• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Home Reno » Porch Posts Need Trim

    Porch Posts Need Trim

    Published by Gail | Published May 19, 2016 | Updated May 14, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    It’s that time of the month…when the Power Tool Challenge Team gets together to share our projects with you. This month’s theme was patio and porch!

    old-rusty-porch-posts

    Over the last year or so, I’ve been trying to update the curb appeal around the old homestead. This is the before.

     

    signing-our-work

    It’s been a year since cousin Terry and I installed the new porch posts. In fact when I looked at the date on the signature it was exactly ONE year to the day when I was working on the new trim!

    I bought some 1x6’s to add trim to the top and bottom of the posts. I was going to use molding until I saw Traci from Beneath My Heart’s new front porch last year. It was then that I decided this was the way I wanted to go.

     

     

    1x6 porch trim

    I cut the end off the board at a 45° angle, then flipped the board over, and butted it up against my 2x4 jig on the right to get the angle right on the other end.

     

    45 degree angle trim

    It’s important to remember to flip the board over, or you will have an outside corner on one side and an inside corner on the other.

     

     

    dry fit with clamps

    I did a dry fit with clamps. The porch and the roof/ceiling are both uneven, so this wasn’t going to be perfect.

     

    painting the trim

    Because I did the dry fit, I wanted to make sure I kept the pieces straight. I identified them on the backs of the boards.

     

    one year laterThis is where cousin Terry signed her post a year ago!

    installing trim on porch posts

    You can see the tools of the trade I used—a rubber mallet, level, clamps, and my airstrike nail gun. not shown: painters caulk and sandpaper.

     

    slight overhang on wood trim

    Sorry about the blurry picture, but I wanted to show you that your mitered corners don’t always have to be perfect. Perfection is overrated, right?

     

    sand mitered cornersI sanded the slight overhang . . .

    less than perfect mitered corner

    . . . looks better, and will even be less noticeable after it’s painted.

     

    trimming out the porch posts

    I used masking tape to keep the porch from getting paint on it, and some scrap pieces of vinyl wallpaper…. I bought a couple of rolls at the ReStore, and I love using it when I paint. (it’s obvious, right?)

     

    front arbor, front view of porch

    The curb appeal is definitely improving! There’s always something left to do. Next up? The walkway. You can see my hanging gutter planters tutorial by clicking the link.

     

    vintage skunk decorThis poor little guy needs a new look! This is after I used the hose to spray off the loose paint. You can see more about him, and how long he’s been in the family in my original porch post blog.

    painting skunk[4]

    You can see that I got a little messy painting the porch post trim pieces. While they were drying I decided to give my favorite skunk a new paint job. I used several coats using Behr flat paint (beluga).

    After the black paint dried, I used some of the porch post paint to do his white stripe.

     

    porch skunk[6]He is soooo old, but a new coat of paint made a big difference.

    Now it’s time to see what my blogger friends have been up to for their porches and patios.

    Patio and Porch Power Tool Projects from The Power Tool Challenge Team

    1. Long Porch Planters by My Love To Create

    2. DIY Flower Pot Plant Stand by Her Tool Belt

    3. DIY Easy Swinging Bed by Domestically Speaking

    4. PVC Pipe Vertical Garden by Kim Six

    5. How to Build An Outdoor Serving Table by Create and Babble

    6. Repurposed Window Garden Shelf by Refresh Restyle

    7. Trimming Out Porch Posts by My Repurposed Life

    8. Stenciled Concrete Topped Table by Designs By Studio C

    9. 2 X 4 DIY Bench by Virginia Sweet Pea

    10. DIY Outdoor Sofa Table Tutorial by H2OBungalow

    11. Repurposed Electrical Spool Holder Table by Designed Decor

    12. DIY Outside Standing Plant Hanger by Confessions of A Serial DIYer

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • How to Update a Dresser | Navy and dark stain
      How to Update a Dresser | Navy and dark stain
    • Replace Porch Posts Paint With Finish Max
      Replace Porch Posts Paint With Finish Max
    • Small Sofa Side Table | Custom Build
      Small Sofa Side Table | Custom Build
    • DIY Bloggers BEST Projects
      DIY Bloggers BEST Projects
    • DIY fire pit and more on my Outdoor Overhaul
      DIY fire pit and more on my Outdoor Overhaul
    • Installing Real Carriage Barn Door
      Installing Real Carriage Barn Door

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Marie, The Interior Frugalista

      May 24, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Gail, your porch posts look so much better and more inviting than the old metal ones. Your porch and gorgeous picket fence and arbor gate really amp the curb appeal!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 24, 2016 at 8:52 pm

        Thank you Marie! I'm loving the new look myself! Still more to do....

        gail

    2. DeDe @Designed Decor

      May 21, 2016 at 9:02 am

      What a difference a little bit of vision and wood make! That added so much more detail to your porch, it looks great!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 21, 2016 at 9:04 am

        Thanks DeDe, it's been a long process....sometimes I wonder if it will ever be finished.

    3. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      May 20, 2016 at 11:31 pm

      I like your new porch posts but the cute skunk stole the show!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 21, 2016 at 9:07 am

        hahaha yeah, he sort of did steal the show. I smile every time I walk up onto the porch these days. Not shown in this post, but the first step was replaced last fall. Now, on to the sidewalk and I would love to stencil a "rug" onto the porch to make it look a little better.

        gail

    4. Cher @ Designs by Studio C

      May 20, 2016 at 7:05 am

      The trim on the posts looks beautiful! You've given me an idea for my new deck posts and you are right, perfect mitered corners ARE overrated, ha ha! I love the skunk, too!

      Reply
    5. Jeanie

      May 19, 2016 at 7:53 pm

      What a difference a little wood makes!!!! Nice job Gail. And that's the cutest skunk I've ever seen ; )

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 8:58 pm

        awww, thanks so much Jeanie!

        gail

    6. Christy @Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer

      May 19, 2016 at 4:14 pm

      What a difference your new posts make in updating the look of your entry...all fresh and new!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 8:59 pm

        one step at a time Christy... eventually I'll get it all done. 🙂

        thanks for stopping by to check out my Power Tool Challenge Project.

    7. Wendi @ H2OBungalow

      May 19, 2016 at 2:50 pm

      I can't believe how those porch posts changed the look of your front entry. Your place looks so inviting fromthe pergola. I know this has been a long project, but it's so worth it! Great job! I'm loving your family skunk too:)

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 8:59 pm

        Wendi,

        Thanks so much for all of your hard word putting this challenge together.

        gail

    8. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking

      May 19, 2016 at 1:10 pm

      Trim! It always amazes me - just like paint - how something so simple can make such a HUGE impact!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 9:00 pm

        I KNOW! can you tell me why I waited a year? lol

    9. Virgie

      May 19, 2016 at 11:58 am

      This is a great post and at the perfect time, my husband is getting started on our porch this weekend. I will be sharing this with him before he starts! I' m sure he'll appreciate it as much as me. 🙂 xoxo

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 9:01 pm

        I wish you lots of luck with your project!

        gail

    10. Paula@SweetPea

      May 19, 2016 at 11:24 am

      Adding the trim to your porch post bases makes them look so nice. I am in love with your little skunk and I remember people having them on their porches when I was a kid. It's special that it belonged to your grandparents.

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 9:03 pm

        My nana also had some little kitty cats that hung on her posts. I had one at one time. If I can find it, I may hang it on my new post.

        gail

    11. Amy

      May 19, 2016 at 10:55 am

      Love that skunk, so fun that it's been hanging around for so long! The extra trim on the posts looks perfect.

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 9:04 pm

        Thank you Amy for stopping over to check out my project. I'm about to make my rounds to see what everyone else did.

        gail

    12. Mindi

      May 19, 2016 at 10:12 am

      I love the 1x6 trim, it is perfect and I love chunky! Nice to know that my mitered corners don't always have to be perfect, because they are not! ha ha! How cute is your skunk?! I love that he has a history that makes him even more special!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 9:04 pm

        my skunk is soooo special. So happy to have you as part of our power tool challenge team.

        gail

    13. Kim Six

      May 19, 2016 at 8:56 am

      They look so good! All big and chunky.

      And the stunk?! He is THE BEST!!! Love!

      Reply
      • gail@myrepurposedlife.com

        May 19, 2016 at 9:01 am

        Thank you Kim... for me, it's the little things in life. That skunk lived on my Nana and Grandad's porch for as long as I can remember. He's at least as old as I am if not more.

        gail

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure