How to paint plywood

How to paint plywood

Michelle, Team member
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Project Overview

Plywood is an easy and versatile material to work with. It’s strong, pliable and can be used for all kinds of projects. However, to get the finish you want, it’s important to know how to stain and paint it properly. We’ll take you through the steps and show you how to get a smooth, even surface every time.

Continue to step-by-step instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1 Clean the plywood surface
2 Mix up wood filler
3 Fill up holes
4 Sand the surface
5 Tape areas you don’t want painted
6 Paint the surface

  • Step 1. Clean the plywood surface

    Preparation is the key to a good paint job and plywood is no exception. Before you start painting, take your dustpan brush and give the plywood surface a good dust down to clear away any debris. 

    Previous Step Next Step
    Person cleaning the plywood surface

  • Step 2. Mix up wood filler

    To get a smooth surface, you need to fill up any holes. Mix some Builder’s Bog up with some hardener on a piece of cardboard with your scraper or putty knife. The more you use, the quicker it’s going to set so you need to work fast. 

    Previous Step Next Step
    Fill any holes with wood filler

  • Step 3. Fill up holes

    Once you’ve mixed it together, use your scraper to fill the holes with it. If you’re fussy about the edges of your plywood and don’t want to see the end grain, apply the Builders Bog to that too.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Fill any holes with wood filler

  • Step 4. Sand the surface

    Once the wood filler is dry, give the surface a light sand to make it smooth. Make sure you wear your dust mask and ear muffs for this step. When you’re finished, wipe away any excess dust with your dustpan brush.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Person sanding the plywood surface with a sander

  • Step 5. Tape areas you don’t want painted

    Mask any areas that you don’t want covered in paint with some painter’s tape. We want to keep the raw timber look around the edges, so we’ve masked them. This will prevent paint splatters or smears.

    Previous Step Next Step
    person applying painters tape to the plywood

  • Step 6. Paint the surface

    Before you start painting, put down a drop sheet to help keep the area clean. Then give your paint a good stir. Depending on the paint, you might need to apply a primer, but we don’t need to do that with the paint we’re using.

    Next, apply your top coat. We just want to apply one coat, because it’s an outdoor workbench, which only needs waterproofing. Remember to apply the first coat in the direction of the grain for a smooth, even finish.

    To apply more coats, leave the paint to dry first. For a better finish, give it a light sand between coats and wipe away any dust. Also, paint in a cross-hatch a pattern. 

    Previous Step Next Step
    person paint the plywood surface with a roller

Tools and Materials

Tools

  • Drop sheet
  • Dust mask
  • Dustpan brush
  • Earmuffs
  • Gloves
  • Paint brush
  • Paint roller
  • Paint stirrer
  • Paint tray
  • Painters tape
  • Putty knife or scraper
  • Sander

Materials

  • Builders bog
  • Paint
  • Plywood
  • Primer
  • Top coat

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