1918ColonialRevival wrote:Olson185 wrote:In 2013 we put in 5/4 T&G doug. fir. on three covered porches (1 @ 1st floor & 2 @ 2nd floor). Each board was given one coat of primer, on all sides, and installed wet with a 2nd coat along tongues and grooves. After installation, a 2nd coat of primer was applied, allowed to dry, and then a single coat of porch paint applied.
Now I'm seeing some hairline gaps from board shrinkage. In heavy trafficked areas, as well as areas that do get rained on (edges of porch and the steps), the paint is starting to flake revealing the primer beneath. My main "experiment" was to see if cupping would occur (it isn't) and test the durability of the inexpensive ReStore 'seconds' paint (it's doing fine). Before Winter, I'll prep, prime, and paint a more permanent, durable finishing.
A gentleman who was a professional painter for over 50 years once told me that there's such a thing as too much primer. He told me to always stick to a single medium coat of primer, followed by two top coats of good quality paint. Paint is something that you get what you pay for. Lower quality paint won't be near as durable, especially in an exterior application. Spend a little more for better paint and you won't be having to re-do it near as often.
I wouldn't take his advice. Both his experience and the products he used are out of date and don't pertain to what is now readily available.
In fact, I would never take the advice of a professional painter as its usually based on a set of priorities that don't apply to a DIY homeowner. All pro painters swear by Benjamin Moore because it's not their money buying it and they're more concerned about a quick application that's less likely to lead to call-backs. A DIY homeowner doesn't have those concerns.
A porch floor should always have two coats of primer so that minor scratches or wear won't expose the raw wood so easily. We applied just one coat of paint to better gauge its quality because so many pros say Behr sucks and only Benj. Moore will hold up. We find that's just not true. Five years on the house and four years on the porch and it's performing very well.