How to Finish an Unfinished Bathroom Vanity
Finishing a bathroom vanity that hasn't been finished before is about half as much work as refinishing a previously stained and varnished piece, because you don't have to strip away the old finish. However, it still takes a bit of work and patience. Pick a stain shade that complements the tones in the room while highlighting the grain of the wood. Don't skip the sanding step even if the wood looks new and clean, because the wood pores need to be freshly opened to absorb the stain properly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Hand-held vibrating sander
- 240-grit sandpaper
- Vacuum cleaner
- Tack cloths (slightly sticky rags)
- Newspapers
- Masking tape
- Rubber gloves
- Wood stain
- Brushes
- Paper towels
- Polyurethane gloss
Instructions
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1
Remove all hardware from the vanity, including hinges, using your screwdriver. Pull out all the drawers, shelves and other pieces that are removable.
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2
Sand all wood surfaces of the vanity (including the separated doors and drawer fronts) with your hand-held vibrating sander and 240-grit sandpaper. Sand it with the grain of the wood, taking off just enough to get the surface completely clean and smooth.
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3
Vacuum up the dust in the room. Go over the pieces with tack cloths to take up any residual dust. Lay newspapers all over the floor and walls around the vanity, taping it down with masking tape. If there's a countertop attached to the top of the vanity, cover it with newspaper and tape it off.
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4
Put on your rubber gloves. Brush wood stain onto the surface of the vanity, starting at the highest part of the wood and working your way down. Brush it on heavily, let it sit on the wood for a minute, then wipe it off with paper towels. Do the same for the doors and drawer fronts. Let it all dry overnight.
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5
Brush polyurethane gloss onto the stained surface, starting at the highest point. Brush it on in a thin, even coat. Let it dry for eight hours.
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6
Lightly buff the gloss by hand with 240-grit sandpaper, just enough to dull the shine (so the next coat of gloss will stick). Wipe away the dust with tack cloths. Apply a second coat of gloss in a thin, even coat, in the same manner as the first. Let it dry for eight hours.
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7
Hand-buff the second coat of gloss with sandpaper. Wipe away the dust with tack cloths. Apply a third coat of gloss. Allow the third coat to set for two days before re-assembling the vanity. (Don't sand the third coat.)
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Tips & Warnings
Ventilate the room when sanding and applying stain and gloss.
