A dark, heavily-stained tongue-and-groove lanai ceiling reborn in bright coastal white — instantly opening up the outdoor living space and modernizing the whole pool deck.
The Brief
A Naples homeowner contacted us about their covered lanai — the tongue-and-groove ceiling had been stained a deep coffee-brown decades earlier, and the dark surface above was making the entire pool deck feel heavy and closed-in. They wanted to keep the wood ceiling's texture and character but bring the color into the 2020s. Bright coastal white was the target.
The Challenge
Painting over stained wood comes with two specific risks: stain bleed-through (the dark tannins in the wood pushing through the new white paint as ugly yellow spots within weeks), and adhesion failure (the slick sealed wood surface rejecting the new finish). Both have to be addressed in the primer phase or the project fails within a year.
What We Did
Day 1: Pressure Wash & Mask
The entire lanai pressure-washed with mild detergent to remove built-up dust, pool deck residue, and any loose finish. Pool, hardscape, and surrounding plantings fully masked and protected.
Day 2: Sand & Stain-Block
Mechanical sanding of the entire ceiling surface to break the existing finish and create a profile for primer. Two coats of Zinsser BIN shellac-based stain-blocking primer applied to seal in the wood tannins permanently.
Day 3: Caulk & Detail
Tongue-and-groove joints inspected. Any gaps caulked with paintable elastomeric sealant. Trim corners and fascia details prepped.
Days 4–5: Two Finish Coats
Two coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald exterior acrylic in satin sheen, in Alabaster (SW 7008) — a warm coastal white that holds its color in Florida sun without going pink or yellow over time. Sprayed and back-rolled for full coverage in the wood profile.
Final: Walk-Through & Cure
Walk-through with the owner. Touch-ups on any tongue-and-groove joints that needed a second pass. Owner notified that the ceiling reaches full cure over the next 7 days and to avoid washing for 30 days.
Products Specified
The Outcome
The lanai feels twice as big. The crisp white ceiling reflects light down onto the pool deck, brightens the space, and modernizes a feature that previously dated the entire outdoor area. The homeowner has reported they now use the lanai more in the evenings — it doesn't feel like a cave anymore.
Importantly, the owner was involved in the entire project, and he completed a post project quality audit. I highly recommend Nick Wage's company.Verbatim from a recent Google review · Exterior painting client