made.

Now new technology and research brought me to select new front porch lights. This time we selected those that are LED, dusk to dawn AND motion activated. These were the ones that I selected locally. I love them! Super cost effective and just may replace all four outdoor lights on the deck doors.

Much smaller than the original pair, but really a perfect scale for the porch!
The paint on the front porch floor was peeling and needed an update.

Who knows what type of porch paint was first used on our front porch, but updating it only resulted in peeling and poor color choice. It was time for an update!

Environmentally friendly remover that would not create issues for my landscaping was the order of the day.

This professionally recommended product gave great results.

Simple directions were followed.

Simply add a coat, let it dry, scrape with a long handled scraper and continue the process, wetting in between coats, until all of the paint is removed.

That porch was scraped, sanded, cleaned and painted again.

I began with a long handled scraper. The final step was done with this smaller one.

WHEW!

Easier said that done! I then used a wire brush around the edges and then sanded the surface.

I love this little sander! Even if the job was a large one, it left the surface of the concrete perfect for painting.
A new paint color to match the slate sidewalk was my goal.

We have always used Pittsburgh paints. My husband is a genius with paint.

That genius became the product selector for this project with his years of experience.

He had a conversation with a trusted employee and they agreed on the process and paint type that would work best for the project. I love that they color matched the slate sidewalk so that porch paint would match for a better overall effect.

TIP: Make sure that you always seek knowledgeable and experienced professionals to assist for your projects. A redo because of poor guidance is not worth that extra work.

Before I rolled the paint, I wiped the surface off with mineral spirits to remove anything left on the concrete. Can I tell you that rolling that paint was the easiest part of this front porch makeover!
Planters replanted was the next step in this front porch makeover.

I love the traditional planters that have been on my front porch.

TIP: They were a lightweight fiberglass with added concrete to the base to add support and weight to prevent blowing over. A great idea that worked.

Cleaning them, refilling them with new potting soil and adding plants to them occurs every May.

A new Ring doorbell last year made my ferns no longer an option! My thriller could no longer be a spike that I had usually planted in the center. That meant that my geraniums would have to be my thriller.

This year I went with red geraniums, Proven Winners white giant snowflake bacopa and light blue lobelia flowers to add a patriotic theme from Memorial Day, Flag Day, the fourth of July and even through Labor Day. The geraniums became the thriller, blue lobelia became the filler and the white became the spiller. They are just a few of my favorites.

Red geraniums are always my favorite.

There always has to be something added to balance out the odd side of the porch.

This year instead of a fern, I thought I needed something that spoke to me…so, I was on a mission to find something.

Adding the American flag to the flag pole always adds to a patriotic theme.

Just make sure that that flag is in great condition and that you understand the do’s and don’ts for using it. This year, I replaced mine if you read about it in my tribute to my Dad for Memorial Day.

Do you always light your flag at night?

At this point, the front door was screaming for a new door decoration for that front porch makeover.

This year I decided that I wanted a new patriotic design created for the door, so a new door wreath was created and added. I purchased a simple boxwood wreath, created a patriotic bow, and as usual, added a bird’s nest in to send a message to those nesting creatures that the door was “occupied”.

Adding a touch of “home” was the last item to be completed for the new front porch makeover.

Since my kids will be home this summer, that porch needed to welcome them.

A search for the right rug combination created purchases brought home and returned several times.

Does that happen to you? I finally was happy with this choice.

A piece of vinyl had been purchased for a bathroom remodel that was replaced with tile. It was the perfect thing to add as a large “rug” for the porch and to layer a new welcome mat over. (I’ve ordered a welcome mat to top that vinyl!}

I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and found this decorative piece. Half price! How perfect! We added a bit of velcro at the bottom to add more stability and prevent it from moving on the wall.

In the yard next to the porch, a small American flag was the final touch. A few petite red knock out roses and new landscaping with mulch is making me happy.

That uninvited guest really helped rescue that front porch with a makeover.

We truly hope that he doesn’t make a return appearance.

The front porch makeover plan now has ceiling and soffits for the future., since his removal has made them less than desirable. But, for now?

Let’s just enjoy the finish of this front porch.

We are truly thankful for the progress that’s been made!

And if you are in my neck of the woods and need your feet under my table?

This is the scene that will welcome you. A new front porch makeover that is now complete. (just that front porch mat left!)

Remember that back porch makeover?

well…keep following! A bathroom complete remodel created a huge do over for that back porch…can I tell you the scraping and sanding and painting continue there?!! Stay tuned for the next episode.

Meanwhile, I will need a nap!

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