Can laminate be painted in a different color?

Laminate is an inexpensive, practical and beautiful type of flooring. It is not surprising that it is so in demand in the market. The cosiness and comfort in the house depends on how the floors are mounted. Linoleum and plank floors in terms of comfort and ease of maintenance are significantly inferior to the laminate. We will try to find out whether it is possible to paint the laminate in a different color in order to harmoniously fit it into the interior of the room.

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Is staining suitable?

One of the advantages of the laminate, along with aesthetics and practicality, is its rich color scheme. At the same time, the laminated coating perfectly transfers even moderately rough mechanical influences - from moving furniture, claws of pets falling onto the floor of objects. However, there is a risk of damage, even for the most expensive grades of material.

Do I need to change the flooring in this case? In principle, no one bothers you to do this, but it is quite expensive. You can try to give the material a new life by coloring it. As practice shows, it is possible to paint the laminate without any problems, you just need to choose the right dye and coloring technology. There are enough questions. Does the laminate structure allow staining? If yes, then how to paint the laminate? Can I do the work myself or hire craftsmen.

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How is laminate flooring or what exactly is painted?

To begin with, we will deal with the structure. Laminate has a multilayer structure, includes such layers arranged in series:

• The protective layer of paper. This is paper impregnated with corundum and organic resin. It is corundum that gives strength to the coating.
• Decorative. This is paper with a pattern printed on it: imitation of wood, ceramics, ornamental stone, sea pebbles, etc.
• Carrier. This is the most dense and durable layer. Production material - plastic or fiberboard. The parts are connected “in a spike”, due to which the mounted coating is a single surface.
• Substrate. It serves as both hydro and sound insulation. As a rule, with any damage to the material, this layer is not destroyed. Damage affects only the upper layers.

Important! If the thickness of the laminate board is 1 cm, then its working life is about 10 years. With a board thickness of 1.5 cm, the service life is extended to 25 years.

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What are the nuances?

Why are there certain restrictions on the coloring of the material? The thing is that the laminated coating, with all the advantages, is not without its individual disadvantages:

• First of all, it is water permeability. While the material is new and intact, it is well protected from moisture. But in this case too wet cleaning with puddles on the floor is unacceptable. Therefore, painting the laminate with a water-based composition will cause the coating to swell and have to be replaced.
• Even with the right choice of paint, if the surface is not pre-treated, the result will not be satisfactory. In this case, “lays the pig” top layer. It is smooth, which means adhesive characteristics leave much to be desired. After a short time, the paint will simply peel off.

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Paints and tools

The main requirement for paints is chemical compatibility with the topcoat. Alkyd or polyurethane compounds are well suited in this regard. They not only paint the surface, but also form a protective film on it.

To work, you need such tools:

• Brush
• Construction tape.
• Sandpaper: fine and coarse.
• A vacuum cleaner.
• Clean soft textiles.
• Respirator, gloves.
• Putty for wood.
• Solvent.
• Spatula, preferably wide.

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How to prepare the surface?

As already mentioned, the surface of the laminate has low adhesive characteristics. Before you paint the laminate in a different color, it must be processed. Here's how to do this with a minimum of time:

1. Remove dirt and debris from the surface.
2. Treat the coating with a large sandpaper, leaving a lot of scratches on it. After that, remove all chips from the surface so that it does not interfere with staining.
3. Cover major damage. Remove excess putty with a spatula. Try to apply a thin layer of consumables.
4. Sand the surface with medium grit sandpaper. This helps to eliminate large fossae and tubercles. Clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner or rag.
5. Finish sanding each board individually. The purpose of this step is surface matting.
6. Vacuum the floor and wipe with a cloth moistened with a degreasing solution.

Important! To protect the walls from paint, before starting work, paste them around the perimeter with construction tape.

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Staining tips

So, you have already purchased an alkyd or polyurethane paint, you can get to work. The staining algorithm is as follows:

• Dilute the paint with a solvent, mixing it to a homogeneous mass.

Important! When painting, mix the composition periodically. The paint settles to the bottom, so it needs to be shaken.

• Use protective equipment - a respirator and gloves. It is necessary to paint with closed windows and doors.
• Apply the dye with a brush. The roller is not suitable for this.
• Start painting from the wall farthest from the front door. Thus, you completely cover the floor with paint and calmly leave the room.
• Apply paint along the board, with some effort. Do not forget about the gaps between the dies.
• Paint the floor in two layers. The first is the thinnest, and dries within 24 hours. The second layer has a large thickness. The staining procedure is the same.

After the dye is completely dry, evaluate the quality of the work performed. If the layer turned out uniform, without spots, then the procedure must be repeated.

Important! To make the floor shine, cover it with two layers of clear varnish.

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Stock footage

How to update a laminate - you now know. The updated floor will delight you and your guests with a beautiful and unusual view.