Plywood boards are problematic materials in terms of painting. This is due to the specifics of the surface texture, which does not allow the smooth installation of the paintwork. Such problems arise with many wood-based materials, but plywood painting is complicated by the presence of pronounced roughness and even burrs on the outside of the board.
Features of painting work with plywood sheets
Coatings reluctantly fall on plywood, which is due to the uneven surface. This is more true for materials that have undergone rough processing. Therefore, a special place in this matter is occupied by preparatory measures. It is not recommended to apply the composition directly to the wood base, since 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 plywood should be painted in several layers, and the base coatings are not decorative. They perform the functions of primer and leveling - that is, they prepare the basis for applying an already full-fledged decorative layer. In some cases, special machining of the sheets is required so that the primer itself can be laid on them.
Painting methods
The methods for upgrading plywood vary both in technical tools and in the type of paint composition used. As for the tools, an ordinary brush, a roller, and an airbrush can be used. The highest quality result is achieved by the last tool. The pneumatic airbrush allows to provide an even coating with a paint layer. At the same time, the base layers can also be done with a brush - at this stage, exposure to a uniform layer is not so significant. In terms of choosing a coloring agent, everything is not so clear. If you want emphasis on aesthetic value, then, of course, it is worth giving preference to building paints - for example, acrylic or pentaphthalic compositions of the desired shade are suitable. The practice of painting plywood with varnish, which uses a traditional set of tools - from the brush to the spatula. Processing is carried out in several layers with long strokes. There are special tools for bleaching wood, which are also suitable for plywood. They include chlorine, sodium or potassium hypochlorites, lime, etc. This option is desirable to use in working with plywood, which is part of the structure of utility rooms, rather than residential.
Preparing plywood for paintwork
Preparation begins with a thorough cleaning of the surface. It is necessary to remove debris with dust and weak damaged sections of the sheet. Then you can grind the material. If plywood is being 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 a decorative paint layer. For this purpose, primer plywood putty for painting can be used, which includes reinforcing and adhesive components. If it is planned to use plywood on the street, it will be useful to provide for the presence of water and frost-resistant additives in the primer.
Tool and paint preparation
In addition to the main paint tool, which must be thoroughly cleaned, assistive devices should be prepared. Among them will be the same spatula, construction knife and equipment for supplying compressed air, if you plan to use a pneumatic sprayer. Next, the paintwork is prepared. Initially, it can be a liquid solution or a dry mixture. In both cases, thorough mixing and dilution with water are required. It is important to consider that plywood painting will be of high quality only if the mortar is homogeneous. It should be rid 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 composition
If the choice fell on a brush or roller, then the action should be performed smoothly and without jerking. It is recommended to cover as large an area as possible in one pass, which will minimize smudges and make the coating uniform. At the same time, it is better not to be limited to one layer - on average, this design is performed in 2-3 passes. If you are preparing to paint the floor from plywood, then you should count on 5-6 layers, since this coating will require increased mechanical resistance. The easiest way to work with a spray gun. He sprays the composition evenly over the entire area and the user can only monitor the abundance of the coating. In this case, smudges are also possible, but this effect can be avoided if intensive movements of the working head of the tool are performed.
Recommendations on the way
In the process of working with the roller, it is important to monitor its pile. Fur patterns of this tool leave hairs, which in the future will be difficult to remove without breaking the coating structure. Therefore, initially it is better to use a foam roller. If you plan to work with a heterogeneous structure having complex sections and large flat areas, then it is advisable to combine tools. For example, painting plywood with a brush will be the best solution for working with corners, edges and curved elements. A large flat surface is best treated with a pneumatic tool. The direction of the tool at the time of movement should be longitudinal relative to the wood fibers - this scheme of applying the paintwork material will provide a strong fixation of the coating, and also allow you to save the shade for a long time.
Conclusion
Much of the choice of method and technique for painting plywood sheets is determined by the requirements for the result. It is one thing if you want to get an exceptional decorative effect, another - if you are faced with the task of preserving the structure of the material, and the third - if we are talking about protection from external influences. A universal result can be achieved by painting plywood with acrylic paint, which contains a diverse set of plasticizers and protective additives. But such compositions have two drawbacks. Firstly, the high price, and secondly, for the most part they are environmentally unsafe. On the other hand, it is possible to shift part of the coating functions to putty or other priming material. This will make it possible to opt for alternative environmentally friendly compounds with a decorative function. These include, in particular, oil paints.