how to repair laminate bathroom vanity

I worked at a hospital in the late 90's for 2 years and used to think as you do but after being trained and educated by doctors and nurses learned this. I used Zinssers Cover Stain Oil-Based Primer, although Ive heard great things about their B-I-N Shellac-Based Primer as well. Replacing the vanity is fine with me. If she had been working with a piece of Formica plastic laminate the material would not of been as forgiving as the real wood. These popular paint tools tend to leave an unsightly trail of brush strokes in their wake. Testing its bonding capabilities before diving into an entire paint job could save you from a case of peeling paint down the roadand the need to redo hours of work. Im sure it once had a nice life as a bathroom vanity. The water at times, goes beneath and I find the nearby wood affected mildly. that was just painted over in a nice neutral color. Plywood and solid wood are more forgiving. Below are some common DIY bathroom vanity repairs. Honestly? Water is doing similar damage to your subfloor as well. If you saw my bathroom mat postthen you may have noticed the water damaged particle board vanity in the photo. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! But if you're on top of it and catch it quickly, our finishes will protect it.". If there are sections that are still attached quite firmly to the particleboard, using a heat gun will help loosen that bond. Send us your measurements and get started with custom cabinets from Handhills. If a pool of water has sat in the vanity base, it can cause the board to warp and sag. If you click on an affiliate link and buy something, I may receive a very small commission. once the grout lets stuff in, and the paint lets stuff through, and the mold starts, its just an uphill battle - like keeping an old clunker car on the road. It was hanging out in the back of the basement for a reason, apparently. Given the area she was working in and knowing how difficult it would have been for her to use contact glue, Id guess she used something like liquid nails. Measure and cut the amount of laminate you will need for your cabinet door. If your first-choice paint applicator for the traditionally flat surface of laminate cabinets is a brush, take a moment to reconsider. Painted cabinets are no different. Ensure that the laminate is in good condition by repairing minor laminate damage or re-facing cabinets before applying paint. Number 1 was easy to deal with I grabbed some drywall patching compound and filled in the chips. You want a heavy-duty bonding primer thats primary purpose is to stick to hard-to-paint surfaces. However, I would be putting in sliding doors on the tub to keep the water where it is supposed to be before fixing something that will continue to be a problem. I cant see any brushstokes on the final piece, but if youre concerned about using a paintbrush here for that reason, know that you can always do a light sanding after the prime coat, which should eliminate any brushstroke texture. This looks like birch faced plywood not cheap. I noticed that the bottom part of the side of the vanity is damaged with water. Shortly after I moved into my house, I found this sad laminate cabinet hanging out in the back of the basement. Does the title of a master program makes a difference for a later PhD? Or cover with wood ? The material has a tendency to split much easier than the real wood veneer that she used on this vanity cabinet resurfacing project. It went quickly, and is an almost texture-less finish. Long term water damage caused by excessive humidity levels. A curtain won't be enough with small boys. Can I get a clock signal from a 4-pin crystal oscillator circuit by applying 5V to the input pin? My silicone mold got moldy, can I clean it or should I throw it away? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Once the cheap plywood gets wet like that, don't think you'll ever get it looking like new again where it won't bubble. I used computer paper to create a template of the damaged side of the vanity. However, there are certain materials you can use to limit the potentialdamage. Laminate doesnt play well with all primers and paints, only those specially formulated to adhere to its picky surface. I countersunk the screws and then covered them with patching compound so they wouldnt be seen. If you select a paint that can be applied directly over laminate (view example on Amazon), you can skip the primerjust know that this qualification may limit your color choice. Handle the peeling veneer with care; you dont want it to peel back further or break off altogether. Whether it's peeling veneer, flaking paint, or warped or sagging panels, learn some techniques for repairing a water-damaged bathroom vanity. But if you prep your cabinets correctly, the paint will work just fine. But while you may be well-versed in painting most any old wood furnishings, from side tables to pantry doors, laminate is another beast altogether.