plywood problems

[ratjack]

I put 3 coats of epoxy on then paint. The plywood is splitting. People say bad paint. So I got the best sherwin williams paint. Still splitting. What can I do now? Thanks ratjack

[Steve_Cox]

I put 3 coats of epoxy on then paint. The plywood is splitting. People say bad paint. So I got the best sherwin williams paint. Still splitting. What can I do now? Thanks ratjack

Ratjack,

Welcome to the forum, sorry you are having trouble. What kind of plywood is it and where did you get it? Was it epoxy coated on both sides and the end grain filled until it was smooth to the touch? Doubt it was bad paint. How did you prep the epoxy surface before painting? Did you use a tarp for a cover? Lots of questions here, but in order to tell you what happened and what can be done about it, we have to cover the bases.

[mikeschn]

Is it an interior plywood that you are using?

Mike...

[Danny]

some photos would help.. Is it the ply layers coming apart or veneer surface lifting and cracking?

[ratjack]

I ask for exterior 4X10 it's 7 ply. Special order from weber lumber $90.00 a sheet. Veneer surface lifting an cracking. The epoxy is west system I epoxied the face and all end grain. No trap cover. Thanks again ratjack!

[doug hodder]

How is it stored? Sit outside all year? When I do multiple coats...I let the first one completely cure, sand then roll on another, however I do a lot more than 3.... Did you use the UV resistant catalyst (207), what type of Sherwin Williams paint? Latex, oil, acrylic urethane? Was the plywood "green" or well dried with low moisture content?

Any wooden trailer covered in an epoxy is going to be subject to more maintenance than an aluminum one. All a builder can do is do the best, most thorough job of encapsulating it from the get go. I've had no problems with the actual plywood, however, the exterior trim especially on a bright woody can be a problem to get right.

I've built 2 mahogany woodies and both have an issue on some of the maple trim, but it's more related to the edges on the trim, not too bad though since they are 5 and 6 years old and 1 of them has a fair amount of miles on it, and both live in a higher humidity environment than they were originally built.

Both new owners are real responsible types and I will work with them to help figure out the necessary fixin's. Since they've got my name on them as the builder...I wanna make sure they look good. Doug

[ratjack]

It's store outside. Yes 207. I sanded between coats.Also the column bending ply 3/8 thick.from LLjohnsons on top. THanks Again! ratjack

[doug hodder]

While I'm no expert....I'm betting that the outside storage is what's hurting it. You get a fairly cold winter. If it's separating on the plies and you get some rain..whether or not it gets in the separations...the humidity can through all sorts of places and when it gets cold...it can work to blow apart the plies when it freezes over time.

That type of mechanical weathering is tough on plywood, tears up rocks and concrete as well. Others may think I'm nuts or anal...but I try to make my plywood edges look like they were cast in plastic. Epoxy is relatively cheap compared to all the work you got into it, that's why I put on like 7 layers on one that is going to be painted. Some pics would be nice to see just how bad it all is.

Bendy ply isn't really manufactured for this type of exterior use application and with the grain all going in the same direction isn't helping the situation.

Better take care of it now...it won't get any better and paint probably isn't the answer....it won't be an easy fix but a necessary one. Doug