Can You Paint Laminate Wood Shelves

Unlike wood laminate and melamine cannot be sanded down to a natural grain because they have no natural grain.

Can you paint laminate wood shelves.

These bookcases are made of a particle board like composite with a faux wood laminate exterior. Unlike wood laminate is a smooth non porous material so it really needs something to grab onto primer will do the trick. And here s how to paint laminate wood shelves. Several specialty companies make primer.

Applying in a well ventilated area begin painting at the top of the shelving unit holding the can of satin ivory 6 8 inches from the surface and paint using a sweeping side to side motion with slight overlap. After scuffing the surface prime the laminate just like you would a wood surface. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand step 1. Laminate is a man made shiny smooth non porous material that is like a print or photo of wood grain.

It was important not to sand too much because otherwise the surface would get ruined since it s essentially paper but at the same time it was important to get them roughed up so the paint would absorb into the surface. When attempting to paint laminate bookshelves often the paint peels from the surface or moving even a light object across the bookshelves creates unsightly scratches. Even though it s not solid wood you can still update your laminate furniture with a few coats of fresh paint. Remember to wear an appropriate mask while working with paints stains and finishes.

Laminate can be painted but it can not be stained. You ll just need to do some extra preparation before you get started. The primer you choose will affect the final quality of the paint job. I d still recommend that orbital sander but regular ole medium grit about 120 sandpaper will be fine.

C ommon concerns when painting laminate furniture are. Primer is important especially when painting over laminate. Manufacturers use this product to cover less expensive wood composite furniture to give the appearance of higher quality wood. Avoid the pitfalls of.

Using an all purpose cleaner degreaser wipe down the shelves to remove all dirt and grime. Rinse thoroughly with water and allow to dry. If you re painting straight on the laminate as in the furniture doesn t have a coat of paint on it in need of removal then you don t need to do as much sanding.