[kwikfishron]

You need to frame a dropped ceiling. Good time to add some canned lighting if you want.

How big is the porch?

Pictures?

 

[tcleve4911]

op said 4-6" ...that sounds like 2x6 would work well and allow at least part of the space required for the recessed lighting idea.........

 

[nil4664]

The porch is 10'x32'. Yes, among other things, one advantage to the drop down is to replace some K&Twiring above the original ceiling.

It already has a really nice (new) hanging light fixture that I was going to box down for, but was hoping there might be an alternative, a little less heavy, than 2x6 framing the the rest of the ceiling. No other way?

 

[kwikfishron]

You could get away with 2x4 but that would be about it.

Why do you want to drop it? You could just go over what you have if it’s sound and not rotted.

 

[nil4664]

Well after thinking about it all day, that is what I will do (ie, not drop it). That framing seems like overkill to hold up just those thin vinyl ceiling planks (like beadboard soffit material). And I want to be able to do this by myself. It would be tough hoisting 2x6's up there.

The reasons I wanted to drop it were:
1. easy electrical rewiring
2. allow addition of more insulation below a dormer room just above the porch
3. wouldn't completely ruin the old ceiling

I guess I was just dreaming that one day I could restore the original ceiling so I was trying to preserve it. It's really good lumber---3/4"x4" heart pine beadboard planks and crown moulding. The problem is it was painted and will not hold paint now. No matter what I've tried it starts peeling in 6 months, even over places I've sanded down to the bare wood.

The only option left to keep the original would be to completely sand it down and cover with clear coating. Sanding overhead and removing all the paint from those beadboard cracks would be extremely labor intensive.

So I will give up. This way I'll only have to tear out the crown moulding. Hopefully that will come out without too much damage.

Sorry I got so long-winded. And thank you all for the suggestions.

 

[mustangmike3789]

maybe you have been using the wrong paint. did you use any primer?

 

[nil4664]

Yes. I even thought about trying concrete sealing primer cause it's sticky. But that's in the past now...

The crown moulding is OFF!!! It was easier than expected. No damage to the ceiling, walls or moulding.
The old ceiling planks run lengthwise (32') parallel to the house, and I want to put the new stuff on perpendicular to the house (10'), so that's good isn't it?

I'll probably be back on here asking about installing vinyl now, cause I've never done that before. Thanks.