How to Seal Marine Plywood

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Acetone

  • Paper towels

  • Sandpaper

  • Sanding block

  • Foam roller

  • Epoxy moisture sealer

  • Paint basin

  • Tipping foam brush

Seal marine plywood to protect it from moisture.

Marine plywood is a type of wood specifically formulated for use in moist or wet areas. This plywood is formulated to resist water and moisture on its own. However, usually the materials in the wood are not enough to block all moisture from the wood. It is almost always necessary to coat the marine plywood in additional sealer to block all moisture from the pores of the wood.

Advertisement

Step 1

Wipe the surface of the marine plywood with paper towels or a soft cloth dipped in acetone. This will remove any grease and other contaminates from the surface of the wood to prepare it for sealing. Allow the acetone to dry before continuing. This will take one or two hours.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Sand the marine plywood with sandpaper and a sanding block. Use a fine-grit sandpaper and sand the wood for several minutes to achieve a smooth surface. Wipe away any sawdust particles with a soft cloth.

Advertisement

Step 3

Pour a small amount of epoxy moisture sealer into a paint basin. Only work with a small amount of sealer at a time, because it dries quickly.

Step 4

Dip a foam roller into the sealer. Roll the brush against the side of the paint basin to remove most of the sealer from the roller.

Advertisement

Step 5

Roll the sealer across the surface of the marine plywood. Roll the paint onto a 2-by-2-foot area to ensure the sealer does not dry before you cover the area.

Step 6

Press hard on the roller to cover the plywood with a thin coating of the sealer. Continue to work in small sections until the entire piece of plywood is covered in a thin coat.

Advertisement

Step 7

Drag a foam tipping brush over the sealer while it is still wet to remove brush marks from the epoxy sealer. Drag the brush across the surface horizontally.

Step 8

Allow the coat to dry for one to two hours. Follow with several additional thin coats. Tip each coat after applying. Drag the brush in a different direction each time. The second coat is tipped vertically, then the third is horizontal again. Apply about five thin coats of epoxy sealer.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references