anderson.spencer•19d agoProlific Poster

Warning: using pre-finished plywood for a wet bar cost me $1,200

Last month I built a wet bar for a client in Portland. Used pre-finished maple plywood like I always do. Looked great for about two weeks. Then the edges started swelling up around the sink area. The factory finish just couldnt handle that moisture. Had to tear the whole top off and rebuild with solid surface on top of marine ply. Client was understanding but I ate the materials cost. Anyone else run into issues with pre-finished stuff near sinks?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivangrant19d ago

That's the problem with shortcuts, isn't it.

the_robin18d agoMost Upvoted

Is it just me or does everyone take shortcuts on stuff that matters, then act surprised when it fails? I see it all the time with friends who use cheap caulk on their bathroom sinks, or even that "waterproof" laminate flooring they put in their laundry room. Pre-finished plywood is great for cabinets, sure, but near a wet sink it's basically asking for trouble (the factory edge seal is just too thin for standing water). Sometimes you gotta pay for the real deal upfront instead of learning the hard way like you did.