To refinish cabinet doors with a plastic veneer you will first want to rough up the plastic so the paint or gel stain can adhere smoothly to the old laminate surface.
Gel stain formica cabinets.
Gel stain comes in many colors and the thicker the stains the better.
Paint on two coats of gel stain letting each coat dry 72 hours.
How to use gel stain on cabinets.
Gel stain is particularly forgiving with splotch prone woods like birch cherry maple and pine.
Open your can of gel stain.
And while it is cheaper than buying a new vanity it s not less than 20 which is what most blogs i read talked about.
Almost every single tutorial i read talked about how inexpensive this gel staining project would be.
Tip from andrea allred.
These varieties tend to absorb thin traditional stains unevenly looking messy and unfinished no.
While the gel stain is still wet gently smooth out the surface with a folded blue shop towel going in the direction of the grain.
Create the look of faux wood by sanding each coat lightly.
Sure if you have all these supplies to apply the.
Dry brush gray gel stain on top the next day for a weathered look.
There are some drawbacks though.
Gel stain will not require you to sand the product to a raw wood finish.
A gel stain is a great way to bring outdated or worn cabinets up to date.
A standard wood stain works well for wooden cabinets but you don t get the same results when applying liquid.
With the oak cabinets the grain was very evident post staining.
You can use a rust oleum transformations kit over a formica countertop that was already treated with a product if the surface is sanded according to rust oleum.
Rust oleum is durable and comes in a wide variety of colors as well as a kit that contains all you need to stain formica countertops in an array of textures and styles.
I decided to stain the drawers and paint the body to match the dresser in my room.
A good formica stain can create a sleek surface hide tiny flaws or bring back the shine on a dull expanse of countertop.
I love two tone mcm furniture.
First let s talk about the supplies.
Using a cheap foam brush start painting the gel stain in the direction of the grain.
From gel stains to paint plus complete kits that can make a bland countertop stylish there are many ways to change up and redesign formica.
Choosing to stain fake wood if you ever decide to change the color of your cabinets and want to use traditional stains or methods you may run into trouble.
Otherwise the laminate will just sit in a sticky layer on top of the laminate and be tacky each time you go to open the cabinet.
A laminate stain can be a gel or tinted.
The gel stain is thick like pudding not a liquid.
It is also possible to use gel stain on laminate cabinets for a real wood look.
If it looks like a gloopy mess that s perfect.