What is PVA Glue & When Should it be Used?

Whether you’re making crafts, working with wood, or even just drywalling a room in your home, you’ve probably heard that you should be using PVA glue. But what is PVA glue and why should you use it? If you’ve never heard of PVA glue before, it might seem like some type of esoteric knowledge. However, it’s actually quite common and it has many uses. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the information you need on PVA glue and you’ll know exactly when you should use it, as well as its drawbacks and benefits.

What Is PVA Glue?

PVA glue is just glue with a special additive called Polyvinyl Acetates. Polyvinyl Acetates are a clear, odorless, rubbery polymer that helps to seal up the pores in whatever material it’s applied to. These polymers are thick so they can cover up the holes and create a great surface for applying finishes like paint or stain. It’s also great for simply attaching two porous materials together, such as wood, paper, or fabric. The polymers help to increase the adhesion between the two materials, making for a strong and permanent bond.

Is PVA the Same as Elmer’s Glue?

Truthfully, they’re pretty close. Some people even use the names interchangeably. However, Elmer’s Glue isn’t a great choice for professional work or anything you plan to sell. PVA glue is permanent and won’t break down or yellow over time. Elmer’s, on the other hand, will start to degrade after a few years and might come apart. On top of this, Elmer’s Glue tends to yellow as it ages, which can ruin the look of art and crafts made with it.

When to Use PVA Glue

People use PVA glue for a wide range of tasks. It’s great for woodworking, crafts, art, and even for creating a good surface to accept finishes.

• Joining two pieces of wood
• Binding for books
• Adhesive for paper
• Envelope adhesive
• Adhesive for installing wallpaper
• Crafts
• Art
• Mixed with water to seal wood for finishing
• Mixed with water to coat drywall for paint

Benefits of PVA Glue

There are many reasons why you might opt for PVA glue over another type of glue. Some of those reasons include:

• It doesn’t turn yellow over time
• PVA glue doesn’t lose adhesion with age
• It’s non-toxic unless ingested
• No harmful fumes or odors
• Dries clear
• Doesn’t change the pH of materials it contacts
• It’s flexible when dry
• It’s water-soluble
• It can be painted over

Drawbacks of PVA Glue

While PVA glue is a great substance to use and is often a better choice than other types of adhesives, it’s not perfect. There are drawbacks associated with PVA glue, such as:

• It requires 24 hours to fully cure
• You can’t freeze PVA or it will break up the polymer
• You can’t varnish over PVA
• It’s not waterproof
• Fungi, algae, yeasts, and bacteria break down PVA

Types of PVA Glue

PVA comes in many forms, and each variety is best suited for particular uses.

Regular PVA Glue

This is the form of PVA most often used for crafts, art, bookbinding, sealing boxes, and more. It’s a white glue when it’s wet, though it dries completely clear. Once dry, it’s completely permanent and remains flexible.

PVA Wood Glue

PVA wood glue is meant specifically for joining pieces of wood together. It’s intended to absorb into the wood and give a superior hold compared to other types of glue. Rather than drying clear like standard PVA glue, PVA wood glue has a yellow tint so it blends in better with the natural color of wood. You can also mix PVA wood glue with water to thin it out, which allows you to use it as a sealer and primer for the wood so it will more readily accept paint.

PVA Water-Resistant Glue

One of the main drawbacks of PVA glue is that it’s not waterproof since it’s water-soluble. But PVA water-resistant glue fixes this issue. It resists moisture and mildew, but it’s not quite waterproof. If submerged, it will lose a lot of its hold. However, it can withstand inclement weather and humidity.

PVA Primer

PVA primer is a thinned down version of PVA glue. You can make your own PVA primer by simply adding water to your PVA glue. Once it’s in primer form, you can easily use it to coat porous materials, so they’ll be ready for painting. Drywall primer is always PVA primer, and it’s perfect for sealing all the tiny holes in drywall that suck up paint, reducing the total number of topcoats you’ll have to apply.

Conclusion

PVA Glue is a great material that’s perfect for a wide range of uses. You might find yourself using PVA glue for art, crafts, woodworking, bookbinding, or many other tasks. If regular PVA isn’t perfect for your needs, there might be another variation of PVA that is. It’s ideal for joining wood together or even creating a finish that will accept paint. It can even be used as a primer to seal fresh drywall before painting. However you plan to use PVA glue, hopefully, you’re now equipped with all the knowledge you need.

• See Also: PVA Primer vs Drywall Primer: What’s the Difference?

Featured Image Credit: Scott Sanker, unsplash