Introduction
A laminate wood table is a type of furniture used for serving food. The primary material is wood chips that are pressed together with heat to form sheets. This process creates a highly durable surface that can resist heat, stains, scratches, and dents. In this article, I will discuss how to fix scratches on laminate wood table. So let us get started.
A Detailed Stepwise Guide on How to Fix Scratches on Laminate Wood Table
Scratches are very common when it comes to wood tables. They are found in almost every household, but many people think they cannot be fixed or repaired at home. This is entirely wrong, and with a little bit of effort, you can quickly fix scratches on the laminate wood table. Home repair might sound difficult to some people, but it is not tough if you have all the things required for the repair task in your house or nearby shops. Fixing scratches on the wood tables isn’t rocket science either.
You need patience and few minutes of your time, and few supplies readily available at the local hardware shop near your place. Here I will try my best to explain each step very clearly and make your job as easy as possible. Let’s get started:
The things you need: –
Pencil Screwdriver Sandpaper Screws Wood Putty Knife Combination Square Clean piece of cloth
Step 1:
Clean the area around the scratch with a clean cloth and make sure it is dust-free. If there are any fine particles, it may damage the top layer or shiny coat, which we will apply.
Step 2:
Now, take a pencil and rub over the entire length of scratch to cover it with lead; this will help disguise the undercoat that we will apply next.
Step 3:
Now, using a screwdriver, carefully take out all the screws from your table and keep them aside. Next, lay down your table carefully so it is flat on the ground, or you can drop some books over the edge to hold it safely for this task.
Step 4:
Take a cloth and remove valuable items from the top of your wooden table, since for this procedure we are going to use sandpaper which usually takes off wood in fine particles after rubbing over the surface, So be careful while using it along with objects that are precious for you.
Step 5:
Now apply any cleaner on the entire length of scratch using a clean piece of cloth, let it dry completely before moving to the next step; otherwise, applying an undercoat will not yield results properly.
Step 6:
Now flip the table carefully and find a scratch depth by pressing slightly with your fingernail at its end. If your scratch is very deep, then this step will not work correctly; in that case, you need to use finer sandpaper.
You Can Check It Out to Stop Laminate Floor From Moving
Step 7:
Now, take sandpaper and start rubbing over the entire length of scratch from its end to other; always try to move from top to bottom, not vice versa. This will help remove fine particles after each rub, and after 5-6 times, it will be almost invisible or faint enough for you to ignore its presence.
Step 8:
Now make a mixture by taking an equal quantity of wood putty powder and clean water in a bowl, be careful while adding water as the excess amount may make it runny, which makes our job even more difficult later on. Mix them thoroughly until you get the fine paste out of it without any lumps.
Step 9:
Now apply this paste on top of scratch; with the help of a screwdriver again, carefully press it down in depth so that it fills in the entire length of scratch and you can feel its solidification beneath your fingernails.
Step 10:
Now, take a clean piece of cloth and wipe off excess water or putty from the surface, be careful while doing it since we still want to leave some around the scratch area only; otherwise, if we try to remove all at once, then we will get rid paint job gone wrong.
Step 11:
Now take combination square and adjust its blade into an exact 90 degrees cut, keeping one end at the bottom and the other coming out sideways; it should look like this exactly.
Step 12:
Now, start applying a small amount of paste on the top corner of the blade by rotating it around the scratch area, try to cover the entire length with each pass.
Step 13:
Once covered, do not remove excess immediately since it’s wet; wait for 10 minutes or so before you can carefully remove excess water from the surface. Also, allow the filler to dry completely because if you apply paint over wet filler, it will not yield the best results because the paint will seep under the edges, which are also very thin here.
Step 14:
After 10-15 minutes, now take a clean piece of cloth and press hard at one spot near the edge so that putty gets pushed out towards another end that is still not visible; once done, use another piece of cloth to wipe off this area.
Step 15:
Now, take the filler color of your choice and apply it over the entire length of scratch; it is a good idea to use a toothbrush for this task since it will help get paint into tiny areas that are difficult to access.
Step 16:
Once done, allow the paint to dry completely. Now flip your table carefully and find out if any patch of new paint is visible, which was not there before; if yes, repeat steps 12-15 until you are satisfied with the results.
How Can I Tell if My Furniture Is Laminate or Veneer?
Before refinishing or repairing the damage, you’ll need to know whether your furniture is laminate or veneer. Veneer and laminates will look and feel different than solid wood:
Solid wood: Heavy and complex with a consistent color throughout. The surface feels smooth, but there may be some subtle irregularities in the grain. Solid wood can warp slightly as it seasons because of changes in humidity.
Laminate/veneer: Can be lightweight or heavy, depending on its thickness; usually has a weak plastic-like layer that gives it an unnatural coloring (dark browns are especially common); has a flat appearance with virtually no different grains running through it; typically weighs less than solid wood. Laminate often has a shiny, slippery top coat.
If you can’t tell if your furniture is laminate or veneer, look at the color of the underside: Solid wood usually has a uniform appearance, whereas laminates and veneers typically don’t. If it’s hard to see how the bottom looks because of what it’s sitting on, lifting the piece should give you a pretty good clue–solid wood almost always has visible grains that run horizontally or vertically (unless painted). In contrast, laminates/veneers will often have an inconsistent pattern that changes from one end to the other.
Frequently Asked Question
What Paint Can I Use on Laminate Furniture?
Paint that is specifically designed for use on laminate furniture can make the finish look like wood.
Some of the best paints to use are:
- Briwax Finish- This paint goes on like wax and dries to a hard finish with a satin sheen.
- Acrylic- This paint has an ultra-thin consistency, but it still covers well and dries fast.
- Valspar Finishes – These paints have good coverage and dry quickly without brush marks or swirls, making them ideal for DIY projects like this one.
How Can I Tell if My Furniture Is Laminate or Veneer?
This is a tough question to answer. Laminate and veneer are two different materials that are used for manufacturing furniture.
A veneer is a thin layer of wood covered with a transparent film, usually made from paper or cellulose-based material, such as plastic or acetate. Veneers can be used in place of solid wood because they are less expensive than real wood and also have the advantage of being impervious to moisture, stains, and dents from heavy objects placed on them.
Laminate is the term given to a synthetic material manufactured by bonding together thin layers of colored plastic or other synthetics into one large sheet or surface.
Can Laminate Wood Be Painted?
Yes, laminate wood can be painted. However, the paint needs to be applied with a roller or brush.
Paint should also not be applied directly to the surface of the laminate because it will leave an oily film that could cause discoloration and degradation of the coating in certain areas.
Can I Use Chalk Paint on Laminate?
It is best to use chalk paint on a dry, solid surface. You can apply it to wood, metal, ceramic tile, or laminate.
There are many benefits of using chalk paint on laminate like:
- It is low-odor and doesn’t have the typical chemical smell that other paints have.
- It has a matte finish and dries quickly, so you don’t need to wait long for your project to be completed.
- It is environmentally friendly because it uses water-based materials rather than oil-based materials.
Does Wood Veneer Scratch Easily?
No, wood veneer does not scratch easily. It is a very durable and long-lasting material that can last for many years without being damaged or peeling off.
The only thing that may happen is the varnish on the surface of the wood will peel off over time which will expose the natural wood underneath. This varnish helps protect against water damage, UV rays, and other elements that may cause degradation to the product.
Conclusion
I hope you have obtained all the necessary information on how to fix scratches on laminate wood table. Thank you, and have a good day!
Related Article: How to get scratches out of cherry wood furniture.
