Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I's considering the the "moisture resistant" luan plywood at HD for my outside skin, to be sealed and painted. It seems to have a smoother finish than regular luan, and thay may be due to the moisture resistant treatment. I am concerned that the finish may not take poly sealers and paint as well as untreated plywood. Has anyone tried it yet? I may buy a sheet and test it.

I used the "moisture resistant" luan for the inside and outside of my roof/ceiling. Inside I stained and pollyed it. I found some that looks like birch. It took the finish great and looks great. The outside I painted with a "Porch and Floor Enamel" to seal it up before I got my Filon. It took well and I almost didn't cover it with Filon except I was looking for the least amount of maintance possible. The Enamel probably would hold up well. The seams were my bigest concern (5' wide tear with seams every 4'). Mine is the 5.2mm thick (aprox 3/16"). Some of the pieces were as flexible as rubber and the Birch looking stuff was pretty stiff. To bend it for the inside I hosed it down for about an hour ("moisture resistant" luan). It got soffter and it did not delaminate or do anything bad. It dryed quick (granted it was summer in dry Denver) I did notice that the Birch looking stuff is thicker than the softer stuff.

Gerdo wrote:I used the "moisture resistant" luan for the inside and outside of my roof/ceiling. Inside I stained and pollyed it. I found some that looks like birch. It took the finish great and looks great. The outside I painted with a "Porch and Floor Enamel" to seal it up before I got my Filon.

That's what I wanted to know. I thought the slick finish on this luan looked better than standard luan which has a rough feel to it. I also used porch and floor enamel (latex) on the boat I built with luan, then fiberglassed on the ouside, and the paint held up for 4-5 years using it in both fresh and salt water. The fiberglass bubbled up before the paint did.

Dale,

I used the 5.2mm luan on the outside of the weekender. The plan was to paint it with Uniflex 255.

Of course since then, it has gone to Frank, and I don't think it's done yet. However I expect it to be a durable outside skin!

Mike...

It sounds like I'll have no problems with the finish using it. I like the feel of the surface, and the price. It's only about $11 per sheet at HD. That's cheaper than the paneling I'll use inside.