tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I installed a few lights on my house that are very large. They are designed to use the 2 small threaded rods to hold them. These do not make me comfortable. I want to add a piece of wood behind each light. I will attach to the house using masonry screws (so I should be able to change the wood if necessary). I will drill a few more holes in th elight and add 1/8 screws to hold it. It is very hot and very dry here. I have some poplar and soem birch plywood that I can use. I know that neither is rot resistant, but these will be painted. Is this an issue or should I use some other type of wood? There will only be a small exposed section (maybe 1' surrounding the base of the fixture) and it will be painted. If these woods are OK, should I use the plywood to help resist warping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I'd go with pressure treated, allowing to dry before paint or marine grade plywood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I'd go with pressure treated, allowing to dry before paint or marine grade plywood. Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusruler Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 i'm a cedar man myself. pt doesnt paint well. i forget the name, but i found alcohol based primer to work best with cedar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusruler Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Zinsser BIN primer. amazon has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Well, I need 2 pieces of wood, 8" x 23" by maybe 5/8 to 1" thick, thickness is really not an issue. I am not going to buy a sheet of marine plywood for this. What are my existing overhangs made out of? Theyhave made it for 15 years with no problems? Are they Fir? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusruler Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Well, I need 2 pieces of wood, 8" x 23" by maybe 5/8 to 1" thick, thickness is really not an issue. I am not going to buy a sheet of marine plywood for this. What are my existing overhangs made out of? Theyhave made it for 15 years with no problems? Are they Fir? either doug fir or pine more than likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 The plywood you have should work fine. I would prime it with two coats then paint it. If you had a router to make the edges more attractive might be a nice touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 The plywood you have should work fine. I would prime it with two coats then paint it. If you had a router to make the edges more attractive might be a nice touch. Thanks. I cannot settle on "more attractive." I am going to surround these with a slate pattern and then picture frame the pattern. This will transition to the stone veneer that I am installing. I am then converting the lights to low lumen leds (way too many watts rights now, I want them much dimmer) and adding spotlights in the eves of the house to "rain" dim light down the side of the house to accent the stonework at night. These lights surround a garage door so I then need to paint the garage door to look like this: http://www.everythingicreate.com/p/garage-door-tutorial.html I use to try to squeeze more HP out of Chevys. now I do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I like the look of lit stone or cultured stone, looks classy. Do you have a photo of your stone choice? Is it drystack? A lot of my work is cultured stone. I like its ability to go anywhere. Big change in the looks of your garage doors, very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungkiman Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 The plywood you have should work fine. I would prime it with two coats then paint it. If you had a router to make the edges more attractive might be a nice touch. Thanks. I cannot settle on "more attractive." I am going to surround these with a slate pattern and then picture frame the pattern. This will transition to the stone veneer that I am installing. I am then converting the lights to low lumen leds (way too many watts rights now, I want them much dimmer) and adding spotlights in the eves of the house to "rain" dim light down the side of the house to accent the stonework at night. These lights surround a garage door so I then need to paint the garage door to look like this: http://www.everythingicreate.com/p/garage-door-tutorial.html I use to try to squeeze more HP out of Chevys. now I do this. Since LED lights can be dimmed, consider adding dimmer switches in case you ever want/need more than just accent lighting. Think "headroom." Dimmers are cheap... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 What about locust? I don't think I've ever seen it at the store but from what I understand it's supposed to be about impervious to moisture. Some people use it for fence posts and it is supposed to last for years & years. This would be direct burial. I don't know if the posts we have out by the grapes are of locust or cedar (I think they're locust), I can vouch that I've been around my wife and her family 1989. The fence posts are standing today that were there then (holding the grapes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 If the painted garage doors have strong exposure to sun, you design will fade rapidly, and if you screw up the application it will flake as well. As far as the wood goes, use plastic and be done with it. If you still want to use wood, use an oil primer and two finish coats of SW Duration, or Ben Moore Aura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Cedar. Use stain. Some stains look almost like paint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxx Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Cedar. Use stain. Some stains look almost like paint. Ditto.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 If the painted garage doors have strong exposure to sun, you design will fade rapidly, and if you screw up the application it will flake as well. As far as the wood goes, use plastic and be done with it. If you still want to use wood, use an oil primer and two finish coats of SW Duration, or Ben Moore Aura I know, I am worried about the garage paint lasting. But the garages need to be repainted anyway whenm I redo the house, so I just need to look into this more. The original paint lasted 15 years and looks really good, but that is a factory finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Is there any kind of clear coat or sealer that can go over your new finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Don't know. The sun i svery strong here. But, there are many garage doors that have been repainted in the neighborhood in recent years. I need to check this out more. There has to be a paint that will last a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 My dad made adirondack chairs out of pine, painted them with rustoleum, and they lasted out in the direct sunlight and rain for years while still looking new. Otherwise I dunno but yeah marine plywood seems optimal. Only problem is that you may need to prime and sand the edges real well or else the layers of wood will show, which may not look all that great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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