DIY Network

Jay Baker Interview: Painting Laminate, Veneer Repair and more From "Ask DIY Home Improvement" episode DADH-207

Doors, drywall and dents in furniture. You've got the problems, and we've done the research, to find the answers. Home-improvement expert Jay Baker is ready to set things straight around your house. His answers to your viewer questions are below.

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Figure A

Q (Candi in St. Louis, MO): I would like to repaint my wood grain laminate doors but wonder what it will take to make them look good?

Jay: Painting laminate is one of those questions we get over and over. Look at the area near the doorknob. You can see how the laminate is scratched from the years of wear and tear (figure A). First, remove all the hardware. The trick to painting a wood grain laminate door is in the prep work. Rough up the surface with 100-grit sandpaper so the paint will stick. Go across the grain like this at the edges. Next, apply a primer/sealer. I suggest an oil-based primer paint applied as two thin coats letting each one dry thoroughly. Then apply two coats of your finish paint. Again think about an oil paint for durability and easy clean up. There are some products out there that are more durable and will not need a primer, but they are more expensive. If you can afford it, use it.

Janette: What about the kitchen? Would this work on cabinets like this one as well?

Jay: Most definitely. If you are tired of the old cabinets try this before you purchase new ones. It will add new life to your kitchen and cost a lot less.

Figure B

Q (Gladys from Grand Rapids, MI): My son finished his first adventure in building and drywall construction but now some of the drywall tape is coming loose in a closet. How do I fix this?

Jay: I think to solve the problem I would remove the tape where it is coming loose and sand the surface. Apply a fiberglass mesh type of tape (figure B), which will be stronger than regular tape. Then smooth a coat of "mud" or joint compound over that. Hopefully you still have some of the original paint left over and can finish it off.

Q (Evelyn from Redding, CA): I have a coffee table and in some places the veneer on top has popped up. How do I repair it?

Jay: This is a pretty common problem with older veneer furniture, and you can see [on the viewer's picture] where it has popped up (figure C). You want to take care of this before it gets worse. Chances are Evelyn will need to apply new glue under the veneer. Lift the veneer gently and scrape away as much of the old glue as you can with a razor blade or razor knife. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the dry residue. Don't use too much glue. It shouldn't it spill over the edge of the wood. Place a sheet of wax paper, a smooth piece of wood and some heavy books or bricks on top of the veneer. If you can use a clamp and wood caul (figure D) all the better -- but remember to cushion where the clamp meets the wood.

Figure C

Figure D

Jay's Money-Saving Tip: Here's a great way to keep your steel tape-measure working smoothly. Coat the blade with paste wax once a year. That will prevent rust as well as dirt and grease from sticking to the blade.

RESOURCES :

HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV