Can You Sand Laminate Wood

If you don t know whether a surface is laminate or wood try sanding a small patch.

Can you sand laminate wood.

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. 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. Pick laminate paint that mimics the desired finish cherry maple or honey for example for a strong color that s similar to wood stain. For a richer color than laminate finish you can paint your laminate flooring instead.

If you see wood grain it s not laminate. As much as you may find prep work annoying there s no better way to a good finish. Do not oversand which can easily permanently damage the thin laminate surface. 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.

Laminate flooring can feel hard and quite slippery underfoot. You can sand prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture. You ll just need to do some extra preparation before you get started. Laminate is not wood but rather plastic printed to look like wood.

Do sand the cabinets. 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. Sand the surface lightly just to scuff it up a little to make the stain adhere better. Because it s often somewhat glossy looking and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming.

You must install padding under laminate floors to reduce noise and even so it sounds hollow when walked on. If you select a. Never sand it or the look of the floor will be ruined. 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.

A laminate floor should be treated like a no wax kitchen floor. Laminate on the other hand does not have a porous surface so it s harder to get paint to stick to it. You can buy polyurethane based paints online or from most home improvement stores. Wipe the furniture down with a tack cloth to remove any fine debris from sanding.

If you just paint the laminate you can usually just use your fingernail and scrape the paint off. Unlike hardwood flooring which can be sanded or buffed laminate is difficult to repair when scratched chipped or otherwise damaged. Hardwood floors can be sanded stained and coated with polyurethane.