Has anyone had success finishing window boxes with Plytanium Pine Sanded Plywood from Home Depot?
Asked by Ece Yorulmaz 
7 months ago
Last Updated: May 7, 2024
Hey there, I’m in the middle of wrapping up my basement project and feeling a bit uncertain about the material I picked up for the window boxes. I went with Plytanium 11/32-in Pine Sanded Plywood from Home Depot.
Anybody have experience finishing windows with plywood? How did it turn out? Thanks!
Absolutely. You might want to consider applying additional coats of paint to cover imperfections
I appreciate your help!
It’s possible that the surface won’t turn out super smooth. Make sure to prime both sides, sand the outer face, and apply 2 coats of paint. And always remember to back prime, especially in a basement.
Sounds good. I agree with the suggestion of back priming, as someone else mentioned. Have you thought about adding edge molding?
Why not consider using drywall? I’m pretty sure that’s what we used for finishing the window in our basement.
Wood is sturdier if you plan on using it as a shelf, plus it’s possibly simpler to sand, caulk seams, and paint compared to the process of taping, mudding, sanding, and painting drywall in a small area.
I went with drywall, so I didn’t require any trim. I thought it gave a cleaner appearance.
I really liked the drywall look, but I’ve moved on from that phase and don’t want to revisit it. Thanks for the suggestion though, lol.
I’m actually planning to do that. However, for the bottom part, I’ll be using marble, quartz, or some other type of stone to prevent it from getting wet from my kids’ plants.
The sanded plywood (pine) should do the job just fine. Simply install it, fill or caulk the joints, including along the window frame, and then lightly sand it. Next, add molding (4 pieces) along the outer edge of the plywood reveal, positioning it about 1/8″ back from the inner surface for a 1/8″ reveal. Note: Depending on the distance from the upper window frame to the ceiling, you may need to trim the molding slightly to ensure a correct fit on the plywood window frame with 1/8″ of reveal. This is common practice among professionals. Once that’s done, apply a final round of caulk and sanding before priming and painting everything. The end result will be fantastic and like new. ‘t be discouraged by the initial rough look; with the right steps, you’ll achieve a great outcome. 🙂
Thanks for the detailed explanation. That was my original plan, I just needed a bit of reassurance. 🙂
That’s okay
That’s okay, just make sure to use an alkyd primer and paint on the wood
This is the method we used to finish a window in the basement.
I would finish it like any other wood, but I’d make sure to fill all the grain and sand it smooth before applying primer.
I’m a little confused about what you mean by ‘fill all the grain’.
Hey, do you think plywood absorbs a lot of product? You could try using pore filler such as Goodfilla or Rock Hard water putty. Apply it with a trowel, then sand it smooth. Some people opt for drywall mud instead.
It turned out really nice!
No issues with that
We used 3/4″ MDF for our window sills. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it for a basement.
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Once it’s finished, could you share a photo with us? I opted for 1/4″ textured paneling in gray, which looked great even without paint. I usually buy damaged sheets at Lowes for half the price
I’ve actually done that before, I assembled the boxes in advance and then inserted them into place. This way, the joints are snug and don’t come apart
That sounds like a good plan. Just make sure to use casement molding where the wood meets the sheetrock for a clean finish
‘t forget to pull it out after it’s finished, and add some sort of rod for a curtain.
I went with half inch good one side pine. It’s working and looking good.
Yep, I went ahead and skimmed it with filler, then sanded and painted it. Came out solid and smooth.