Several years ago when we updated the electrical in our 1938 home, they had to add conduit to the outside of our home. It is big and ugly. It is on the side and back of our home. When I started to work on the side yard transformation I knew I need to address it. I also needed to tackle the trim that we didn’t paint when we painted the front of our house.
I almost forgot to take a before shot of the back of the house. There is painters tape here and there but you get the point :)
I knew the only thing I could really do was paint the metal conduit. It was dull so I did not sand it down first. But if you are going to paint metal it would be a good idea to rough it up a little first. I then used spray primer that was specifically made for metal. To protect the brick I stuck cardboard behind it. I let it cure 24 hours before painting. It may not be necessary to wait that long but that is what I choose to do when I prime something.
I then used the same exterior paint that I used on the foundation. I used a 2 inch foam brush. I think it took about 4 coats with some touch ups. I would rather do several THIN coats and have it be all smooth than a couple thick coats and have it be sloppy. It took a couple of days but after putting it off for 3+ years I was so happy to have it done :)
And here it is after the metal was painted and all the trim on the house :)
I opted not to paint the windows red on the back of the house because the colors in my backyard don’t include red. My husband kept telling me it was too blah. All I saw was a blank canvas….. :) He doesn’t see the vision yet.
One of the many things that will eventually be added to the back of the house is my door screen I made last year. I photoshopped the picture on here to give you an idea of what it will look like. We will also build a pergola off the back of the house and added a flagstone patio. The other ideas I am keeping a secret.
Unfortunately because of my husband’s current umemployment these things will not happen this year. We will have to wait a little bit.
Can you still see the metal conduit? Of course. But it blends in a little better and isn’t as much of an eye sore.
Now that the painting is done my side yard transformation is coming along nicely. My kids are so sad right now because they were using it as a giant sandbox and now it is transforming into MY space. I can’t wait to get it done and share my little “secret” with you!!!
Huge improvement! When we added outlets to the exterior of the house, my guy wasn’t paying attention to esthetics…but thankfully I can hide our conduit with plants.
What a fantastic fix! I love this…I’m going to share this with my friend who has a similar set up in her 1929 home. :)
Wow what a great improvement! I definitely have some eyesores in my backyard that I need to cover up. Unfortunately they’ll take a little bit more creativity (when our neighbor “redid” the fence they really just patched and there are a bunch of nails sticking through on our side…yuck and dangerous). I can’t wait to see the rest of the backyard!
wow it does make a huge difference!
Things on the outside of the house drive me crazy. I even had my husband paint the cable and phone lines.
That looks awesome! I had to look really hard in the first “after” picture to even see the metal! What a fabulous job you did!
Great job! We have an older home that has “after market” wiring, and it has been the biggest struggle of our home makeover! Thanks for the tips!!
I think it blends in much better now too!! And that door screen looks super cute, i’ll be excited to see that! :)
This looks great Stacy! You can hardly even notice the metal tubing. I think I shall have to do this at my house :) Love your door screen – that is so cute! Cannot wait to see what other surprises you have coming up1
I like! It looks great! The metal looks more like trim than anything unsightly.
What a huge difference some paint can make! Looks great
Big improvement!! The wonders a little paint, a lot of time and patience, and skill can make. I don’t even want to think of how long we’ve had pewter siding and electrical lines to the meter still the light green of our paint before. Hubs hates ladders and doesn’t allow me on them for safety reasons–I have a habit of suddenly falling on flat ground, so he’s justified.
Hi, Stacy
It looks great! I love how the metal blends with the house.
Vanessa
It is so funny that you say your kids are sad about you transforming the side yard from sandbox to usable adult space. My kids 18, 17, 11, 10 still complain that their dad and I took their play room and turned it into our own bedroom! lol The memories! Enjoy. Painting pipes did totally blend them.
This looks fantastic! The tubes totally blend in now! Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got planned…
Painting the conduit makes it look MUCH better!
Sounds like you’ve got some fun plans to dream about and a blank canvas to work with! Let me know if you need any help with the planting design and I’d be happy to make some plant suggestions.
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