Because plywood is made of many thin layers of wood, it's possible to sand too long or hard and break through to a lower layer of wood. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. If you build with plywood with the intention of staining or clear-coating it, you would use edge banding. I've tried many types of finishes over a pre-finished sample board, and although they looked great, I was able to easily scrape the cured finish right off with my fingernail. My first cab job with pre-finish! x 4 ft. x 8 ft. To paint plywood, start by buying paint and primer meant for the finished purpose of your project. Forum Responses Basically, repeatedly make a "w" with the brush, sprayer, or roller, so that the strokes overlap each other. Plus, you need a special plywood primer to smooth it out before putting paint on it. To prevent paint from pooling at the edges of the wood surface, paint a little bit past the edge with each pass. Yes, plywood can be used behind sheetrock. If you are sanding a very large area, such as a room with plywood flooring, then you may need to use a commercial sander. This will give you plenty of clearance from the edges when you come in with your roller or sprayer. Last Updated: November 16, 2020 Pick an acrylic latex paint or an oil-based paint that is made for the intended purpose. For some paint jobs you will want both a roller and a brush. For more information from our Interior Decorator co-author, like choosing the best application tools for your project, read on! You can use spray paint on small plywood objects, but you’ll need to apply a spray primer first. I will be shooting with an HVLP gun, using a white tint, Sherwin Williams acrylic paint. Did you scuff with 220 or higher/lower? Even if you used 1/4″ Plywood, the cost of that for an entire room or house would be substantial. very nice. Brush on a layer of wood stain, following the grain of the wood. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Prefinished also helps prevent human error in … My question is what type of paint to use (brand), and whether I should sand and/or use primer prior to painting, for best results. Once you’re finished painting the plywood floor, you’ll be able to walk around on it after a few hours. If you are using spray paint for your project, you won't need brushes or rollers. The staff in the store can answer any questions if you are not sure what to buy. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Trying to fix it any other way can potentially damage the art work. Whether you want to paint plywood to make an original piece of art or you need to paint a plywood floor, you can do it successfully with just a little know how. Immediately wipe the stain back off … By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. I just finished a bathroom, a small bathroom where every inch counted so I infilled between the studs. It seems a little scuff sanding would … Applying multiple thin coats allows each coat to become hard and dry, as opposed to thick coats that tend to remain slightly pliable. Its plain and sometimes rough appearance means you may want to paint or stain your hardwood plywood furniture to look more attractive or match your decor. Choose acrylic latex paint or oily paint manufactured for the intended purpose. You can still get a new look for the floor when you rip up the carpet and paint the plywood sub-floor. This is just the first coat and it's better to have thin coats than thick coats, even if you can see the primer at first. It wasn't really any extra effort. (Cabinetmaking Forum) % of people told us that this article helped them. If you want new flooring, but can’t afford it, don’t fret. Before securing, first clamp the two pieces well with padding to prevent damage to the wood. Once the wood is primed, apply several coats of spray paint until you get the desired finish. For more information from our Interior Decorator co-author, like choosing the best application tools for your project, read on! The same for doors or fronts, or if painted, scuff sand two sided pre-finished ply and paint. Let it dry and have either sand or scrape at it to confirm you have good adhesion. December 10, 2007, KnowledgeBase: Finishing: General Wood Finishing. 3MM 1/8″ x 12″ x 12″ Baltic Birch Plywood: “Smoothest texture along with amazing durability”; what … To prevent paint from pooling at the edges of the wood surface, paint a little bit past the edge with each pass. Latex, acrylic or spray paint are all options.The most important thing to do is prepare the surface well before painting. The answer is yes! Typically wood filler requires that you apply it with a putty knife and then allow it to dry before sanding it smooth. Please don't celebrate until you have done an extensive pre-test of your finish on a decent size pre-finished test panel. However, hole filler should not be used on plywood projects that will have an unfinished or sealed surface, as the color of the filler tends to stand out. To prep the fabric for painting in acrylic dispersion paints, size it with an acrylic dispersion medium designed to prevent Support Induced Discoloration (SID). Next, fill any holes or imperfections in the surface with wood filler and let the filler dry completely. Get the PureBond 3/4 in. The top layer is intentionally made pretty so that it can be displayed. I want to draw some scenes on the plywood and use it as a dining table top. You may apply a second and third coat if you feel it is necessary, sanding in between each layer. There are also tacky cloths sold at most paint and home improvement stores that are made to remove this dust. Follow the directions on the wood filler packaging. In this article, we will discuss the best paints available for the plywood floor in the market. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article was co-authored by Katherine Tlapa. Priming for Paint If you want to paint plywood, you'll first need to apply a primer. It can either be finished on one side or two. For the best-looking and longest-lasting finish follow these tips from our experts … How to Paint Plywood. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. If you are sitting at your house and trying to decide if this is for you—you want to judge the health of your plywood floors—because while you can paint a plywood subfloor—it’s actually very challenging to paint a plywood subfloor that’s damaged. I’m building a cabinet out of prefinished birch plywood which I’m using for the drawer fronts, and wanted to paint it white (or off-white actually). She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016. If you are not interested in having a smooth finished product, you do not need to sand the plywood until it is completely smooth. For the cabinet ends that are exposed and will be painted, can I put the paint over the prefinished plywood. Once the wood is primed, apply several coats of spray paint until you get the desired finish. However, when painting plywood, edge banding is not necessary. It requires that you get the right tools, prepare the surface so the paint will bond, and apply the paint so that you get a durable and beautiful finish. Painting detailed edges can be done with a steady paintbrush, but you may also want to tape off the edges to make sure your work is tidy. Moreover, you can shape plywood, and it also takes paint very well. Be sure to let the paint dry thoroughly between coats of paint. You can get a beautiful paint finish on plywood … Also, if you rout any profiles on the mdf edges, etc. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. What kind of paint and coat should I use? Plywood, just like any other wood, requires preparation before painting. The use of plywood as a flooring option can be very creative as you can paint the area with your imagination. Please don't celebrate until you have done an extensive pre-test of your finish on a decent size pre-finished test panel. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. Never did something this intricate. You can use spray paint on small plywood objects, but you’ll need to apply a spray primer first. If … Yes you certainly can stain Luan Plywood to give it a more finished appearance. If it is not too severe, you can secure it to another sealed board. Once the primer has dried, sand again using the 220-grit sandpaper then clean off the sanding residue with a rag that has been soaked in denatured alcohol. When purchasing the paint, buy the recommended sealant listed on the paint. I wanted share a tutorial for painting plywood too. Finally, use a microfiber cloth to wipe the surface and remove sanding dusting before you start priming and painting the wood. This will give you a harder and smoother final surface. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. But you need to wait a few days before you start moving in chairs, tables, and other furniture or it could peel up or damage the paint. This blocks stains from coming through and prevents water from building up inside of the wood and causing damage. The directions typically include the temperature that the paint should be applied at and how long you should allow it to dry before adding coats of paint on top of it. By using our site, you agree to our. If you feel adventurous and need some furniture makeover ideas make sure to visit Once the filler is dry, sand the plywood thoroughly to create a smooth surface for the paint. However, there is one special step that makes all the difference! Leave the tape in place once you have primed so that it can be used for your finish coats as well. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/Paint-Plywood-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-Plywood-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9f\/Paint-Plywood-Step-1.jpg\/aid9682389-v4-728px-Paint-Plywood-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"