How to Sand Marine Lumber Plastic
Marine plastic lumber is crafted and designed to have the appearance of real wood. In fact, this type of lumber is typically preferred because of its proven resistance to both mold and mildew. However, over time the lumber may fade and begin to show signs of wear and tear. A simple solution to this problem is to sand the lumbar.
What You'll Need:
- Degreasing cleaner
- Work rags
- Scrub brush
- Hand-held sander
- Medium grit sandpaper
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Use a degreasing cleaner and work rag to wash the marine lumber plastic. To ensure that it is clean, thoroughly scrub any hard to clean areas with the use of a scrub brush. Using water, rinse the lumber to remove all residue. You'll want to allow the plastic to dry for at least two hours before proceeding to the next step.
- Use medium grit sandpaper to sand the surface of the marine lumber plastic. If you want to get the job done quickly, consider using a power sander especially if you need to cover a large area of plastic. Ensure that you are working with the direction of the grain of the plastic. Typically, most lumber plastic pieces will have an artificial grain stamped into their surface. However, don't sand so deep that the pattern is completely removed.
- After you have completed the first sanding process, repeat the process again, this time with fine grit sandpaper. Completing this step will smooth the surface of the marine plastic lumbar and provide a gritty surface. This will be beneficial when you paint the surface because the paint will adhere better.