Nov 19, 2018

Update: Haint Blue Porch Ceiling and Insect Myth or Fact?



I started thinking years ago about painting the porch ceiling a pretty blue.  To be exact a Haint Blue color.  I did a post in 2015 talking about and sharing some colors with a little bit of history behind the 'Haint' Blue Porch Ceilings' here.  

In 2017 we finally painted this ceiling (among other things, thanks to Hurricane Matthew.) you can read about that here.  

Today on same topic this ceiling I will update with a little over a year to think about the results.  Is the color a deterrent when it comes to insects such as wasps and nest building birds?  

I will cover the birds and their nest building first.  Do I love birds?  You bet I do, just not building and pooping on my beautiful painted colors.

We had for many years a family that came back every spring with their family and friends to build, poop and visit.  I do miss them that's a fact.  It was like watching Snow White with birds flying around.  They would even escort us up the drive and meet us when we returned home. 

Yes, I miss them, oh they've come back and tried to build in the corner where I had hung the white curtains.  I placed a picture to make them move.

Yes, this is a snake picture

We can't get the screw into whatever this wood product they have on the porch
It still hangs the draperies and that is all I care about.

I took this today, the tape is dirty, but it is still working.  The snake pic and the blue ceiling works. You see these are more than one generation of Chimney Sweeps and they love it here.  I had to use drastic measures to keep them from nesting, although it hurt and still hurts my heart to make them nest elsewhere.  I do not miss their mess. and they do indeed visit us on the porch in the spring time.

Other breeds of birds, however have not been back to build with the exception of a barn swallow and it was building not on the ledge under the roof but inside the white draperies where I had them tied back.

So I think I can say without a doubt that the ceiling color is a deterrent for bird nest building.  That along with my snake picture for our loved birds keeps them from nesting.


No wasps nest have been built

The Haint' Blue Ceiling does indeed deter them!

One would think that would make me ecstatic!  Well, it does and it doesn't.  You see where there is a will there is a way with an aggravating creature.  Oh, how they can adapt!  I simply hate a wasp!  

They have taken to building their nests behind the black shutters and underneath the porch floor!  Coming in and out through the spaces building up a storm.

I get brave or did so in the summer and washed them out with the water hose weekly.  Oh that was brave because they dive bomb me and I'm allergic!  Still the Johnson temper has me bombing them and trying to move them.  Oh goodness they never give up, but they do not build near the ceiling which is where they built yearly in droves!

Result wasps blue ceiling it works!


Look at the color of the sky and the ceiling color up against it!

I'm in awe every time I walk out onto the porch.  It is pure beauty and up against the absolute beauty of God's sky even more so.  


I need to wash the ceiling after two hurricanes came blowing by, it has some trash on it.
I know I will tackle that on another day.



Have to touch up a spot on the porch left discolored by the ferns
I want to hang one of those gorgeous swings 
You know the wide ones with the large ropes!



I can't wait to sweep, clean and decorate for Christmas

That will have to wait.  Today I am pre-cooking my collards and freezing them because this kitchen will be filled with other things to cook on Thanksgiving day.  Those are easy enough to take out, thaw and heat to serve.

I've baked some sweet potatoes today and know that Chuck will want me to bake his favorite sweet potato pie.  I have a souffle and sweet potato pudding in mind as well.



RESULTS OF THE HAINT' BLUE CEILING
INSECT/BIRD DETERRENT

INSECTS 
WASPS
YELLOW JACKETS
FLIES 
Less flies!
As a matter of fact they all come in the back door and that stoop ceiling is still white!

YES IT IS
They do find a way around it as I said but not on or near the blue ceiling.

MOSQUITOS
SADLY NO THIS DOESN'T WORK TO RID THEM!

THEY FIND THEIR WAY IN AND ARE SUCH A NUISANCE
WE HAVE LOTS OF RAIN SO WHO KNOWS IF THEY HAVE LESSONED OR NOT?
THEY'VE GROWN BIG ENOUGH TO CARRY US AWAY
I WILL UPDATE ON THAT LATER.

BIRDS
YES IT WORKS

EXCEPTION NOTED IN POST ABOVE BUT IT STILL WORKS!


I'm off to clean and cook some more
Have a great week!





15 comments:

  1. You and me, girl! I had a haint blue ceiling in our historical home and just loved it. I do believe it deterred the birds and wasps and "haints" away!
    I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and get to sit on your porch a spell! xo Diana

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    1. Diana I'm laughing forgot to post about the "haints". I love that we have so much in common! Bet when we ever meet, which I feel we will, we spend half our time saying, "me too"! I hope it warms enough to sit a spell! Love ya

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  2. Hello Dolly. Just recently started reading yr southern lifestyle blog. I'm a nurse, living in the country, longing for the day I can just stay home. A few more years to go. I make my laundry detergent & fabric softener. I hang my laundry out, weather permitting. We raise chickens & have country eggs. I cook a lot, mostly from scratch. I may make yr beefaroni tonight. I have a tip for you that worked here: Took a large brown paper bag, stuffed it with newspaper till it billowed out. Tie it shut & hang up on yr porch high, by the rafters. No more waspers or wood boring bees here. Try it.

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    1. Hi Susie!
      It's so good to hear from you! I want to thank you for the paper bag trick! I will try it for those pesky wood boring bees this year! I know you are counting the days when you will be home and thank you for your profession. Nurses are a wonderful blessing to us all! Anyway when you do retire I'll tell you one thing, you will never know how you had the time to work. You will be busier than you ever imagined!
      Thanks for writing!

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  3. Hi, just curious, what color and brand of paint did you use for the front porch? Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Sherwin Williams
      SW 9063
      Porch Ceiling (that is the name)

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  4. glad I found this page because I am dealing with wasp, birds, mosquitos, lizards etc. I will definitely be looking for the paint

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    1. I have to say the mosquitos still bite but the wasps won't build on or near the ceiling. I hope you find that it helps you with some of they problems.

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  5. Building a new home and checking out paint colors today. I had heard about exterior ceiling blue and wondered if it was "real". The only thing I don't want to be rid of is the anoles (lizards) - just love them and they can help with the mosquitos, etc also. One day I was working in the dirt under a crepe and one of those flyers with the long legs kept getting in my face under my hat. I swiped at him just enough to make him move and got back to work. Noticed something drop from the crepe and when I looked over there was an anole happily chomping away on the flyer. They also get curious and seem to enjoy me talking to them. Between them and the Martins we house, mosquitos are kept to a minimum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love them too and did a post about them a few years ago. You can read about it here. I know you're one happy person to keep the mosquito population low.
      https://www.hibiscushouseblog.com/2016/05/you-dont-scare-me-lizard.html

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  6. have you ever heard of putting a bit of cardboard up to catch the swallow droppings and then removing it at the end of nesting season? the cardboard catches the poop and protects your paint. then you can get rid of the nests after the birds have fledged. Yes it's a nice color; I just want people to know they have options if they hate bird poop, without getting rid of the birds altogether.

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    Replies
    1. I haven't but thanks for the information. I'll let you know if I have to try it and how it works.

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  7. The shade of blue is really looking fabulous. I can not wait to have same in some area of my house , & I guess balcony will be the perfect place. I too find it challenging to cope up with birds nesting as it is not good for health if the poop microbes go to your lungs with air. I will definitely ask the handyman painting services provider for haint blue, thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Emma, I sure hope you enjoy yours as much as we do! Let me know how it works !
      Dolly

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  8. We painted our porch ceiling blue. No birds. Will return to tan and put up cardboard for the season.

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