We often tend to think about particle board as being something that is used for construction and hidden behind other materials. In reality, it can be a beautiful and very durable part of our home if we put epoxy over it.
You can apply epoxy over a particle board that is high-quality and in good condition. It should be free of any defects and if there are any seams, they should be fixed first so that you are dealing with a single unit. Otherwise, the epoxy could crack.
In reality, particleboard makes an excellent surface for countertops that can be beautified with epoxy. There isn’t much prep work that is necessary to do this and with the right touch, you can have a high-quality surface on a budget.
Can You Epoxy Over Particle Board? (How To)
That isn’t to say that you should simply apply the epoxy without thinking about it in advance. Preparation is the key to a successful job, and there are a few things you need to do in advance of applying the epoxy.
In addition, you need to consider your personal safety when doing any type of DIY project. This would include wearing safety glasses, disposable gloves, and a respirator if the fumes are heavy.
In this article, we will consider whether you should use epoxy over particleboard and how you can get the job done the right way if you decide to go through with it.
Should You Epoxy Over Particle Board ?
One of the more difficult questions we may ask about applying epoxy over particleboard is if we should do it. Honestly, that is a personal decision but when you consider the benefits, it’s easy to see it’s always a good decision.
The following are some of the primary benefits you will receive when you apply epoxy over particleboard.
Seamless – If you are looking for a seamless surface, epoxy is going to provide it for you. You can apply the epoxy over the particleboard to create a smooth surface that has no seams or noticeable cracks. This is good because it makes the end product look as if it were custom-made for your area.
Heat and Scratch Resistant – Although you may epoxy over particleboard in many locations, the primary way that you would do so is when creating a countertop. If that countertop is in the kitchen, you don’t have to worry about heat or scratches because the epoxy will stand up to it nicely.
Durability – You might be surprised with exactly how long a countertop or other surface will last when it is made of particleboard and covered with epoxy. It might actually outlive the usefulness of that surface.
Design – Since you can mix and match colors and textures of epoxy, you have a limitless number of options available when it comes to design. You can work with the epoxy to make it beautiful day after day.
That should be enough to convince you of the benefits of applying epoxy over particleboard. We will now take a look at how to do it properly.
How To Epoxy Over Particle Board
When applying epoxy over particleboard, it’s a good idea to have a plan. We will discuss the plan in this section as well as help you to work through the process from beginning to end.
The easiest way to apply epoxy over particle board is to buy a suitable kit. There are kits available for this purpose in many areas of the home, including countertops. A kit will provide you with everything you need to prepare the epoxy and apply it properly.
Regardless of whether you use a kit or not, you will still have to go down through the steps necessary to make the job a success. These are the steps you should follow.
Step 1: Prepare Primer – Do not skip the necessary step of preparing and applying primer. It will cover the surface, getting it ready for the application of epoxy. After applying the primer, allow it to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.
Step 2: Base Coat – The base coat of epoxy is going to be very similar to what you would pour on the floor. You would mix the two-part epoxy together and add the metallic. After which, you will pour it on the countertop in a thick line.
It takes a considerable amount of time for epoxy to dry so you don’t have to be overly rushed when applying the base coat. You can generally apply it to all of the countertop surfaces and then come back to thin things out later.
When you come back to thin things, you will be moving the epoxy all over the countertop using a roller. The paint roller will push the epoxy more than rolling it, but it will get it close to the edges.
Now is when you will be happy that you have plastic down on the floor and covering any nearby areas. When you do push the epoxy over the edges, it is going to drip.
Come back later to push the epoxy on the edges of the particleboard as well.
Step 3: Colors – At this point, the epoxy is still wet and workable. You will now mix the additional epoxy with the metallic colors and drizzle them onto the accent colors.
Everybody will have their own style of applying secondary colors. Perhaps the easiest way to do so is simply to dip a stick into the color and drizzle it on the surface.
If you have any large gaps between the drizzle, you can go back to put some drops of color so you can spread things out when you eventually get back to it.
If you use another color, be careful where you put down the container of epoxy. It will get hot in the container so if you set it on plastic or another meltable surface, you are asking for trouble.
Step 4: Blend – Take your roller and go back to blend the colors into the primary color. There is no right or wrong way to do this but you will likely want to use a random stroke so you don’t have a noticeable pattern.
Continue to blend the colors as necessary until it has the look you want. You can then begin to blend the edges, working along the edge to ensure that everything is properly covered.
Step 4: Blowtorch – After you have blended the colors together, you will use a hand-held propane torch to remove any bubbles from the surface and smooth things out.
Continue to move your way over the entire surface, ensuring that every part has been touched by the flame but no part is burnt by being held on the flame too long.
After torching everything, you will see that it is now beautiful and ready to dry.
Step 5: Dry – At this point, you should work your way around the edges and scrape underneath to catch any drips that are occurring. You may need to do this multiple times until the epoxy sets to the point where it will not run.
Allow the entire surface to dry for at least 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
Step 6: Topcoat – The final step in the process is to mix and apply the topcoat. You should apply it thinly with a brand-new roller so the consistency is smooth. There are many options available for topcoats, so choose one that is the best for your needs.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 6, 2022.
What Tools You Need To Epoxy Over Particle Board
Having the tools available to get the job done is important. Here are the tools you will need to apply epoxy over particleboard:
Mixing Sticks
Measured Containers
Painters Tape
Visqueen
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 6, 2022.
Rollers
Brushes
What Preparation You Need To Epoxy Over Particle Board
Like any DIY task, it’s important to prepare properly so you can epoxy over particleboard and get the job done in a beautiful way.
The most important factor for preparing particleboard for epoxy is to ensure that the board is free of defects and smooth. You may need to sand things down in order to do this and fill in the holes using a bonding compound.
For the most part, you will be using color when you apply epoxy over the particleboard. You don’t have to worry about discoloring the particleboard by applying fillers and other items to get the board as smooth as possible.
On the other hand, if you are trying to bring out the beauty of particleboard using epoxy, you will have to pay close attention to what you are doing. This may include using a single piece of particleboard rather than multiple pieces bonded together.
If you must prepare a surface of particleboard that has seams, you should fill the gap in between the seams with epoxy or some seam filler in advance. This will allow the entire surface to move as one and keep the epoxy from cracking.
One other important factor to consider is using a primer. This will seal the board from moisture and get it ready for the application of epoxy.
Particleboard makes an excellent surface for epoxy. As long as it is prepared in advance to be smooth and seamless, you can apply the epoxy in any design you desire. The surface will be heat and scratch resistant, durable, and beautiful.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on September 6, 2022.