Can You Sand Laminate Wood

Because it s often somewhat glossy looking and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming.

Can you sand laminate wood.

You must install padding under laminate floors to reduce noise and even so it sounds hollow when walked on. With a high grit sandpaper and an oil based primer you ll be ready to paint over the laminate on your furniture so it looks updated and new. As much as you may find prep work annoying there s no better way to a good finish. Wipe the furniture down with a tack cloth to remove any fine debris from sanding.

Laminate on the other hand does not have a porous surface so it s harder to get paint to stick to it. Even though it s not solid wood you can still update your laminate furniture with a few coats of fresh paint. It s easy to skip the sanding step because sanding is a drag but it s especially important with laminate. For a richer color than laminate finish you can paint your laminate flooring instead.

A laminate floor should be treated like a no wax kitchen floor. But while you may be well versed in painting most any old wood furnishings from side tables to pantry doors laminate is another beast altogether. If you see wood grain it s not laminate. Laminate flooring can feel hard and quite slippery underfoot.

Sand the surface lightly just to scuff it up a little to make the stain adhere better. Laminate is not wood but rather plastic printed to look like wood. The best way to refinish the floor is to strip off the remaining factory shine and re coat it with a floor sealer and high gloss floor finish. Do sand the cabinets.

If you paint a piece of real wood furniture or cabinetry the wood will absorb some of the paint or primer into its pores which creates a tight bond and helps the paint stick to the wood. Do not oversand which can easily permanently damage the thin laminate surface. If you select a. Unlike hardwood flooring which can be sanded or buffed laminate is difficult to repair when scratched chipped or otherwise damaged.

If you just paint the laminate you can usually just use your fingernail and scrape the paint off. If you don t know whether a surface is laminate or wood try sanding a small patch. Pick laminate paint that mimics the desired finish cherry maple or honey for example for a strong color that s similar to wood stain. Laminate can t be stained but it can be painted.

You can buy polyurethane based paints online or from most home improvement stores. Sanding the laminate gives something for the primer and paint to stick to and a primer meant for laminate will bond to it and give a more durable finish. Never sand it or the look of the floor will be ruined.