Finish for a Plywood Bathroom Vanity? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Gordon who asks:
“Hi Marc. I have a customer who has requested a bathroom vanity, where the sink sits in the middle. My problem is that she is requesting it be made all of wood and I am worried about a top that could be exposed to sitting water. Is there a finish you would recommend that would hold up under those conditions as well as something that might not be too hard to apply? I talked my customer into a plywood top versus all solid wood. I assume this is the best way to go to prevent expansion and contraction. My second worry is sanding through the veneer if I have problems with the stain and getting a perfect surface.”
And this was my response:
“This is one of those cases where you have a tough decision to make. True standing water protection just can’t be done without the use of a thick film finish. But most folks don’t want their vanity top to look like a bar top. So you need to do something with a thinner film. But the thinner you go, the less protection you have. So, that’s the game you have to play. In cases like that, I let the customer make the decision, since ultimately they have to live with the results. If you want the beauty and look of true wood and wood grain, you simply can’t pile on the finish. So it might not be a bad idea to make up some sample boards so the customer can see the look she will get from each level of protection. You can start with maybe a simple wiping varnish, 3-4 coats. Then move up to a full-strength varnish, 3 coats. Then move on to a spar (marine varnish), 3 coats. Then move up to a poured epoxy finish, which will make it look like a bartop. I think this is probably the safest approach and will help you deliver the product with confidence.”
“Using plywood here seems to be a wise choice. With the humidity swings in a bathroom, you want as much stability as possible. Just be careful when you trim it out, because that’s where you will burn through the veneer if its going to happen. Flushing up the trim is always the risky part. As for the rest of the ply, a light sanding with 180 grit is all you should have to do before finishing.”
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