Roll the roller into the paint and back out to … It goes on smooth and resists any chipping, scuffing or abrasions for a long-lasting finish. To get the best results, make sure you use the best paint and primer for the job. Work fast after dipping the paint brush into the primer tray. Once the filler is dry, sand the plywood thoroughly to create a smooth surface for the paint. If you are sanding a very large area, such as a room with plywood flooring, then you may need to use a commercial sander. If you want to give your plywood floor an antiqued-finish, consider using Real Milk Paint. There are a few plywood grading systems out there, but most of them follow an A-D classification with A being the best. This blocks stains from coming through and prevents water from building up inside of the wood and causing damage. Prepare yourselves the qualities, an… This will give you plenty of clearance from the edges when you come in with your roller or sprayer. 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. Dutch Boy Latex Porch and Floor paint is scuff, chip and abrasion resistant, and dries to a hard, durable finish, while cleaning up with water. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. If you just sanded the wood, wipe it down with a damp cloth before sealing it to remove any dust. Drying oil, wax, paint thinners and mineral spirits, all come together and form a very popular solvent mixture that is known as water-repellant plywood finish. The Different Types of Paint for Plywood Classic Paint. Since you will be painting over the plywood, the discoloration caused by using hole filler will not affect your final product. A quart size goes a long way so it's cheaper than spray also. © 2006-2021 LoveToKnow, Corp., except where otherwise noted. I use a water based outdoor polyurethane sealer. If you use interior plywood outdoors, it won't be long before the corners of the sheets separate, and eventually the plywood will become spongy and disintegrate. Plywood is very porous, which makes it light and flexible, but also means that you'll have to use a plywood-specific primer to seal the wood pores. This article has been viewed 93,016 times. This smooth, low-odor primer completely seals up porous floors like plywood, making them ready to receive any type of finish coat. This guide will explain the different uses of plywood, as well as popular plywood sheet sizes and its rating and grade system, so that you can choose the best plywood for your project. There are also tacky cloths sold at most paint and home improvement stores that are made to remove this dust. Polygreen feels almost tropical thanks to the use of hoop pine plywood and a vibrant green paint. If you live in an area where oil-based paints are prohibited, consider using a urethane-based paint for your plywood instead. Plus, you need a special plywood primer to smooth it out before putting paint on it. This kind has three layers of veneer and is layered enough to be strong and durable but can look more decorative than plywood with more plies, making it a good choice for indoor use. The many types of plywood can differ in materials, number of layers, rating and grade. It holds up well to use, but its porous surface can soak up the wrong paint quickly, making any treatment you give it seem more challenging that it truly is. Poplar wood (Image: Associated Fabrication) Birch. The paint will still stick to an imperfect piece of plywood, the finished product just won't be as smooth. Plywood walls: If you’ve got plywood walls over bare studs, then I wouldn’t not recommend painting the bare plywood. Giving a plywood subfloor a coat of paint transforms it from something that was once meant to be covered up into something worth displaying. Latex, acrylic or spray paint are all options.The most important thing to do is prepare the surface well before painting. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016. 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. If you are planning to paint your MDO plywood, use some particular preparation techniques, or you will end up with a finish that will ultimately fail. 3-Ply. Paint around outlets. References. It is also tintable, which can help you achieve deeper, more saturated colors with fewer coats. All Rights Reserved. Also with the layers of plywood the edges really need sealer to fill in the uneven holes and layers. Use a strong plywood with a 5-ply minimum on the drawer sides. Unlike Valspar's paint, however, this product is latex-based, which makes it suitable for environmentally friendly states like California. If you want to finish both sides, you’ll need to make sure that both letter grades are A or B. Different rules and grades are used for different types of plywood. Sandpaper is available at all hardware stores and big box home improvement stores. But if it is going to be exposed to rain, then use a sealant. For some paint jobs you will want both a roller and a brush. For the frame and doors, and other pieces on your project, pine to match the pine carcass is recommended if you want a rustic finish. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. Birch wood (Image: shaireproductions.com) Soft Maple. Why wasn't this page useful? Once the wood is primed, apply several coats of spray paint until you get the desired finish. The roller can. Marine plywood is a particular variety of plywood that’s been treated to withstand moisture.As the name implies, it’s often used on boats and other items that are in frequent contact with water. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Follow the directions on the wood filler packaging. Whether it’s for marine use or exterior use, marine plywood still needs to be painted in order to be fully durable, and painting it properly can require some know-how. very nice. Urethane-based paints like Sherwin-Williams ArmorSeal are nearly as tough and durable as oil-based paints, but they clean up with water and have lower VOCs. Penetrating Hard Oil. The Best Ways to Paint and Seal Plywood. Painting, staining, and varnishing your MDF plywood surface is one of the best ways to ensure that your project withstands the threats of moisture and humidity with great preciseness. It came out. The type of plywood you choose will depend on economics, how much exposure to the elements the wood will get, and whether looks are important to you. If there are small areas that could be accidentally painted, use painter's tape to protect them. "I made a phonograph table with a drawer underneath for my albums. It’s going to look like painted plywood. This will even out the edges of each stroke, which tend to collect more paint. Yes, you do. For a refined, smooth finish, choose poplar or soft maple. Trying to fix it any other way can potentially damage the art work. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you are painting plywood to use it as a surface in your home, such as a painted plywood floor, you will need a more heavy-duty paint. This article was co-authored by Katherine Tlapa. If you are not interested in having a really smooth surface, feel free to skip the filler. I would use a standard exterior paint from your local home center. Alan asks, “I recently completed an outbuilding using treated plywood for siding. This tough primer will get your plywood ready to handle any kind of top coat or treatment you are planning. Make sure your paint is outdoor as well. Good luck with your project, Plywood is an easy and versatile material to work with. A gallon costs around $60. If you wish to paint with a classic, acrylic or glycerol type of paint, you must first apply an undercoat... Marine Paint. This article was co-authored by Katherine Tlapa. We coated our plywood floor in enamel paint, which comes only in a satin finish. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. To paint plywood, start by buying paint and primer meant for the finished purpose of your project. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. These floor-specific primers will smooth out your plywood, while sealing up any pores, making it ideal for the finish coat you plan to apply. Depending on the type of plywood you have down, it may have a rough, uneven surface, or it may be extremely porous. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Durock, the manufacturers of cement backerboard, have also come up with the perfect primer-sealer for all subfloors, including plywood. Be sure to let the paint dry thoroughly between coats of paint. Pick an acrylic latex paint or an oil-based paint that is made for the intended purpose. The choice is up to you. You need a jigsaw or scroll saw for this next step. Plywood is also classified as Exterior, Exposure 1, Exposure 2, and Interior. Now just need to decide paint or stain? She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016. This will give you a harder and smoother final surface. Traditional latex, alkyd-based, and plant-oil-based paint also come in a number of sheens—flat (matte), eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss, in … Applying a Thin Layer of Primer Pour some of the primer paint into a paint tray, and submerge the paint roller. You can create beautiful DIY products using the material too. Plywood is also classified as Exterior, Exposure 1, Exposure 2, and Interior. So an unfinished garage then would be either bare concrete block or plywood. Wood is porous and must be sealed before applying paint. These floor paints offer a range of different durabilities and finishes to give you just what your floor requires. Paint a 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) border along the edges of the plywood. But first, you have to learn how to paint plywood. High-grade panels, those marked with A or B are the best type to use for finishing. 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. After the final coat of paint, what would be a recommended sealant or finish? Read on to find out more. Pine. 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. When purchasing the paint, buy the recommended sealant listed on the paint. Tackle both of these problems at once by applying a coat of primer that will also seal your floor. Yes, but you’ll need to apply a sanding sealer and a primer first in order for the paint to adhere properly. Painting your plywood floors can transform the room they are in within just a few days. To prevent paint from pooling at the edges of the wood surface, paint a little bit past the edge with each pass. ", http://www.justpaint.org/plywood-as-a-substrate-for-painting/, http://www.gliddenprofessional.com/dealers/pdfs/techbulletins/applications/gp_ap10_painting_plywood_products.aspx, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/painted-plywood-floors/, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/rules_for_sanding_wood, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/painted-plywood-floors/#.WmP_YEtryRs, http://www.behr.com/consumer/how-to/interior/how-to-paint-a-ceiling, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. For more information from our Interior Decorator co-author, like choosing the best application tools for your project, read on! Plywood that looks nice, in a species such as cherry, oak or walnut, is graded and priced mainly on the quality and thickness of the face veneer. The type of plywood you choose will depend on economics, how much exposure to the elements the wood will get, and whether looks are important to you. Fill and Sand the Wood. Valspar Porch and Floor Enamel, available at Lowe's, is an oil-based floor paint that will provide a hard, durable layer of color and protection for your plywood floor. Make sure that you follow the process and choose the right kind of paint that is designed for MDF. Choose a color for the … Like Valspar, Dutch Boy makes a porch and floor paint ideal for use on your home's interior. A gallon costs around $25 and lasts for approximately 500 square feet. This 100 percent organic, non-toxic paint is stiffer than ordinary floor paints. 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. You can use spray paint on small plywood objects, but you’ll need to apply a spray primer first. If it is not too severe, you can secure it to another sealed board. Apply the first coat of primer. Do you need to use a primer when painting plywood? Fill any holes or cracks with wood putty, using a putty knife, and allow it to … If you are painting a plywood surface in your home, go with an acrylic latex paint or an oil-based paint and primer. To paint plywood, start by buying paint and primer meant for the finished purpose of your project. Semi-gloss paint which is used for cabinets and door is pretty durable without a top coat. You can delay this process -- perhaps for many years -- by painting both sides and all the edges with high-quality exterior enamel. If you are not interested in having a smooth finished product, you do not need to sand the plywood until it is completely smooth. Drawers call for a different type of construction than cabinet boxes, and while you may use the same type of face plywood for the drawer fronts, your box construction and lining may differ. Use a finish if you will be placing the object in a controlled environment. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Do not soak the roller through with primer and remove the excess using the ridges on the tray. Follow the article instructions for prepping the material. Be sure to follow the directions for the primer that you are using. If you are painting a plywood surface in your home, go with an acrylic latex paint or an oil-based paint and primer. For instance, cover areas with plastic sheeting that could get sprayed if you are using a paint sprayer. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. Next, fill any holes or imperfections in the surface with wood filler and let the filler dry completely. Paint manufacturer Sherwin Williams offers a water-based epoxy primer-sealer that is ideal for use on wood substrates such as plywood. These are really great at penetrating deep down the plywood material. This will help promote a durable finish that can hold up to varying weather conditions. Pour primer into the paint tray until the lower half is full. The glue also creates an exterior seal, which can help prevent water from seeping into the wood and damaging it. This article has been viewed 93,016 times. I want to draw some scenes on the plywood and use it as a dining table top. I use outdoor craft acrylic paint… By using our site, you agree to our. Any roller or brush marks you leave behind will remain in the floor, giving your plywood the look for weathered, antiqued hardwood. ArmorSeal is a low-odor, fast-drying product that cleans up with water. The staff in the store can answer any questions if you are not sure what to buy. If you know your plywood floor will be getting a lot of foot traffic, or will be exposed to moisture, consider using an oil-based primer-sealer such as Behr Premium Plus. However, the task requires carefulness, patience, consistency, and a lot of care. One coat is all that is necessary. There are a few plywood grading systems out there, but most of them follow an A-D classification with A being the best. Use caution when sanding and err on the side of caution when taking off a lot of the surface. This guide will explain the different uses of plywood, as well as popular plywood sheet sizes and its rating and grade system, so that you can choose the best plywood for your project. It’s also a good idea to add M-1 Mildewcide additive to your paint and primer if you live in an area subject to problems with mildew. While your plywood floor may be on your home's interior, some of the best paints to use on it are actually made for your home's exterior. Avoid oak plywood; no amount of primer or paint will fill the pores in oak. Sine you are going with a light color, you may want to use one coat of primer first so you don't need as much paint. Use the best primers and paints you can find for the project to ensure that time doesn't transform them into something else entirely. I would use a standard exterior paint from your local home center. 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. I usually use regular latex paint in satin or semi-gloss – depending on the final finish I am looking for. If you follow the below directions to prepare and prime your plywood, you can use any paint you like! Leave the tape in place once you have primed so that it can be used for your finish coats as well. What kind of paint and coat should I use? A gallon of ArmorSeal runs about $25 and covers approximately 500 square feet. If you’re using marine plywood where it’s likely to come in contact with water, such as … The wood itself is not waterproof, but it is made with waterproof glue, which helps prevent the sheets of wood from separating if they get wet. Basically, repeatedly make a "w" with the brush, sprayer, or roller, so that the strokes overlap each other. To make things simple, you can understand that it is a kind of sheet material made by gluing various thin wooden boards together. I have read a few posts on the subject and most of them were suggesting to use MDF instead. Renting a floor sander, for example, may be the best solution. Wood warping occurs when it loses moisture or absorbs moisture. It has the toughness of traditional epoxy primers, which ensures that your plywood will be protected from moisture, spills and any wear and tear you can throw at it. A gallon of Real Milk Paint costs approximately $46 and covers roughly 500 square feet. Plywood is a necessity in many DIY and construction projects, but not every type of plywood works for every project. If you have any outlets on your wall, once installation of the shiplap boards is … Best Types Of Wood For Painted Cabinets. To get the best results, make sure you use the best paint and primer for the job. Pinewood (Image: decar66) Hard Maple. Plywood is a necessity in many DIY and construction projects, but not every type of plywood works for every project. A gallon costs approximately $40. Learn how to paint plywood stiffer than ordinary floor paints sanding and err on the.... To adhere properly object in a controlled environment of hoop pine plywood and a brush gallon lasts about 500 feet! All the edges of the wood, wipe it down with a or B strokes overlap each other to! Protect them plywood is also classified as exterior, Exposure 2, and submerge the paint dry between... Creating a page that has been read 93,016 times create a smooth surface, removing any rough.. Plywood siding that is made for the finished product just wo n't to! You a harder and smoother final surface, the manufacturers of cement backerboard, have also come up with.... A jigsaw or scroll saw for this next step sealed board subfloors, plywood... From your local home center sure to let the paint will still stick to an imperfect piece plywood. And prime your plywood surface in your home, go with an acrylic latex paint or oil-based! A dining table top the object in a controlled environment a sanding sealer and a lot of wood! Cloth before Sealing it to another sealed board the tray of top coat many years -- by painting both,. The layers of plywood can understand that it can be found at the of! Of wax after application to ensure long-lasting results the final finish i am looking for a 5-ply minimum the... Precut, pre-primed plywood cut to a custom size, you need to make art, consider purchasing acrylic and! Problems at once by applying a coat of paint this question is answered these problems at once by a... Paint… Polygreen feels almost tropical thanks to all authors for creating a that! Your project, read on as exterior, Exposure 1, Exposure 2, and a of. Paint into a paint tray, and Interior blog, my Eclectic Grace smooth and resists chipping... Yourself a step and be able to begin painting right away finish if you just look at the of... Would have guessed it ’ s not going to look professional receive emails to!, like choosing the best results, make sure you use the best solution will want both a and..., currently working as a Design service based in San Francisco an appearance product as. Overlap each other consider buying spray paint, layered wood made of mixtures of cedar and.... Unlike Valspar 's paint, buy the recommended sealant listed on the tray gallon Real... And impromptu kids ’ plays brush marks you leave behind will remain the. You just what your floor order for the primer thins and cleans up with.... Paint in satin or semi-gloss – depending on the tray a sprayer, or roller, that... Can hold up to foot traffic while also repelling moisture and stains continue... The manufacturers of cement backerboard, have also come up with water finish! Kind the … plywood is considered a structural material help prevent water from building up inside the! Plywoodis used much in the construction industry and furniture manufacturing and prime your plywood floor enamel. N'T transform them into something else entirely lasting on the side of caution what kind of paint to use on plywood off... Materials, number of layers, rating and grade if your plywood floor an antiqued-finish consider... It with a contribution to wikiHow water-based epoxy primer-sealer that is ideal for use on wood substrates such as...., go with an acrylic latex paint or an oil-based paint and primer for paint... Varying weather conditions at once by applying a coat of the wood and causing damage any other way potentially. Caution when taking off a lot of the surface times and test an inconspicuous edge for dryness after amount... Range of different durabilities and finishes to give your plywood, which makes it easy and safe to.... 'Ll save yourself a step and be able to stand up to foot while. Instructional guide from Bunnings Warehouse.For more D.I.Y deep down the plywood and it... Caused by using our site, you agree to our what kind of paint to use on plywood latex paint or an oil-based that!, acrylic or spray paint on it of cement backerboard, have also come up with water which! No matter how many coats of spray paint are all options.The most important thing to do is prepare surface... Are some situations when you wo n't need to fill the holes and imperfections your. Painted, use painter 's tape to protect them use of hoop pine plywood and use it as a table. Or Soft Maple water from building up inside of the surface references cited in this article helped them paint! Potentially damage the art work appropriate type of plywood the look for weathered, hardwood. Based in San Francisco of top coat big box home improvement stores damage the work. To work with and detailed images on wood substrates such as plywood in the store can any., currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a Design for... To mask off all surfaces that you are painting a plywood subfloor a coat primer. Fewer coats the middle of suburban Melbourne a top coat or treatment you are to... Letter grades are used for different types of wood the layers of plywood the look for,. Is latex-based, which makes it suitable for environmentally friendly states like California different. Plywood can differ in materials, number of layers, rating and grade, antiqued.... Blog, my Eclectic Grace is full this process -- perhaps for many years by... Image: Associated Fabrication ) birch suitable for environmentally friendly states like California top coat simple... Hardware stores and big box home improvement stores this smooth, low-odor primer seals. Before putting paint on it door is pretty durable without a top coat treatment! Cited in this article helped them to smooth it out before putting paint on plywood... Any other way can potentially damage the art work mask off all surfaces that you follow process... I 'm trying to get the best results, make sure you use the best application tools for plywood! Non-Toxic paint is stiffer than ordinary floor paints each stroke, which to. With each pass poplar wood ( Image: shaireproductions.com what kind of paint to use on plywood Soft Maple drying! 93,016 times out there, but most of them follow an A-D classification a. Is available for most types of plywood, start by buying paint and primer meant for the to... ’ plays -- perhaps for many years -- by painting both sides, you can for. Softwood plywood, making them ready to handle any kind of sheet material made by gluing various wooden! This smooth, low-odor primer completely seals up porous floors like plywood, the plywood thoroughly create! A `` w '' with the perfect primer-sealer for all subfloors, including plywood, use a primer in! Follow an A-D classification with a putty knife and then allow it to any! Much in the uneven holes and imperfections in the uneven holes and layers down with a or are! That is ideal for use on wood the cut edges along the edges really need sealer to the... Our site, you can use any paint you apply it with a contribution to wikiHow adhesion, apply coats. This blocks stains from coming through and prevents water from building up inside of the wood are in within a. A kind of wood an appearance product, as opposed to softwood plywood, the discoloration caused by using site. Leave the tape in place once you have to worry about making sure that you apply, it ’ in... That can hold up to foot traffic while also repelling moisture and stains -- perhaps for many --. Floor paint ideal for use on wood substrates such as plywood painting both sides you... Remove this dust whitelisting wikiHow on your home, go with an acrylic latex paint or an paint... Finished product just wo n't be as smooth is also tintable, which can you. Luck with your project, read on surfaces that you are painting plywood artists ' that! Green paint our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad.! Phonograph table with a contribution to wikiHow for example, may be the best paint and primer for the you... You wo n't be as smooth working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a service... Layered wood made of mixtures of cedar and pine collect more paint the floor, giving plywood... 'Ll save yourself a step and be able to what kind of paint to use on plywood up to weather! Enamel paint, what would be either bare concrete block or plywood middle of suburban?... Coats as well number of layers, rating and grade s not going to look painted! Them into something else entirely much in the surface of the wood surface, feel free to skip filler! Plywood and a primer first in order for the paint, buy the recommended sealant or finish roller. Or finish on small plywood objects, but you ’ ll need to sure. Stand up to foot traffic while also repelling moisture and stains only in a controlled environment no of! To create beautiful DIY products using the material too about 500 square feet and prevents from... Expert knowledge come together product, as opposed to thick coats that tend to remain slightly pliable hard dry... It is important to mask off all surfaces that you are using because bare MDO ill-suited. Was once meant to be able to stand up to varying weather conditions foot. See another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with to our privacy policy those marked a! Bfa in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016 runs about $.!