Porches
Wrapping it Up!
Fresh caulk, carefully chosen trim paint, and a few final details bring the long-running back porch exterior project to a close.
Wow - we're really getting down to it now. The caulking and painting are done! Once upon a time I hated doing both. I was terrible at it, which is hard to wrap my head around now because they really aren't very difficult tasks to master. But over the years, with 173 being such an old house, I've had to do a lot of caulking and painting, and I've finally gotten a bit better about it. Let's get into it.
And This is Why We Caulk
After I installed the new windows back in 2008 and I put all the window trim on the outside, I never got around to caulking. It came to my mind every so often over the succeeding years, and always intended to but for whatever reason I just never did.
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Preparing the Window Trim for Caulk
Yeah, you actually have to prepare a little bit before caulking. Basically, the prep just involves being sure the area around the window frame is very clean. I just used some window cleaner and an old rag.
Home is a shelter from storms — all sorts of storms.” — William J. Bennett
Caulking Supplies and an Old Painter’s Tool
And as simple as the prep work was, I think the materials needed are even simpler:
- Caulk (I used DAP Dynaflex)
- My caulking gun
- Some old rags
- Putty knife, which I switched out for...
- My painters tool
- Bucket of water
- Ladder
Here's a little point of interest...in the picture above is this old painter's tool (you can see the anatomy of such a tool below) I found in a parking lot a few years ago. I also have what is effectively a brand new painter's tool that I purchased at Lowe's, but I find myself using this generic, beat up old tool instead. I don't know, maybe there's some insecurity about me getting old and wanting to hold on to things that are getting old if for no other reason than show that old stuff can still have utility. But maybe those kind of thoughts are for somewhere besides this post (grinning wryly).
Safely Reaching the Porch Windows
Okay, enough of all that already. So this is one of those really incredibly simple things that I find a way to write about that probably isn't even worth the "ink". But...my blog, my story!
As you can see, the concrete sits proud of the soil area. Because of that, I had to figure out some way to level the ladder. In this case, I just used a couple bricks and a little cedar shim liberated from one of the old cedar shakes.
ink /ɪŋk/ (noun): a colored liquid that you use to write with on paper. When you sign on the dotted line, you usually do so with ink. You'll usually find ink inside a pen, automatically flowing through its tip, although years ago people had to dip a quill into a pot of ink to write with ink. Other ways ink is used include printing images, stamping information, and drawing pictures. Another ink is the fluid released by certain mollusks, like squids, to hide them from predators. Ink, from the Old French encre, "dark writing fluid," has the Greek root enkaiein, "to burn in."
Last of the Caulking
As I mentioned, I've really improved my caulking skills, developing a natural feel for maintaining that 45 degree angle and making a nice, consistent bead. From there I just use a damp finger to smooth out the caulk.
Here's some posts bemoaning geomtry at 173!
✤ Front Stoop Railings Finished! - October 2017
✤ The Back Porch Remodel - 2008
✤ The Radiator Cover - November 2018
✤ A Little Accent Table - March 2019
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Some posts about "Wallpaper" at 173
Choosing Paint for PVC Window Trim
I also used to hate painting but over the years I've reached a certain level of detente with the idea. Now I find some little inner zen thing when I'm painting. Up to now, whenever a project required painting, I just wanted to be done with it! As quickly as possible. Now? I'm okay with it - oooohhhhmmmmm.
I did a considerable amount of research on painting PVC trim. For the most part, sources said to just paint as you would for any other board. Other sources said to just use 100% acrylic paint. But, over the years I've come to trust my local Sherwin Williams, so I went to ask them and they recommended their Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel.
One thing that amazes me is how many shades of white there are. I mean, it's like there was a whole wall of those little chips of paint colors just for white (ok...a little hyperbole) so in this case I decided to go with pure white. Which ironically isn't nearly as white as a couple of other shades. Nonetheless, that's what I went with.
And after learning my lesson on paint sheens with the front stoop where I went with, I think - eggshell, and it gets dirty very easily and it's difficult to clean. So I learned my lesson and for the back porch window trim and sills, I decided to go with semi-gloss. Good old traditional semi-gloss.
The Back Porch Exterior Is Finally Complete
After a couple hours of caulking and another hour or so painting, the back porch is finally complete. I would say it took the better part of the summer between dodging the rain and the incredibly hot, humid days we had this summer, but it still took way too long. I mean, I was in no hurry or anything, but really a professional would have had this done in a weekend - at most.
But but that's how things roll here at 173 sometimes - no rush, we'll get there! So after maybe eight-ish years the cedar shakes have been replaced and the back porch finally matches the front in material and color. And... we have new window sills that aren't all warped-looking and the window trim's been caulked and painted; and look so much more finished now!
It was a fun project. It was a good project. And now it's a done project!
Looking back over the whole series, this was never just a matter of adding a little caulk and paint. The tired cedar shakes were replaced, the warped window sills were rebuilt, the trim was repaired and finally sealed, and the entire porch exterior was brought into the same family of materials and colors as the front of the house.
None of the individual steps was especially spectacular, but together they made the back porch look cared for, intentional, and like it belongs to the same House 173 we see from the street.
More than anything, I’m pleased that the work should protect this part of the house for years to come. Looking better is nice. Keeping water where it belongs is even better.
Next - the back stoop. Hey, thanks for stopping by - see ya' next time!
I'm going to be honest...there were a couple times I wondered if this porch project was ever going to end. 😂But it was worth the wait. I actually liked that you spent time on the caulking and painting instead of skipping straight to the big reveal. It's amazing how those little details suddenly make everything look finished.I also smiled when you admitted you used to hate both jobs. Funny how we all end up getting good at the things we once avoided.One thing though...that ladder made me a little nervous! Please be careful.The porch turned out beautifully. And now I'm guessing that back stoop is next... - Longtime Reader Who Thought This Porch Would Never Be Finished
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should exterior window trim be caulked?
Exterior caulk closes small joints where trim meets siding, window frames, or adjacent materials. Those gaps may look insignificant, but they can allow wind-driven rain and moisture to work behind the trim. Over time, that can contribute to peeling paint, swelling, decay, and hidden damage.
Caulking also makes the finished installation look more unified. On these porch windows, the unfilled joints left dark lines that made the trim appear incomplete. Once the gaps were sealed, the individual boards visually became one finished frame.
Caulk is not a substitute for proper flashing or drainage, but it is an important final layer of weather protection when used in the correct exterior joints.
What preparation is needed before applying exterior caulk?
The surfaces should be clean, dry, and free of dust, loose paint, grease, and failed old caulk. I cleaned the areas around the window trim with window cleaner and an old rag because the trim was already in good condition and mainly needed surface dirt removed.
More deteriorated trim may require scraping, sanding, or removal of the old bead before new caulk is applied. Applying fresh caulk over dirt or loose material creates a weak bond and can cause the new bead to pull away prematurely.
The joint should also be evaluated before sealing. Some openings are designed to drain or allow movement and should not simply be filled without understanding their function.
What type of paint works on exterior PVC trim?
PVC trim requires paint that can adhere properly while tolerating outdoor temperature changes. Guidance varies by manufacturer and product, so checking both the trim manufacturer’s instructions and the paint label is important.
For this project, my local Sherwin-Williams recommended Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel. I chose Pure White in a semi-gloss sheen. The enamel created a durable, cleanable surface and gave the trim the traditional slight shine I wanted around the porch windows.
Very dark colors can cause some PVC products to absorb excessive heat, so color restrictions should also be checked before painting.
Why choose semi-gloss instead of eggshell for exterior trim?
Semi-gloss is generally more resistant to dirt and moisture and easier to wipe clean than a flatter finish. Those qualities are helpful on exterior window sills and trim, where dust, pollen, rain splash, and airborne grime accumulate.
I had previously used a lower-sheen finish on the front stoop and found that it marked easily and was difficult to clean. That experience influenced the choice here. Semi-gloss also reflects enough light to define the trim against the surrounding siding without becoming excessively shiny.
How did years of old-house work change your feelings about caulking and painting?
Repetition made both jobs less intimidating. Early on, I treated painting and caulking as obstacles between me and the finished project, so I tended to rush. Years of repairing windows, trim, walls, porches, and furniture gradually taught me how much preparation, pace, and patience affect the result.
Now the motions are familiar: preparing the surface, maintaining the caulk-gun angle, applying a consistent bead, cutting in carefully, and allowing paint to level. The tasks did not become fundamentally easier—the difference is that experience replaced uncertainty.
Keywords
back porch rehabilitation, exterior window caulking, painting PVC trim, PVC window trim paint, Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane, DAP Dynaflex caulk, exterior trim painting, semi-gloss exterior paint, old house porch repair, porch window trim, House 173 back porch
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