How To Paint Laminate Floors - Quick House Renovating Guide

Laminate floors are beautiful and incredibly long-lasting when they're maintained properly. Unfortunately, they're not immune to the effects of time. Even with proper care, laminate floors will show wear after a few years.

When this happens, you've got two choices: replace the entire floor or learn how to paint laminate floors and give them a complete makeover. Most homeowners will choose the latter. Replacing an entire laminate floor is an incredibly expensive venture—and unnecessary if your floorboards aren't heavily damaged.

In this guide, we'll show you how to paint laminate floors. It's easier than you might think!

Things You Should Know Before You Repaint Your Laminate Floors

Though it may sound straightforward, repainting a laminate floor is actually a big undertaking, especially if you're tackling it solo. Before we dive in, here are a couple of things you absolutely must know before breaking out your brushes.

Why You Should Repaint Your Laminate Floors

Over time, the finish on your floor will degrade. The color turns dull, and surfaces get filled with scuffs, dents, and scratches. This doesn't mean you've done a bad job maintaining the floor. Unless it's never walked on at all, this wear is completely normal for laminate flooring after a few years.

Repainting your laminate floors is like giving them a complete refurbishment. The new coat of paint refreshes the color of the boards, making them look brand new. In the process, the paint also covers up all the superficial damage the floor has accumulated over the years.

By the end, it's going to look just like new!

Replacing the Floor vs. Repainting: Which Is Better?

Like we said at the start, you have two options when your laminate floors begin showing their age. You can either replace the old boards with new ones, or you can repaint. Most people prefer the latter simply because it's far cheaper to repaint than replace.

That said, it's not as clear-cut as it seems. There are pros and cons to both approaches. Here's the quick rundown.

Cost

Replacing an entire laminate floor isn't cheap. For a 340-square-foot living room, here's what you're looking at:

Replacement costs:

• Installation: $2,720–$5,100 (materials and labor at $8–$15 per square foot)
• Floorboard removal: $200–$400
• Furniture moving: $150–$300
• Total: $3,000–$6,000+

DIY painting costs:

• Primer and paint (2 gallons each): Under $100
• Tools (if you don't already have them): $50–$100
• Total: $100–$200

The savings speak for themselves. Even with large rooms to repaint, the cost will likely never exceed $500.

It is not inexpensive to replace a whole laminate floor

But is cheaper always better? Not necessarily.

If your floors are seriously run down with extensive dents, cracks, or even holes, it might be time for a full replacement with new boards.

On the other hand, if the floor still looks decent with just a few minor nicks here and there, repainting is your best bet.

Possibility of a Restyle

There are different finishing options out there.

For example, if you're hoping to transform your house into a rustic-looking space, you can repaint the laminate floors with a distressed finish. It gives the floor an artificial worn-out, historical vibe for cheap. Similar distressed-finish boards, if purchased and professionally installed, will cost you significantly more.

You can also recolor the boards. Want a dark-toned, elegant wood floor? Repaint the boards with ebony or dark oak paint. Looking to brighten things up? There's no shortage of light-toned paints out there to try!

Use dark oak or ebony paint to repaint the boards

Environmental Friendliness

Recycling old boards is better for the environment. By repainting, your current floorboards (if they're still serviceable) get a new lease on life and can continue being used for several more years.

Inspect the condition of your floor carefully to determine if replacement is necessary. If they're still in good shape, repainting is more economical and environmentally friendly!

Can You Paint Laminate Floors? How Hard Is It to Repaint a Laminate Floor?

A common question we get is "Can you paint laminate flooring?"

You absolutely can paint laminate floors… but some skill is required.

If you haven't handled a brush or power tools before, we highly recommend hiring a professional instead.

The chance of messing up is quite high and could cause even more expensive damage. Additionally, you risk injury while handling power tools if you don't know what you're doing.

Got the skills? Great. Next, you'll need time. Like any painting project, the primer and paint don't settle immediately. They need hours to cure.

Last but not least, cleanup afterward is going to be tough. The sanding machine will produce plenty of dust and debris. The paint will fill your house with chemical odors. These can be dangerous if anyone in your home has asthma or respiratory issues. Take special care and clean thoroughly if that's the case.

If you're a busy parent with kids running around, here's a realistic timeline: Prime Friday evening, paint Saturday morning, seal Saturday afternoon, and your floors are ready by Monday. No week-long disruption to your household.

How to Paint Laminate Floors - Detailed Guide

Part 1: Gathering the Tools and Materials

Before you paint, gather everything you'll need to do the job first.

Step 1: Purchase the Right Kind of Laminate Floor Paint

There are many types of laminate floor paint to choose from. For general-purpose painting, you can pick either porch paint or latex-based paint. Both are highly durable and retain their color for years.

You have a wide variety of laminate floor paint options

If you have hardwood or vinyl floors nearby, though, these two paint types may not match the color. In that case, use chalk paint. Its lighter color will let you blend the two floor types together more easily.

While shopping, be sure to check the label to confirm it's safe for laminate.

Step 2: Pick Up an Oil-Based Primer

Some folks online will tell you to just splash paint directly onto your floor. There's merit to this method: it's quick, simple, and it works… at least for a while.

If you simply spray-paint the floor and let it dry for a couple of hours, your laminate floors will look beautiful again afterward.

But we don't recommend this approach. Here's why: I learned this the hard way on my first attempt. Three months later, the paint was peeling in high-traffic areas. The lamination layer on top isn't very porous, so the paint—while it sticks—doesn't fully bond to the floor. The new paint coating won't be as durable and will dull or develop scratches more quickly. When it does, you'll have to bust out the paint again.

For a more permanent solution, you need to sand off the old finish and apply primer. The primer gives the paint a better surface to adhere to, allowing it to last longer. Think of it like applying a sticky base coat that grabs onto both the slick laminate and the paint—creating a strong bond that lasts.

Oil-based primer is best. It adheres to paint much better than water-based primer. Additionally, pick up tinted primer that matches your planned paint color. It will reduce the number of paint layers you'll need to apply. This is especially important if you're going for a dark color.

Step 3: Gather Tools and Materials

After sorting out the paint and primer situation, it's time to gather your tools and materials. Here's everything you'll need:

• Gloves
• Painting mask
• Masking tape
• Paint tray and paint tray liner
• Paint rollers
• Edging brushes
• Orbital sander
• Sealer
• Trisodium Phosphate cleaner
• Sandpaper (120-150 grit)

Part 2: Prep the Floor

The floor must be prepared before you paint over it. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Examine, Repair, and Clean the Floor

Never paint a laminate floor that's filled with dents or scratches. They'll make your floor look terrible later if you don't take time fixing them. Walk across the floor and examine every inch carefully. Fill any imperfections you see with caulk.

Clean the floor thoroughly afterward and remove any dirt or debris you see (you can use the best laminate floor cleaning machines for the job).

Step 2: Sand the Floor

Grab an orbital sander (if you don't have one, consider renting it for a day from your local hardware store). Use 120-150 grit sandpaper to sand down the floor.

An orbital sander will save your shoulders and back a lot of pain. However, if you can't access a sander, use regular sandpaper.

Step 3: Clean Up the Floor

Last but not least, take the Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) cleaner and wash away any grime, dust, loose dirt, and other debris with the best mop for laminate floors.

After using towels to dry the floor, use a heater or air conditioner to expedite the drying process

Dry the floor with towels, then use an AC unit or heater to speed up the drying process.

There shouldn't be any moisture left on the laminated boards when you're finished. If there is, it will cause bubbling when you apply the paint.

Step 4: Mask Up Everything

Cover everything near the floor that you don't want painted using masking tape. If you accidentally get paint splatters where you don't want them, check out this guide on how to get paint off laminate floors.

Part 3: Prime the Floor

Step 1: Apply the Primer

Take out a brush and dip it into the can of primer. Cover the floor with a uniform layer. Make sure you don't miss the smaller, hidden corners in the process.

Remove a brush and dip it into the priming container

Step 2: Wait for the Primer to Dry

Once the primer's been applied, all that's left is waiting. It could take overnight for the primer to fully dry, so you should prime the floor in the evening. Head to bed afterward, and you'll have the floor ready to paint in the morning!

Ensure the primer is completely dry before proceeding. If it's still slightly wet, give it a few more hours. Painting over wet primer will quickly turn your floor into a mess.

Part 4: Paint the Floor

All the prep work is done—time to get painting!

Step 1: Apply the Paint on Laminate Floor

Dip your paint roller in and get the foam tip nice and saturated. Attach the roller to an extension handle so you won't accidentally step on wet paint.

Get the foam tip of your paint roller wet by dipping it in

Push the roller along the lines of the laminate floorboards. Apply uniform pressure throughout the painting process so you don't end up with spots that are brighter or have more paint than others.

Don't paint perpendicularly. If you do, the paint will turn messy and splotchy near the board edges.

Step 2: Wait for the Paint to Dry

When the floor is all nicely painted, it's time to literally watch the paint dry. Read the label on your paint can to see how long it takes to be ready. Paints from different manufacturers dry at different rates.

Usually, just leave it overnight and it'll be ready for the next step the following morning.

Part 5: Apply the Sealant

You're not done yet. To protect the paint from dulling or wearing out too quickly, apply one or two layers of sealant. It will protect the floor from scuffs, scratches, moisture, and various other problems that could ruin your newly repainted floor.

Be sure to check your paint type first. Different paints pair with different sealants. For example, latex paint or porch paint works best with polyurethane sealant. On the other hand, if you use chalk paint, grab a can of polyacrylic sealant instead.

The application is no different than painting. Take a natural bristle brush, dip it into the can of sealer, and apply even coatings across the floor to seal up the paint.

And that's how to paint laminate floors!

How to Paint Laminate Flooring Without Sanding

This section is for folks who've asked us "Can I paint laminate flooring without sanding?"

Though it's totally not recommended, you can paint the floor without sanding.

You can paint the floor without sanding, but it's not advised at all

If your floor is made from very hard wood or the lamination coating is highly durable and can't be sanded effectively, this might be your only option.

Here's the good news: the painting steps are completely similar to the ones above (minus the sanding step, of course). Prep the floor as normal, prime it, paint it with regular laminate flooring paint, then seal it.

Depending on your floor's composition, the lack of sanding could make scuffs and scratches appear more quickly. The color might also dull faster.

How to Update Laminate Flooring

With the basic painting steps covered, this section will show you how to update and style your floor while repainting.

How to Whitewash Laminate Flooring

Whitewashing will give your floor (and the rest of your house) a very attractive rustic look. The process is fairly simple.

Your floor and the rest of the house will have a very appealing rustic appearance after whitewashing

Step 1: Prep the Floor and Apply Primer As Usual

Go through the normal floor preparation steps, then apply primer. Let it dry.

Step 2: Mix the Whitewash

In a can of warm water, mix masonry lime with table salt. Stir until everything dissolves.

That's the traditional recipe. Alternatively, you can also mix latex paint in an off-white color with warm water until it turns into a cream-like consistency. Painting the floor with this mixture will give you the same effect as traditional whitewash.

Step 3: Apply the Whitewash

Use a roller with an extendable handle to cover the floor with whitewash just like you would with regular paint. Wait overnight for it to dry.

Step 4: Apply Varnish

The whitewash layer should be sealed with varnish. We recommend using water-based latex varnish for the job.

Use a paintbrush to apply the first layer, then leave it for a couple of hours until it fully dries. Apply the second layer of varnish immediately afterward.

Give the floor around a full day to cure, then it'll be ready!

How to Stain a Laminate Floor

A lot of people mistake staining and painting for the same thing. These two processes couldn't be more different.

Painting will completely hide the material underneath. You can't see the wood grain or feel the wood texture. All of it gets hidden beneath layers of color.

Staining, on the other hand, simply changes the color of your laminate floors. It doesn't hide the wood's patterning or texture. Many people prefer staining over painting for this exact reason, especially if the wood still looks good and doesn't have many imperfections.

Your laminate floors' color will only be altered by staining

When you recolor your laminate floor by staining, the color will last significantly longer and be more resistant to damage than painting.

Step 1: Prep the Floor As Usual

Clean the floor, repair any damage it may have, then sand it. Clean up the dust from sanding by mopping, then dry the floor thoroughly.

Step 2: Apply Finishing

Instead of paint, get yourself a can of laminate floor finishing in the color you want. Make sure the label specifically says the finish is made for laminate flooring. Don't pick up finishes for hardwood. The formulations for each flooring type are different.

Step 3: Coat the Finishing

Take a dry washcloth and dip it into the can of finish. Apply a thin, even layer across the floor.

At first, apply it to a small, hidden corner to test whether you like the color. If you do, cover the rest of the floor with it.

The initial layer of finish should take around 2 hours to fully dry.

Step 4: Apply More Layers

Once the first layer has fully dried, apply 2-3 more layers. The more layers you add, the richer the color will look and the more durable the finish becomes. Keep applying until you're happy with the color.

Step 5: Wait for the Finishing to Cure

The finish will take quite some time to fully cure (around 48 to 72 hours, depending on the brand). During this time, avoid stepping on or touching the finish.

For pet owners: Keep your dog or cat off the floors during this curing period. Set up a temporary gate system to block access to the room—trust me, one paw print can ruin hours of work.

Your Floors Are About to Look Amazing

Take a picture of the floor before you paint it, then another after, and make a "Painting Laminate Floors Before and After" comparison. You'll love the After much more. The color will be brighter, and scuffs along with any damage your floor might have had will be gone.

This before and after photo comparison is more than just an aesthetical comparison; it's also proof that you can save a considerable amount of money while providing something beautiful that you created by hand. Therefore, while putting together the information and experience to learn how to paint laminate floors may require a fair amount of work, you will have great satisfaction doing the work for the reward of creating something beautiful.