Everlasting paint

[Rory Fields]

I unwittingly bought a load of crownboards a while back where the battens on the top and bottom provide beespace but the cut plywood edge is entirely bare, sandwiched in between. I'm a bit obsessive about doing a job once rather than having to repeat it every year so I was wondering which paint would do the job of sealing the edge for as long as possible please? Previous experience of yacht varnish on wood hasn't lasted more than a couple of seasons in the sun so I was assuming gloss or some matt would be best, but I'm money poor and time rich, so not looking for Farrow and Ball nor bothered about colour particularly. I'm afraid I know nothing about paint, despite my town having been built on the stuff. Thanks for any guidance, as ever, and merry Xmas everyone! Cheers, Ror

 

[Garry R]

Ronseal woodstain is pretty good ad easy to apply

 

[ericbeaumont]

nor bothered about colour particularly

Get hold of oil-based paint; thin it a little and let several coats soak into the ply; finish with a thick coat or two. If you had time and not too many boards, put a little paint in a tray or trough and add a stack of boards; rotate after a while. Buy bargain end of line paint, sales paint, or scrap paint.

 

[Murox]

Thinned out oil based paint as @ erichbeaumont suggested should work well. I once treated a set homemade wooden trailer sides that way, made from pine. 18years later they still haven't rotted and actually don't look too bad either. The important thing was that the wood was really bone dry beforehand, it just 'sucked' the thin paint layers in.

 

[robmort]

Not sure why you need to seal them; the crownboard is kept dry under the roof. If it's marine ply it won't rot or split in any case. Why seal only the edge and not the rest of it If it's likely to get wet?

 

[JamezF]

Not sure why you need to seal them; the crownboard is kept dry under the roof.

That's generally my approach. If something is liable to get wet and stay wet for any extended period (a Demaree board, for instance) then I'd certainly look to seal it. For something that's hidden under the roof I'd really not stress about it.

James

 

[drex]

I don't even bother to paint things like Demaree boards, as they are not in for that long, and over summer anyway. Certainly a crownboard under the roof needs no protection

 

[JamezF]

I don't even bother to paint things like Demaree boards, as they are not in for that long, and over summer anyway. Certainly a crownboard under the roof needs no protection

Yeah, but it only rains by appointment in the South Hams. Here it can go on for weeks non-stop

James

 

[E&MBees]

Yeah, but it only rains by appointment in the South Hams. Here it can go on for weeks non-stop

James

It must have changed then. When I lived in the South Hams, it rained whenever it fancied. Generally when the school bus was late!

 

[ericbeaumont]

crownboard is kept dry under the roof

A crownboard is a versatile tool and when used as a floor or split board it is open to the elements, so sealing is a good decision.

marine ply it won't rot or split in any case

Marine ply is a quality ply but certainly not waterproof and only as good as the waterproof glue; the ply will certainly delaminate in time and sealing is a good decision.

 

[Rory Fields]

Ronseal woodstain is pretty good ad easy to apply

would moisture not make short work of even stained ply? Was assuming it'd need to be a paint of some description but absolutely naive about such things. I actually feel nostalgic for creosote, minus the carcinogenic qualities!

 

[Rory Fields]

Not sure why you need to seal them; the crownboard is kept dry under the roof. If it's marine ply it won't rot or split in any case. Why seal only the edge and not the rest of it If it's likely to get wet?

It's not marine ply; I'm as bothered about it warping in my shed as about getting wet on the hive tbh, I'm a bit of a fanny and I just worry about not looking after stuff Some of the ones I had on (under deep roofs too) seem to have somehow sucked moisture in and started to warp or delaminate - not sure if it's reflective of the quality of ply or what, as the relevant hives are all in full light at the top of a hill with trees sheltering them from the north.

 

[Rory Fields]

I don't even bother to paint things like Demaree boards, as they are not in for that long, and over summer anyway. Certainly a crownboard under the roof needs no protection

Come to south-west Northumberland - we get the rain at the top of the Pennines. Willie Robson, not knowing I lived here, mentioned my town as a 'bloody bad place to keep bees', but we've got what we've got