Painting Foamboard

[Kittyfaces]

My client needs 48x96 sheets of colored foamboard for a temporary display but Bainbridge doesn't have them that that big. Fabric wrapping is a tentative option right now but we're also considering painting the board. Any suggestions on what kind of paint/brushes/rollers/spray paint to use for the smoothest finish possible?

Thanks all...

 

[JFeig]

For a "trade show" display background, I would suggest Gatorboard made by International Paper. It is stronger and is made to be painted. I see it all the time, as set backdrops, when I work @ public TV as a volunteer. They use regular latex house paint.

 

[GUMBY GCF]

If you are just doing the surface Spray paint works good and does not warp the board.
PS> if it is for a trade show I do not think foam board is flame retardent.

 

[Kittyfaces]

It's not for a tradeshow but it is for part of an exhibit at a small local museum that will run from May to December. We're drymounting copied enlargements onto black foamboard, trimmed to size with a reverse bevel cut. She wants to arrange the mounts onto a large color background in a manner so that the mounts overlap a little bit at the corners creating a "3-D" effect. The entire project will be mounted to the wall.

When you suggest spray paint, do you mean for foam board or gator board? Or either? Gator board might be better for the background color, huh?

 

[JFeig]

Since the backing board will be attached to a rigid wall, either board will do.

I tend to stay away from spray lacquers due to the fumes that I can't tolerate without a resporator.

 

[GUMBY GCF]

[When you suggest spray paint, do you mean for foam board or gator board? Or either? Gator board might be better for the background color, huh? ]

Either but beware the spray paint is okay for the surface but not the foam centers.

 

[calley]

Contact your local Bienfang foamboard distributor. I believe that they carry coloured foamboard in 4x8 sheets.

 

[Jim Miller]

Foam board has a nice, smooth surface, but if you can live with the slightly rippled surface of polyflute (Coroplast), then I suggest you try it.

Fluted polypropylene sheets come in 4'x8' size, and in many colors. This is the substrate used for vinyl-letter signs. It would be better than foam board, in terms of structural strength and stiffness, especially if you buy 10mm thickness (about 1/2"). It may be cheaper than equal-thickness foam board, too.