Thanks f or sharing! (Smiling) Stoked that you found the video hub up to your high standards! We love to see the change from old and outdated, to new and in style, and hope to inspire you through these makeovers! Additional photos or text may be available with my written permission. I was gifted a beautiful antique curio that had veneer peeling off and underneath looks like it plywood. I have a table with a walnut veneer top. I had a comment all prepared until I seen the title of my hub linked here. I believe they were picked up from a local hotel that sold its furniture when upgrading. What is your suggestion here as I dont want to paint it I want to varnish it? If the glue just won't come off, squeeze hot water from a sponge under the loose piece of veneer. Yes, some veneer has more than one layer that can be removed like on this desk here. Bondo does NOT take stain. I have needed to do this so many times but didnt know how! Seriously well done and very helpful. Or you could look into other finishes, like a painted bottom and stained top, a whitewash etc some sort of finish that would blend everything together. Place a damp cloth on top of the laminate area you will be working on. India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on January 21, 2012: Simone~ I am so pleased that you find the veneer repair video worthy of mention. A good primer (this BIN shellac primer is the best!) dipless~ LOL! Hi Cindi! Just like with loose veneer, you will need to get the material pliable so you can work with it without causing further damage. ? DIY So I Can Kiss You Anytime I Want Sign, Merry and Bright Wooden Sign | Dollar Tree Christmas Decoration. As for pulling all the veneer up and then replacing it you can but often the wood underneath is a nice surprise and you can easily paint and or stain it. I LOVE sharing that's why I blog! Stephanie Marshall from Bend, Oregon on January 19, 2012: And thank you for the link to my interior paint hub too! Thank you All content on this blog was created for inspiration and entertainment purposes. This will force moisture into the veneer, which makes it more flexible and much less likely to split or crack as you do your repair. My hubby works with wood and has tried a few of these tricks. Having said this, sandalwood is expensive sought after wood! India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on January 30, 2012: tillsontitan~So glad you found the info helpful. I was looking for a cut and dry tutorial for an antique buffet I want to restore. The one that i recommend from amazon is M-D Building Products Angle Aluminium, i personally used it for my cabinet and im happy with the quality. After steaming moisture into the laminate, carefully scrape out the old glue from off of the base wood and the back of the veneer using a small knife, working it back as far as you safely can get it to go. in Instagram Feed· Painted Furniture· Repairing Furniture. Thanks for making it by. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Ive always wanted to refurbish furniture and these are my first 2 projects! Once the Bondo is dry, bust out the power sander. Elmers, TitebondorGorillaWood Glue are popular brands. I dont want to mess it up. Ive written another Bondo repair tutorial soyou can find How To Mix & Apply Bondo here. Using 220 grit sandpaper, sand the Bondo wood filler down flush with the rest of the wood around it. If it were me working on it, I would play up the natural wood parts by either giving it a natural wood stain or a beautiful stain on the top and legs, then paint the rest. The laminate furniture that are near the water can get damaged sooner than the lifespan of it, to be honest laminates are prone to water and i would never recommend it for the furniture that are near the water supply are. If this is a precious piece and you would like an exact match, my best advice would be to take it to a professional furniture restorer. What if you dont want to paint? Jason Menayan from San Francisco on January 24, 2012: What a terrific guide to fix a vexing problem. Scratches makes the whole furniture look ugly, when you have kinds in your home scratches on furniture is very common, we can not stop them, we could only fix it. If you don't have a clamp, or masking tape won't work, use any weighted item (sandbag, tool kit, tackle box, etc.) . If the damage was bigger you could use the wood filler to fill the damaged areas, however it may not work like the one that i mentioned for the scratch but it will work to an extent. How do I work with it? 2) Cut out the patches of veneer that are blistered and fill in with wood filler or Bondo. hmm. I like to gently try to pull up the edge of the veneer with my fingertip, just to see if it is loose. Great stuff! I give my pieces a really good once over and make sure I remove it all. What about when the veneer isnt chipped or pulled away but is bubbled up in some places? thanks, Great post Denise, I have just found a similar piece at the local tip so have to do a few little repairs similar to this. Let's keep in touch! Then new holes were drilled for the new hardware. Check out this post on how to repair (and stain) chipped wood furniture to see how to stain Bondo! Your email address will not be published. I noticed you put something in the drawer-pull holes (bondo?). I appreciate that you shared the laminate tips with your woodworking hubby, that is quite a complement I am happy to take. What i do is i will apply the glue uder the peeled laminate and use some masking tape to hold it in its position until the glue get dried, and then remove the tape, this has worked great for me. As this material ages, the changes in humidity and temperature, or damage from injury, can cause the laminate to loosen (pull away) from the base wood it has been adhered to. The key to this method is to glue down all the bumps and clamp down so its perfectly smooth when the glue is 100% dry. My husband and I have two dressers that were in his bedroom as a boy. Although, it would have brought us a much higher price with the repairs completed . Thank you, Hi there Nikki! The peeling veneer can be fixed up with a wood fill or some Bondo, primed, then painted. Only mix up a small amount at a time this stuff starts to harden FAST! Let's take a look at how to repair the two most common veneer issues: Before we get started working on loose veneer, remember that this material is very thin; it can easily be broken and needs some special precautions. As for the missing decorative piece, depending on the damage, sometimes its easier to remove all of it. Im trying to fix these places on my dresser to match the existing veneer. Im inspired now to repair my 100 yr old piano with veneer issues. Grab a cup of java and stay a while. I appreciate the support and your kind comments. The table is beautiful walnut. I love to share the products I use and enjoy! LOL! a sandbag or a toolboxto secure the area until the glue sets. But, honestly, this is the best kind of wood filler to fix chipped veneer. Learn how your comment data is processed. . Steph~ You are too kind. If you don't have an actual clamping device, you can substitute by winding masking tape around the repaired area. to stain the Bondo wood filler and the rest of the wood. Voted up, useful, beautiful. Then I had a brain fart and had to stop and think. Best for paint. Overtime that veneer gets snagged and chipped or the glue becomes loose, making it easy for the veneer to chip off. I threw out an old dressing table that had damaged vineer. Spray the lacquer on top of the wood filler. Then place a sheet of wax paper down (this is used as a buffer so the glue doesnt stick) and then heavy weighted objects or cardboard and clamps. , Your email address will not be published. That said, the wood underneath may be similar but not stain exactly like the rest of the piece. For loose veneer: Place a piece of plastic on top of repaired area, use a piece of cardboard under a clamp jaw to prevent marring and hold the repair until the glue sets (about 8 hours). Wipe any excess glue off using a sponge soaked with hot water. Hi Jamie! And even if you decide to paint, often the difference in grain makes for a blotchy looking paint job. Using a wet cloth on the laminate to make it pliable is something which would have just completely escaped me, great tip, great hub. Thanks for the lesson. Ordo surface repair and just paint them? ;). Yes, you can carefully cut out the bubbled area and then use bondo or wood fill to fill in the missing area. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Place a polythene paper on the filled area so that it does not stick to the weight. Im Denise lover of all things vintage, repurposed and restyled. Thanks for the tips! to secure the bond. A lot of furniture, even high quality furniture, was made with wood veneer over wood. And 220 grit will eat through it pretty well! So, I guess Ill try the wood filler? For loose veneer: use steam to get the veneer pliable again. Im going to buy me a good can of bondo. Hi, I have a particle board dresser with what I can only assume I s a veneer finish a family member ducted taped the drawers shut during a move and now there are pieces of the veneer missing down to the wood . **Use about a 3-4 long squeeze of hardener for a golf ball size of the base. Ive tried fixing veneer w not so great results. If you just use 220 grit sandpaper, you wont have to sand back over it. Laminate can be removed and any type of wood can be painted so the short answer is yes. If it comes up easily, then I lift the edge up and let it chip off. The top also has some pretty rough edges. I really dont want to get rid of it but cant stand to see it torn up. Hi Ron! This guide is fantastic! PerfectHomeNeeds.Com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I'm so happy you dropped by! Filed Under: Instagram Feed, Painted Furniture, Repairing Furniture, Your email address will not be published. Monday to show you how everything turned out. Your site is greatbeautiful work and great ideas. Thank you for this! Does the bondo stain well? I didn't even know it was possible to repair veneer- I had just assumed that was the end of a table or what have you. I was planning on disposing of it because pro wanted serious amount of money to restore. You can leave it plain or buy beautiful appliques and replace. If Im understanding your question correctly, you cut the bubbles out and then apply a filler (wood fill, Bondo or plastic wood a filler of some sort) to cover the wood underneath. Any piece of furniture that has a wood laminate or veneer finish is subject to a number of types of damage. Who wants to do that?! Heat your ironbox at a medium level, dont over heat it. We arent using just any type of wood filler! Squeeze white (wood) glue into the slit, making sure to get the glue on both the underside of the veneer and the wood base. I was able to restore an old side table so it could be used in our family room and not tossed into the garage-sale pile! Hi Ana! Excellent workmanship on both pieces, and SO sturdy! Then I pressdown with myfingers. Now that I know how to do the repairs myself, I will be looking for another one to restore. Thanks for sharing your fun comments, and I gotta tell ya, your Redneck Decoration Hubs are too funny! But you are here because your furniture is already damaged to the water. Press on the bubble to allow any excess air to escape through the slit. Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. If youve ever passed-up anamazing piece of furniture due topeeling or chipped veneer this post is for you! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Bummed that you're not in this weeks WTI. Use agoodwood glue. I hope your hubby has a great time doing a few honey-do's for you! :) Read More. Were talking veneer-covered items that are from the 60s. I would love to still be able to refinish this but Im not sure how as it seems like the only real wood is on the top and the legs of the piece. Creating anything with the suggested tools, products or methods, is under your own risk! The most common of all is damaged veneer! I like to overfill the damaged area so then I can sand it down to flush to the wood around it. Laminates are thin sheets that is glued to the material like particle board, MDF to make it look like a real wood and are mostly used for the decorative purposes, they are prefered by most of the designers including me. They all work the same! Mary. , Hi, I have a lovely vintage cabinet that has a draw with a corner missing some veneer. If your table is made of laminate there is a chance of peeling from the wood or the MDF board, it get damaged when you touch it more and when you brush the table there is a high chance of peeling especially at the corners. These are some great tips. (Yeah, you could sand it down by hand, but honestly, that will take a bit. It should only take a minute to get it sanded down smooth. I would like to see the final outcome after your painting. . **After you remove the loose veneer, give that area a little scuff sand with 220 grit sandpaper just to help the wood filler stick better. :), Cardisa! Make sure to prime the Bondo and your wood to get an even sheen with your paint finish. Who knew thats for patching cars. Its so lovely. Filed Under: Blog, Chalk Paint, Furniture Repair, How To Tips Tagged With: chipped veneer, fixing damaged veneer, peeling veneer, repair veneer. The wood is dry, and a small piece of decorative wood is missing. You have about 5-10 minutes to work with the wood filler, depending on how much hardener to the base you mixed together. . Thevery worst thing is to miss these loose pieces paint and THEN have theveneerchipoff leaving a big scar on your finished piece! Video was great with music that kept you going, but you don't need me to tell you how great this whole hub is. Hi Amy! Im using Dixie Belle Chalky Paint (first time) so no priming or sanding is needed for the rest of the dresser! What would be your recommendation? After the wood filler is spread out all over the area that is damaged, its time to let it dry. In 2020 my husband, Taylor, ditched his weatherman career to join me in the furniture business! All images, tutorials and work are copyrighted. Blisteringlittle bubbles that form under the laminate surfaceis another likely trouble. When I see chipping veneer, it usually means theres more where that came from. Be generous with the glue. I hope you can help educate and inspire me! I guess its veneer on the draws but when reading your instructions, your veneer is thin but my problem is that I have sevral layers peeling up. Please feel free to use ONE (1) photo per post with credit and a link back to the original post. If you have a lot of it to sand off, you can use a more coarse grit of sandpaper, but then youll need to go back over it to smooth out the coarse texture that is left behind. Look for the small damages and fix them immediately before it becomes big. How can I fix it to paint? Thank you, HubHugs and Shalom! Older solid wood pieces with veneers are often lighter than MDF covered in laminate. If youre unsure which you are working with, my advice (just my two cents) would be to repair and paint. Will the bondo take stain? You might even convince me to convince my husband to try this DIY wood veneer repair project. We have plenty of veneered surfaces in our place, and I know that peeling and bubbled veneer can ruin the look of a smooth surface. Dee. Yes! Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Please feel free to use ONE (1) photo per post with a credit link back to the original post. I will give it a try on my new project dresser. I'm humbled and flattered when you share my work, so SHARE AWAY! Blistered veneer can be repaired 3 ways Veronica. Shes looking REALLY good! If you do have gorgeous sandalwood under there, you may want to show it off. India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on January 19, 2012: I just adore a little HubLove, steph! I like how you added the video and instructions to your hub. Mix the Bondo base and the included hardener together to make a wood filler that will start to harden within 5-10 minutes. I have a couple of questions for ya, how exactly can you find out what type of wood your furniture is made from. Re-attach the veneer by adding fresh white (wood) glue, then put a piece of plastic over the repaired area. I love when you share my work! If the damage was small you can fix it by adding extra paint to it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts my friend! Your email address will not be published. I am going to set time to try your method. Anything that can be pulled up with a razor or sharp utility knife is best cut away. Thanks. If the laminate is fully damaged to the water, the only option is replacing it. Glad you found the veneer repair pointers worth the read. Typically if some of it is chipped, there is more loose veneer right around the chipped-off veneer. Even if I choose to paint the pieces, I am going to have to tackle surface repair first. And if you have a laminate cabinet there is even more chance of getting peeled out of the door at the corners and this is normal because you will need to open and close the door very often. Carolee Samuda from Jamaica on January 19, 2012: You are so awesome! Heres how easy repairing veneer with wood filler can be! But what do you recommend fur the rough chipped edges? Hi! read more Hello! Thanks heaps! You rock! What are your suggestions on that? Gently rub on the laminate that has dents in it. dipless from Manchester on January 19, 2012: Such a great hub, with an excellent Video, I had U2 Elevation on at the same time and it added a new level of excitement to repairing laminate flooring. Nice job! Thanks again! You can use the All-Purpose Bondo or this Auto Body Bondo! Required fields are marked *. Strip the veneer/laminate, find out what wood weve got, and refinish? HAHAHA! The treatment will definitely be based on the percentage of the damage, If there is very little damage on the laminate it can be treated with a simple trick, and you will need an syrenge and a wood glue. Step 3: Make sure you covered all the area so that there are no dents and bubbles inside the sheet, finally the process is done. Yes, the original hardware holes have been filled with Bondo and painted over so they are no longer visible. Today, we will be discussing how to repair these troubling veneer issues easily at home. Hi, my name is Pradeepa, i'm a furniture lover, i would love to explore furnitures, i started this website to share my personal experience, and things that i learnt and learning in my day today's life, i'm also planning for making D.I.Y projects, stay tuned! Most old furniture from the thrift store comes with some sort of damage. Her age is visible in thedry cracked surfaceand the veneer ispeeling and chippingin few areas. You can see the finished piece here. If you have knobs that fit the original hole (or you are using the original hardware), no filling is needed. However, they are dated, and the veneer/laminate is not in good shape. Mix the base and the hardener together until its one color. Cant wait to try. For bubbled veneer: Squeeze white (wood) glue into the slit and press veneer back into place. The rough chipped edges can be sanded and filled with wood fill or bondo too Lori. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and for the votes! Hi Denise. Either way, its a little rough! Fill the syrenge with the wood glue and insert it into the damaged part and glue it. After the glue has set, wash off any excess glue from the surface using a hot water-soaked sponge. I just bought a hide away sewing table that has seen better days. I dresser has a beautiful marble top and I really dont want to throw it away. So, the first thing you want to do before beginning ANY type of veneer repair is to get the veneer pliable before starting any of the work.