How to Refinish Laminated Furniture
Successfully refinishing laminated furniture requires special preparation to ensure that the paint does not peel over time. While there are spray paints that are made to cover laminated furniture with little prep work, they can be expensive and difficult to use. Color choices are also limited with these products. A better option is to prepare the surface through sanding and an alcohol-based shellac primer. Once the primer is applied, any type of paint will adhere to the surface, allowing the painter to choose from infinite color and finish selections. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Newspaper
- Painter's tape
- 240 grit sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Paintbrush
- Alcohol-based shellac primer
- Water-based paint
- Utility blade
Instructions
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1
Remove any drawers or doors from the piece of laminated furniture using a screwdriver. Drawer pulls, knobs, and handles should also be removed if possible.
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2
Cover any areas that should not be painted with newspaper and painter's tape to prevent accidental stains while painting.
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3
Lightly sand the surface of the furniture using the 240-grit sandpaper. It is not necessary to remove the surface coating, just try to slightly roughen the surface.
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4
Clean the surfaces to be painted with a tack cloth to remove all dust.
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5
Apply a coat of alcohol-based shellac primer with a paintbrush. Be sure to paint in only one direction, minimizing brush strokes when possible. Allow the shellac primer to cure for at least one hour before continuing.
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6
Apply a coat of water-based paint, painting in the same direction that the primer was applied in. Allow the coat of paint to dry for two to four hours before proceeding.
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Add additional coats of paint until you have created the desired finish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before proceeding. Most pieces of furniture will require at least two coats of paint. For particularly vibrant paint colors, up to four coats may be required for a professional finish.
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8
Remove any newspaper and painter's tape after you have finished the final coat and it is no longer wet to the touch. To preserve the clean edge, you may have to use a utility blade to lightly score the perimeter of the masking tape that meets the edge of the new finish. This will prevent any paint from being removed with the tape.
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9
Reattach any drawers or doors that were removed during the painting process. Use a screwdriver to install any removed drawer pulls, knobs, or other hardware.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to promptly clean paintbrushes with denatured alcohol or ammonia to remove the shellac primer.
Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid toxic fumes. A face mask that filters out volatile organic compounds may also be worth the investment, especially if you paint often.
