Painting Old Cedar Shingle Siding
My Painted House Part II
Last time on My Crappy House, we primed the front to get ready for painting the old cedar shingle siding. I don’t know about you, but when I’m working on a project on my crappy house and looking for inspiration, I tend to notice everyone else’s crappy houses. OK, most of them aren’t so crappy, but some of them totally are…
This is especially true when I’m working on my crappy house’s exterior, because it’s easy to look at the outside of people’s homes without permission. The streets are public (mostly) and you can check them out while (slowly, but not too slowly) driving by.
Or!
You can park your car down the street, get out with your paint swatch book, sneak up to a house, color match the siding, then run away! As long as no one sees you, it’s totally OK!
(Don’t quote me on that.)
Choosing a Paint Color
Making decisions is not one of my best skills. You guys know…
But planning fictitious covert ops, strangely, is one of my best skills. Who knew?
Operation “Sneak up to a stranger’s house to match their siding color without anyone noticing and calling the cops” was a success!
So, what do you think I picked? Let’s do a Pointless Poll!
Well, that was fun! AND informative!
Painting the Old Cedar Shingle Siding
When you last saw my crappy house, it looked like this:
All primed and ready for paint! (If you missed that post, it’s here in part I.) It looks quite nice, I think, in the light gray. But I prefer a little drama, so we went a bit darker…
That’s “Kendall Charcoal” from Benjamin Moore. Guys, I picked a color from the book! This was not a custom color! Who am I?
This color is darker than the vinyl siding we put on a year or so ago. If I had known I would want to go this dark on the front, I may have picked a darker vinyl, but I kind of like the colors being different. They compliment each other and I get to have the “drama” in the front with a more “relaxed” gray in the back. It’s like a house color mullet, if you will.
It’s the bottom swatch. Yep, it’s dark. Don’t be scared. It’s not your house.
I had the color mixed at Sherwin Williams because they have good quality paint, AND they run a sale twice a year for 40% off. The color matches the Ben Moore swatch perfectly and I really enjoy saving money.
I may have mentioned in the Part I post, but in case I didn’t, I want to be very clear that painting shingles sucks. It sucks so bad. If being happy is important to you, then you should avoid painting shingles. And if you have to paint shingles, I would suggest using a paint sprayer and not brushing it on like we did. Apparently, we enjoy misery.
I did most of the crevices and cutting in while Schmoopy painted the faces.
I told him that’s not how you’re supposed to do the laddering…
We did two coats of paint over two coats of primer. How cool is it that this…
now looks like this?
Isn’t it amazing what a bit of paint and a lot of work (like, seriously, a lot) can do?
(And also a new bay window and trim.)
Now I just need a garden dinosaur. And a garden. And a driveway. And a fence. And a pony.
32 Comments
French Fry
It. Looks. Fabulous.
Jeanette
I like it! A lot!!What a big difference!
Julia Curtis
I love your very randomly timed posts. Just when I forget all about you…hey! you’re baaaacckkk! You really need to YouTube a tour of the crappy house, because I’m a very visual person and even though you don’t know me I am important. Love the progress. You’re welcome.
MARCIA KING-AHMAD
Gorgeous! I’m happy for you but concerned for us as it seems you are nearing the end of your project. What are we to do when your house is no longer crappy? You can’t abandon us. What will you do next?
Julia
Holy Crappy Day!!! We get a post AND a video??? Forget Groundhogs and Super Bowls! It’s My Crappy House Day!! And it’s looking less crappy. Keep it up!
judy
I like it,very somber-for a gal with personality and Pizazz to spare! Can you come up with a garage door and window trim paint that states (ALL CAPS) A really interesting human resides here….!!!! Black? Diagonals on Garage of? Weird? Wadda eye know..nuttin. Love your posts,always make me smile.
Margaret
Looks FABULOUS!!!!
LaFawne
Our house is med dark gray trimmed in white so of course I love yours! Also, in years past, I have actually stopped and knocked on the door of a house to ask what color they used. My husband waits in the car and tries to look like he doesnt know me
Trollopian
Poll, check. Video, check. Photo of Schmoopy perched perilously on ladder, check. BUT NO EGOR!
Jill
Love it! What color are you going to paint the trim? Pantone 0227 would look great with the shade of dark gray.
Katherine Davies
Oh my gosh! So long since we’ve heard from you! Not a problem, just mentioning it. ? Unfortunately, my iPad will not allow me to see your photos. Boo. The video was cute, though. Your hair is really long and pretty! Wish I could see the very-not-crappy color on your crappy house,
Katherine Davies
I can see them now! Lovely!
Linda Vitale
It looks beautiful!!!!!
Carole
Love the POP! of the dark grey; and the lighter grey in back! Smart choice. I’m still laughing at the video? because that is exactly what I’ve been contemplating in my neighborhood. I’ve got a yellow ( love it!) house now sitting on (harvest stone) foundation. Have to paint either cream or darker eggplant. Also love the leveling of ladder; must remember that ?
Cecile Lowrey
I live with my sister In a pretty crappy house too because that is how it is painted…two colors of crap colored paint. With a million untrimmed shrubs and trees. We are 70 year old twins with little money or strength left so it probably won’t change. I like the work you have done on your house.
Le
Amazing progress on the house!
Schmoopy is a daredevil. I hope you have workers comp or insurance. OSHA might shut you down for that ladder work.
Also, Egor gets a whole post to himself? What about Zero? Always an over looked step child… >.<