Underlayment with improved vapor barrier

Abstract

Underlayment, wall paneling, and beadboard panels, with an improved vapor barrier provided at least partially by a layer of primer applied to at least one of an engineered veneer face and a wood back veneer of a plywood panel. The primer can include polyvinyl acetate and titanium oxide at selected concentrations to produce a primer with decreased drying time and increased coverage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Underlayment, comprising:
 a) a substrate comprising:
 i) an engineered veneer face; 
 ii) a wood veneer back; and 
 iii) a wood core; and 
   b) a primer applied to at least one of the engineered veneer face and the wood veneer back, the primer comprising:
 i) polyvinyl acetate; and 
 ii) titanium oxide, 
   wherein the primer, after being dried, is water resistant to provide an increased vapor barrier for the underlayment.   
     
     
         2 . The underlayment according to  claim 1 , the layer of primer is at least 0.005 mm thick. 
     
     
         3 . The underlayment according to  claim 1 , wherein the wood veneer back is an engineered veneer. 
     
     
         4 . The underlayment according to  claim 1 , wherein the primer is applied to only the engineered face. 
     
     
         5 . The underlayment according to  claim 1 , wherein the primer comprises polyvinyl acetate within a concentration range of about 10% to about 20% by weight to improve dying speed of the primer. 
     
     
         6 . The underlayment according to  claim 1 , wherein the primer comprises titanium oxide within a concentration range of about 20% to about 30% by weight, to help with covering the underlying veneer. 
     
     
         7 . The underlayment according to  10   claim 1 , wherein the primer further comprises:
 a) water;   b) calcium carbonate;   c) Kaolin;   d) iron oxide;   e) polyvinyl alcohol; and   f) sodium bicarbonate.   
     
     
         8 . The underlayment according to  claim 7 , wherein the printer is classifiable as free from volatile organic compounds according to ISO16000-11, and free from Substances of Very High Concern according to REACH regulations EC1907/2006. 
     
     
         9 . The underlayment according to  claim 1 , wherein the rate of vapor transmission is less than 105 g/(sq. m per day). 
     
     
         10 . Wall paneling, comprising:
 a) a substrate having:
 i) an engineered veneer face; 
 ii) a wood veneer back; and 
 iii) a wood core; and 
   b) a primer applied to at least the engineered veneer face;   wherein the primer, after being dried, is water resistant to provide an increased vapor barrier for the wall paneling compared to uncoated Lauan plywood.   
     
     
         11 . The wall paneling according to  claim 10 , wherein the primer comprises polyvinyl acetate within a concentration range of about 10% to about 20% by weight to improve dying speed of the primer; and
 wherein the primer comprises titanium oxide within a concentration range of about 20% to about 30% by weight, to help with covering the underlying veneer.   
     
     
         12 . The wall paneling according to  claim 11 , wherein the primer further comprises:
 a) water;   b) calcium carbonate;   c) Kaolin;   d) iron oxide;   e) polyvinyl alcohol; and   f) sodium bicarbonate.   
     
     
         13 . The wall paneling according to  claim 10 , wherein the primer is classifiable as free from volatile organic compounds according to ISO16000-11; and
 wherein the primer is classifiable as free from Substances of Very High Concern according to REACH regulations EC1907/2006.   
     
     
         14 . The well paneling according to  claim 10  wherein the wood veneer back is an engineered veneer. 
     
     
         15 . The wall paneling according to  claim 10 , wherein the back includes a first bead pattern, and the engineered veneer face includes a second bead pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The wall paneling according to  claim 10 , wherein the rate of vapor transmission is less than 105 g/(sq. m per day). 
     
     
         17 . Plywood beadboard, comprising:
 a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface comprising:
 a face veneer formed from wood; 
 at least one core veneer formed from wood; and 
 a back veneer formed from wood, 
   wherein a first bead pattern is formed in the top surface of the substrate,   wherein a second bead pattern is formed in the bottom surface of the substrate, and   wherein at least one of the face veneer and back veneer is an engineered veneer.   
     
     
         18 . The plywood beadboard according to  claim 17 , further comprising a primer applied to at least the engineered veneer. 
     
     
         19 . The plywood beadboard according to  claim 18 , wherein, the primer comprises:
 i) polyvinyl acetate; and   ii) titanium oxide,   
       wherein the primer, after being dried, is water resistant to provide an increased vapor barrier for the beadboard. 
     
     
         20 . The plywood beadboard according to  claim 19 , wherein the rate of vapor transmission is less than 105 g/(sq. m per day).