Can You Sand Laminate Wood

It s easy to skip the sanding step because sanding is a drag but it s especially important with laminate.

Can you sand laminate wood.

If you just paint the laminate you can usually just use your fingernail and scrape the paint off. Because it s often somewhat glossy looking and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming. You can sand prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture. 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.

Wipe the furniture down with a tack cloth to remove any fine debris from sanding. 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. Laminate can t be stained but it can be painted. Sand the surface lightly just to scuff it up a little to make the stain adhere better.

You must install padding under laminate floors to reduce noise and even so it sounds hollow when walked on. Pick laminate paint that mimics the desired finish cherry maple or honey for example for a strong color that s similar to wood stain. A laminate floor should be treated like a no wax kitchen floor. 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 buy polyurethane based paints online or from most home improvement stores. Even though it s not solid wood you can still update your laminate furniture with a few coats of fresh paint. Unlike hardwood flooring which can be sanded or buffed laminate is difficult to repair when scratched chipped or otherwise damaged.

If you see wood grain it s not laminate. Hardwood floors can be sanded stained and coated with polyurethane. Never sand it or the look of the floor will be ruined. For a richer color than laminate finish you can paint your laminate flooring instead.

You ll just need to do some extra preparation before you get started. Laminate on the other hand does not have a porous surface so it s harder to get paint to stick to it. 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. Do sand the cabinets.

If you don t know whether a surface is laminate or wood try sanding a small patch. 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. Laminate is not wood but rather plastic printed to look like wood.