We are redoing the roof and the termites got to this part of the porch roof, which was an addition around the 1960’s. Original porch was all wood. They replaced it with poured concrete uprights and cross beams with a wood roof. The ledgers were treated, but the rest was pine. Termites got to the pine. It was salvageable, but I decided to go with treated beams and tongue and groove cypress. The plan was to varnish the cypress in advance and paint the beams before installing the cypress. It rained and rained unexpectedly after the roof was taken off and I was forced to dry it in and paint and varnish afterwards. Let me tell you- never again will I varnish a ceiling after install. Still getting varnish out of my beard.
I used Minwax spar varnish in satin finish. It is rare to find a UV resistant spar varnish that is not glossy. I absolutely love the look of the varnished ceiling and white rafters. I routed the rafters with an ogee on the edges.
If I may brag, no masking tape was used in this project. I am the master of cutting in. ;-)
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The porch is off the living room and kitchen, and is where we dine unless it’s raining sideways. This change from a white porch roof has really added warmth to the previously blinding all-white porch. I am posting for anyone who may be considering cypress for a ceiling like this. Go with white beams. It really complements the cypress.