Plywood is a very common material used for building. It’s often used to make the frame of a house, or in some cases, as the external wall on the house. Plywood boards are typically made from thin layers of wood that have been glued together under high pressure to create a flat surface with a uniform appearance. This type of board is also called the “industry standard” because it’s so commonly used by all types of industries across the country.
You can not use a warped plywood in your project so, you have to know how to prevent plywood from warping before starting plywood project. To prevent the plywood from warping, you need to take care of it before installation, when installing and after installation is complete. Plywood can be warped when it is not stored and or used correctly.
Why it is Important to Prevent the Plywood from Warping?
Plywood boards are typically made from thin layers of wood that have been glued together under high pressure to create a flat surface with a uniform appearance. However, over time plywood can warp, which means the board won’t lay completely flat anymore, or some parts might be raised up higher than others.
This makes using plywood difficult and sometimes impossible to cut them perfectly and to use them in project, which is why prevention measures need to be taken against warping. Otherwise, you will end up wasting materials. In that case a proper plywood cutting tools can’t even cut them in a perfect shape.
Know More: Does Plywood Expand? Plywood Material Explained
What Cause the Plywood to Warping?
- There are several factors that can cause the plywood to warp. These include: Temperature and humidity changes: if there are large temperature and humidity swings, the glue holding the board together will weaken, which causes warping
- Gravity: when you place a sheet of plywood on an uneven surface, gravity pulls it down, creating pressure that pushes against the glue, causing separation between layers with only one side sticking to the wood’s grain.
- Dampness from water or vaporized liquids such as paint solvents: this creates pockets where the air gets trapped in the making for less effective adhesion as well as weaker bond strength over time; also, moisture can come out through planks’ edges resulting in different levels of wetness across a single panel.
- Too much weight: putting too much weight on plywood may cause it to warp.
- Lack of ventilation: lack of air circulation can lead to moisture buildup, which will make the wood more susceptible to warping.
Know More: Check How Can You Plane Plywood
How to Prevent Plywood From Warping?
Sealed the Plywood with a Proper Sealant
The first step to preventing plywood from warping is to make sure it’s sealed. This can be done by using a sealant that’s suitable for use with plywood. It would be best if you had a sealant that will protect the plywood and keep moisture away. When moisture is applied to unprotected plywood, it can cause the wood to warp, twist or harden. This will not only lead to an unattractive finish on your home’s exterior but also potentially affect how well the house stands up against storms and other natural disasters.
Ensure that sealant used for use with plywood has a protective quality and can keep away moisture. Sealants come in different levels of quality, so always follow instructions carefully! Good sealing products should both protect the wood while keeping water away;
There are many different types of sealants available on the market today, so it can be difficult to know which to choose. Few sealants are designed with a protective quality for the wood but rather focus on blocking moisture and preventing the absorption of water into the plywood.
The first step towards prevention is making sure you’ve sealed it properly with a sealer that’s been tested by an independent company stating how long their product will last against different weather conditions. It’s important not only to buy from a known manufacturer but also one who stands behind what they sell in terms of durability; otherwise, your house could end up getting ruined when storms come knocking!
Use a Moisture Meter to Make Sure the Wood is Dry
It’s a smart idea to use an inexpensive moisture meter before cutting into and using the plywood. The wood needs to be dry enough for you to cut it and sand smooth without fear of getting splinters or cracks.
To make sure your wood is at the right level of moisture content, take some measurements with a meter first (a couple of inches from the edge), then check them periodically over time until they have stabilized – when this happens, choose one area that has remained consistently low in order to test how well wet-proofing sealant works on a broader scale!
If possible, try testing both sides of each board so as to confirm water does not come in contact with either surface while it dries out. If the plywood is too wet, use a fan or dehumidifier to speed up the process. Never seal boards before they are at a moisture content level of about 24%.
Apply an Anti-Warping Agent Before Storing Your Plywood
It’s possible that the plywood you’ve sealed is still too wet to be stored without problems. If this is the case, a good idea would be to apply an anti-warping agent before storing it. This will help keep your wood from being warped by excessive moisture during storage and prevent future warping when exposed again in contact with water or damp surfaces.
The most effective way of applying these agents is through brushing or spraying them on top of each board individually (the best time for doing so is right after sealing). Make sure they’re applied evenly over all sides, including edges if any visible boards face at either end, which could become more susceptible to warping than others depending on whether one side has been submerged while drying.
It is also a good idea to place the boards in an open and well-ventilated area for at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours if possible. This will allow the anti-warping agent to dry thoroughly before placing them into storage.”
If you don’t have any anti-warping agents on hand or think that they might be too expensive for your budget, there are other options available that can help prevent warping as well. For example, it’s common practice to apply waxes or paraffin oil products beforehand; these should ideally be applied every six months or so (depending on how often wood is exposed to moisture). You may also want to try covering plywood with polyethene plastic.
Make Sure That the Plywood is Stored in a Cool and Dry Place
When you’re storing plywood, make sure that the plywood is stored in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight. Storage with warm temperatures or prolonged exposure to moisture can cause it to warp. If you’re storing plywood indoors, make sure it’s stored away from appliances that produce heat. The best bet is to store the wood in a non-heated room or one that has access to ventilation and air conditioning. If you need to stack them up for storage, try not stacking more than two layers high. Store plywood flat, not on its edge or top of other pieces of plywood.
Make Sure to Protect Plywood When You are Transporting it
One of the most important things to remember when transporting plywood is how much weight you’re putting on each board. If your boards are buckling under pressure and warping, it can make them difficult to use for construction projects later on down the line!
One way to keep this from happening is by being careful about where you put all of your materials before driving off with a full load in tow – be sure not to overload any individual piece or place more than one heavy object directly atop another if possible.
Know More: How to Transport Plywood Properly | Tips and Tricks
Some Tips and Tricks on Plywood Working
When working with plywood, always keep an eye on how much weight is being put onto the panel.
- Plywood panels should be laid flat when possible, to avoid warping and needling – which can happen if they’re in contact with other materials like paint or drywall sheets that will cause them to warp.
- Always work from both sides of a board: this will prevent moisture buildup on one side by releasing it across all surfaces instead; use plastic spacers as needed between boards for better ventilation so air can circulate freely around each surface without trapping humidity underneath.
- One more thing about preventing plywood warping is making sure your environment does not have water vaporized liquids such as paints solvents or even water.
- The more moisture the plywood absorbs, the greater chance it will warp.
- If you care about the strength of your plywood, don’t let it get infested by termites. Protecting against them is easy with proven methods that work every time!
- Finally, make sure that you dry your boards as soon as they have been cut and plan for storing them to prevent warping from occurring: either keep them flat on a pallet or stack them with spacers between layers if space is an issue.
Know More: Learn How to Flatten Warped Plywood | 9 Best ways
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this article on how to prevent plywood from warping. We hope that it helped you find the way of preventing your wood from warping by using our tips and tricks! If you have any questions, please comment below.
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