This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to paint laminate and/or veneer furniture. The process involves sanding the surface with 120-grit sandpaper, using an oil-based primer, and allowing it to cure for 7 days. After applying the primer, apply several coats of paint, sealing with poly or wax, and allowing the primer to dry completely.
In interior environments, NelsonPine LVL can be left uncoated, but can be sanded to enhance its visual appearance and remove manufacturing marks like glue. Wood putty can be used to fill cracks and chips before painting. The paintbrush should be dipped in chalk paint and applied thinly to the wood grain until the entire piece is covered.
When painting drawers, it is optional to paint the interior face of the drawer. Apply the primer with the roller in larger areas and fill in smaller corners with the brush. Avoid using the brush too much to avoid sanding.
The wooden veneer can be cleaned, primed with Zinsser 123, and painted your choice. If the surface is sanded lightly and wipe off any oil fingerprints, greasy spots, polishes, and Al waxes, try oil base paints which take much longer. It is recommended to apply two thin coats of paint rather than one thick coat for a smoother, more even finish.
In summary, this guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to paint laminate and/or veneer furniture, including sanding, cleaning, priming, and sealing with poly or wax. By following these steps, you can create a lasting and visually appealing finish on your laminate furniture.
📹 BEGINNER’S GUIDE – Laminate, Veneer, or Wood??// Furniture Flipping & Refinishing
This is geared more towards those just starting out with furniture flipping and refinishing, who may be dealing with some confusion …
Can you paint straight over laminate?
Step three involves priming laminate furniture using a 2 in 1 primer like Furniture Paint. If using a new laminate, apply two coats of primer. After the first coat has dried, lightly sand the piece to reduce brush strokes and ensure primer stickiness. If painting intricate details, paint them last.
Step four involves applying the first coat of paint. Start on the outside and work your way in, starting on panelling or intricate detail. For large flat areas, use a roller for a better finish. Sand between each coat.
After applying the last coat, remove the tape while the paint is still wet to avoid peeling the hard work off. Once the paint is dry, reattach handles or odds and ends, and the furniture looks like a brand new piece.
What kind of paint will stick to laminate?
Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting due to its durability and smooth finish. ProClassic® Waterborne Interior Acrylic Enamel is recommended for lighter colors, while All Surface Latex Enamel Base is suitable for deeper hues. It’s important to clean brushes for future use. Painting laminate furniture is simple with the right products. Start by examining the piece to check for any old residue from its past life.
Can you paint laminated veneer lumber?
Laminate furniture can be sanded, primed, and painted as if it were a solid wood piece. Sanding is crucial for laminate furniture, as it is often glossy-looking and requires sanding until the finish is very dull before priming. 120 grit sandpaper is recommended for this. Sanding with the grain is unnecessary. Laminate furniture is built more poorly and isn’t as heavy-duty as solid wood pieces. Despite this, the finish will be just as durable as if applied onto wood. Laminate furniture can be found at thrift stores or garage sales, and it’s almost the weekend.
Can I paint over laminate veneer?
Laminate, also referred to as “fake wood,” is a synthetic material composed of plastic that is applied as a thin exterior layer to furniture and other surfaces. It is not possible to stain laminate; however, it can be painted with relative ease, as demonstrated in the accompanying video. Laminate is manufactured by combining and bonding diverse materials in a layered structure, in contrast to the formation of natural, solid wood.
Can you paint directly on veneer?
Paint veneer furniture, including doors, kitchens, and furniture covered in wood veneer, by carefully prepping and priming the areas before painting. Sanding down the substrate is crucial for adhesion of paint, and ensuring the surface is clean and free of grit or grime is essential. Abrade the surface with 180p or higher sandpaper to minimize damage to the veneer. Clean off any dust from the sanding and prime the area. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is a universal water-based primer, sealer, and stain killer that takes only 30 minutes to dry. Once primed, the furniture is ready to paint.
What are the disadvantages of laminated veneer lumber?
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is a structural composite lumber that is energy-efficient and offers several benefits, making it an ideal replacement for steel and hardwood. It is made from dried and graded wood veneers, strands, or flakes layered and bonded with moisture-resistant adhesive into billets. LVL has better dimensional stability than solid wood, but improper storage can lead to defects such as warping. LVL is part of the structural composite lumber family, which includes laminated strand lumber (LSL) and parallel strand lumber (PSL). LVL specifically uses veneers bonded under heat and pressure.
Can laminated wood be painted?
Laminate furniture, also known as “fake wood”, is made of a synthetic material, usually plastic, that creates a thin exterior layer on surfaces. It is easy to paint, as it is made by layering and bonding different materials together. However, staining laminate is not possible as it is not real wood. The step-by-step guide provides project-specific tips for painting laminate cabinets, desks, coffee tables, bookshelves, and dressers.
Can I paint veneer without sanding?
Chalk Paint is a versatile and easy-to-use paint that can be applied to various surfaces, including veneer, without extensive priming or sanding. It offers excellent adhesion and coverage without the need for extensive priming or sanding. Chalk Paint can be used for various painting techniques, allowing for creativity in achieving different finishes like distressed or layered looks. Additionally, it often requires minimal preparation, as it can be applied directly to many surfaces, saving time and effort.
How to paint over laminate without sanding?
To paint laminate furniture without sanding, follow these steps:
- Clean all surfaces with white spirit using a lint-free cloth.
- Prime the surfaces with white spirit.
- Paint with your chosen emulsion.
- Varnish the paint.
- Wait for the eggshell or varnish to cure and harden.
- Admire your painted project.
As a child’s bedroom decorator, I wanted to create a wardrobe that would provide all the clothing storage he needed. IKEA PAX wardrobes offer flexibility with interior fittings, making them a great value for money.
When purchasing the wardrobe, the choice of door colors was limited, so plain white doors were chosen. However, when the room was painted dark blue, a big white boxy wardrobe needed a makeover.
Painting laminate/melamine furniture is not difficult if you use quality materials and follow the steps. However, it can take time due to drying times between coats.
In conclusion, painting laminate furniture without sanding is a simple and effective process that can be done with quality materials and time.
What paint will stick to veneer?
Chalk Paint is a versatile and easy-to-use paint that can be applied to various surfaces, including veneer, without extensive priming or sanding. It offers excellent adhesion and coverage without the need for extensive priming or sanding. Chalk Paint can be used for various painting techniques, allowing for creativity in achieving different finishes like distressed or layered looks. Additionally, it often requires minimal preparation, as it can be applied directly to many surfaces, saving time and effort.
Can you paint veneer without primer?
It is of the utmost importance to undertake the requisite surface preparation, including sanding and priming, in order to achieve an optimal finish when painting veneer wood.
📹 We are building a house of laminated veneer lumber for hockey player Dmitry Vishnevsky
We are building a house of laminated veneer lumber for hockey player Dmitry Vishnevsky. My instagram: …
I most appreciate that you are thinking of us rookies, out here. Some creators do keep us in mind, from time to time. I’m in the middle of my first piece and, of course it’s taking me longer than I want it to. I really do want to learn these types of things and how to identify different types of wood. Thank you for helping 💕
I really appreciate how, in all your articles, you teach. You tell us what you are using and why not only in regards to tools or supplies but finishes too. Why are there so many top coats? We’ll, Angie will tell you why she chose what she did for a project. I feel immersed in a online class when I binge watch your articles.
Thank you for this detailed explanation!! I’m a total beginner and have delayed trying projects because I didn’t know the difference and didn’t want to ruin a piece. Based on your explanation, I think the dresser I’ve had since childhood has veneer. I wanted to paint the trim black and sand down and stain the top and drawer faces. Wish I could attach a photo and have you weigh in!
Excellent info! I like that you discussed the confusion some have between veneer and laminate. And also the solid wood “myth”. I smile every time I read an ad that says solid wood, VERY HEAVY! haha Folks, “very heavy” is a good clue that the piece may have a particle board substrate. I have found a lot of my solid wood furniture is actually lighter than pieces with man made substrates. Great article!
Thanks so much 🙏 l do appreciate all your work, it’s so helpful to have you on YouTube 👌 please, if you have time, shed some light on the drawers (when to paint, what do you do if you have bad wood quality on them but the piece itself is nice, how you block odours if the drawer is already pained etc) and some troubleshooting if the painted drawer get stuck 😀 🤦 yepp, a lot to learn here in Norway😅
I am taking a fairly unique approach, I suppose, as I actually make smaller pieces of furniture from scratch. Being that these are smaller items (like end tables), I usually opt for solid hardwoods all around, with just some Baltic birch 7 ply plywood in places where appropriate. Otherwise, I love to use solid woods such as cherry, walnut, curly maple, granadillo, poplar, and even Bolivian rosewood when I can find it (which is not often). So yep, the cost is very high. And working part time, I only turn out a half dozen or so pieces a year. But each one is unique, and very well constructed. And I just love doing it! There is nothing so nice as high quality furniture!!
I clicked on this article as I came across a surprise when trying my hand at redoing a bathroom cabinet. I sanded down the paint to reveal pressed wood and honestly had no idea what it was or if I could do anything about the raised areas that had water damage. Within 2 minutes you answered all my questions and turns out I’m doing the right think by just painting over it after sanding it flat 😁 so glad I found your articles, your easy to follow steps and your reasoning for how and why you fix things in certain ways gave me the confidence to attempt this fix myself in the first place! 😁
I just discovered your website so forgive me if you’ve already answered this question in another article. How can you tell what type of coating is on the wood (i.e. shellac, polyurethane, etc) and how to deal with it ( for example, whether to use a paint stripper or not or just sand, etc.) I struggle with this the most.
Hi…new subscriber….enjoying and binge perusal your articles😊 I have a question….I was born early 60s …just to give you a reference….I remember these pieces from when I was young and recently bought one for $5…..it’s a corner end table ….good size like 2’x2’ and has a raised top like so many mid century pieces have. I know it was probably a knock off of the expensive mid century stuff and it has a very shiny top with a wood grain look….what is it called when it has this type of look to it? Thanks for your great articles!😊kim
Thank you for this tutorial, it was very interesting and informative! I watch you daily since I found you! Unfortunately, I found you too late…but now I will have no more excuses! I blew through the veneer on a section of the outside of my front door, trying to clean up moisture damage from living on the Oregon Coast, THINKING I had purchased a solid wood door! Then to make matters worse, the Deft I put on it, made what was under the veneer, look noticeably darker in the one area. (Deft Polyurethane was what was on it when first purchased. Now I must sand all that off and ? Paint? Is there a way to save it from paint? I must wait for dry weather which will be mid summer here, then get that protected. If my only solution is to paint it, so be it, and lesson learned…but not sure what to do with the damaged area before painting, plus really, if I must paint it I need to get all the Deft off from the rest of paneled door as well… I am physically unable to remove the door from the hinges and therefore must do the sanding and painting or?, with it hung…I am saving for an orbital sander now… 🙂
Thank you for sharing this I know I needed to have a better understanding I have been refurnishing some of the furniture in my house and this is how to me to see what or how to best fix the problem love you show can’t wait for the next show thank you for teaching us new beginners what we need to know have a great day and God bless you
I picked up this dresser you would LOVE! IT WAS FREE, MCM. Ive tried googling it and I cant find anything like it. It’s absolutely gorgeous and people keep telling me I can’t sand it but it’s veneer and I know I can. I wish I could send you a picture 😅 it’s beautiful. Found replacements for the same exact pulls on eBay because it’s missing one.
Thank you so much for the information! Just getting into flipping furniture, specifically dressers so this is very very helpful. I admit I did not know veneer was wood, and thought it was similar to laminate. I could tell the difference between real wood and veneer or laminate, but not veneer and laminate. So thank you!!
thank you for this very informative article. I have been confused by these terms and also appreciate that even ‘solid wood’ is often not truly what I think of when I hear that term. I always learn something from you and so appreciate your time and expertise. I return to your articles time and again and mine them for details that i missed the first time (or 2!) through. You are a gem.
I really enjoyed the content. I lean toward the woodworking side of things but your content has me intrigued. I live in the heart of Amish country so they kinda have the woodworking thing down for furniture and stuff but. But there are not a lot of people in my area who recreate furniture. So maybe I have found a niche to work in. I have slabs just waiting for something. So it might work out to get rid of a laminate top and use the base and put a live edge top on it or one of a hundred different ways to skin a cat. Thanks again I look forward to your journey. I see you have jumped 1k in about a day. Congrats
Thank you so much for giving us newbies some pointers. I needed them for sure. I have just started my refinishing furniture journey. 2 pieces down and now I’m staring down a (I’m pretty certain) veneer dresser. It’s been in our family for a little bit and want to save it but it has some pretty rough damage. I’m not sure which way to go with it so this one may take me some time. 🤔🤨
Thank you for sharing this article and all the great information. It answered a lot of my questions. One question I do have is how do you answer “Is this a solid wood?” I am always on the fence trying to decide how much to disclose because as you said people seem turned off when the answer is no it is not solid wood. On the other hand, I do not want to be dishonest. Can you give me some guidance?