Plywood painting: features, step-by-step description and effective methods

Plywood slabs refer to problematic materials in terms of painting. This is due to the specific texture of the surface, which does not allow for the smooth laying of the paint and varnish composition. Such problems arise with many wood-shaving materials, but the painting of plywood is complicated by the presence of pronounced roughnesses and even burrs on the outside of the slab.

Features of painting works with plywood sheets

On the plywood paintwork is reluctant, which is caused by an uneven surface. This mostly relates to materials that have been subjected to rough factory processing. Therefore, a special place in this business is taken by the preparatory measures. It is not recommended to apply the compound directly to the wood substrate, as there is a risk of getting a defective coating with a frank marriage. Even if the surface is treated with a thick layer, cracks and warping of the paint will appear in the future. Therefore, the painting of plywood must be carried out in several layers, and the base coatings are not decorative. They perform the functions of priming and leveling - that is, they prepare the base for applying a full-fledged decorative layer. In some cases, special mechanical processing of sheets is required, so that they can be laid on the primer itself.

Methods of painting

Methods for upgrading plywood differ both in technical tools and in the type of paint composition used. As for the tools, the usual brush, roller, and spray gun can be used. The most qualitative result is achieved by the last tool. Pneumatic spray gun allows you to ensure a smooth coating of paint and varnish. In this case, the base layers can be performed with a brush - at this stage the exposure of the uniform layer is not so significant. In terms of choosing a means of coloring, everything is not so unambiguous. If you need an emphasis on aesthetic value, then, undoubtedly, preference is given to building paints - for example, acrylic or pentaphthalic compounds of the right shade will do. Practice painting of plywood varnish, which involves a traditional set of tools - from a brush to a spatula. Processing is performed in several layers with long strokes. There are also special tools for bleaching wood, which will also suit plywood. They include chlorine, sodium or potassium hypochlorite, lime, etc. This option is desirable to use in working with plywood, which is part of the structure of business premises, and not residential.

Preparation of plywood for paints and varnishes

Preparation begins with a thorough cleaning of the surface. Remove necessary and debris with dust, and weak damaged areas of the sheet. Then you can grind the material. If plywood is prepared for painting with varnish or the same acrylic paint, then this operation will be mandatory. A machine with polishing abrasives will remove burrs, lagging fragments and simply provide a smooth base.

The second stage of preparation will be to create a reliable base for applying the paint and varnish decorative layer. For this purpose, priming putty of plywood for painting, which includes strengthening and adhesive components, can be used. If plywood is planned to be used outdoors, it will not be superfluous to provide for the presence of water and frost-resistant additives in the primer.

Preparation of tools and paints

In addition to the main paint tool, which must be thoroughly cleaned, it is necessary to prepare accessories. Among them there will be the same spatula, construction knife and equipment for compressed air supply, if a pneumatic sprayer is to be used. Next, the paint and varnish composition is prepared. Initially, it can be a liquid solution or a dry mix. In both cases, thorough mixing and dilution with water is required. It is important to take into account that the plywood painting will be of high quality only if the solution is homogeneous. It should be free of lumps and foreign bodies. If necessary, at this stage, you can add to the composition and modifiers that improve certain qualities of the mixture.

Instructions for applying the formulation

If the choice fell on a brush or roller, then the action should be carried out smoothly and without jerking. It is recommended to cover as much as possible in one pass, which will minimize the leakage and make the coating uniform. At the same time, it's better not to limit yourself to one layer - on average such design is performed in 2-3 passes. If the flooring is being prepared from plywood, then it is worth counting on 5-6 layers, since this coating will require increased mechanical resistance. It is easiest to work with a spray gun. It sprays the composition evenly over the entire area and the user only has to monitor the abundance of the coating. In this case, too, there may be drips, but this effect can be avoided if intensive movements of the working head of the tool are performed.

Recommendations on the progress of work

In the process of working with the roller it is important to keep track of his pile. Fur models of this tool leave hairs, which in the future will be difficult to remove without disturbing the structure of the coating. Therefore, it is better to use a foam rubber roller initially. If you plan to work with a heterogeneous structure that has complex areas and large flat areas, it is advisable to combine the tools. For example, painting a plywood brush will be the best solution in dealing with corners, edges and curved elements. It is better to treat a large, even surface with a pneumatic tool. The direction of the tool at the time of moving should be longitudinal with respect to wood fibers - this scheme of applying paintwork material will ensure a strong fixation of the coating, and also will preserve the shade for a long time.

Conclusion

Much in choosing the method and technique of painting plywood sheets is determined by the requirements for the result. It's one thing if you need to get an exclusive decorative effect, the other is if the task is to preserve the structure of the material, and the third is when it comes to protecting against external influences. A universal result can provide painting of plywood with acrylic paint, which contains a diverse set of plasticizers and protective additives. But such formulations have two drawbacks. First, the high price, and secondly, in the mass of their environmentally unsafe. On the other hand, it is possible to shift part of the coating functions to a putty or other primer material. This will make it possible to opt for alternative environmentally friendly compounds with a decorative function. These include, in particular, oil paints.