Q&A for How to Stain Laminate Flooring

Sanding the floor will help give it a little grit, so your paint or finish will adhere to the floor's surface better.

Clean the floor really well and sand it so it becomes a porous surface. Prime the laminate with an extreme bond primer and let that cure for a day, then go over the top of that with a specific flooring paint with a hard finish, like an epoxy or a floor and porch enamel.

Unlike hardwood, if you use wax on laminate flooring, it doesn't make it shine. Instead, doing so causes a buildup of dirt. Instead of the wax making your floor shine, wax makes your laminate flooring look cloudy and dull.

Try staining it! Start by giving the floor a thorough cleaning. Sweep it well and run a mop over it to pick up any dirt on the surface. If there are any imperfections in the laminate, take 220-grit sandpaper and run it across the surface in a circular motion, smoothing out any small bumps or imperfections. Choose a floor finish with a rich color and apply it to your floor with a washcloth. Let the first coat dry for at least 2 hours, then add more coats for a richer color and longer-lasting finish. Then, let the final finishing coat cure for a full 2-3 days. Don't touch or step on the floor so it cures properly. Once it's done, you're good to go!

Absolutely! If you want a darker color you can paint your laminate floor. Pick laminate paint that mimics the desired finish (cherry, maple, or honey, for example) for a strong color that's similar to wood stain. Go with a polyurethane-based paint for the best finish. First you need to coat the surface with laminate primer. Dip a foam brush in the laminate primer and apply a thin coat over the surface in long strokes, working from the back to the front of the room. Let the surface dry for 30-60 minutes before applying any coats of paint. Then, you can apply your first coat of paint. Wait about an hour to let it dry and add 2-3 more coats, allowing each layer to dry as well. After applying several coats of paint, leave the room and let the paint dry for at least a week so it can fully cure and harden.

Generally, laminate flooring should last between 15-30 years. But, if you take care of it and keep it clean, your laminate can last up to 30-40 years. If your laminate flooring starts looking scuffed or dull, you can stain or paint it to revive it. Sweep it well and run a mop over it first. Then, use a washcloth to apply a laminate floor finish over the surface. Wait about an hour to let the first coat dry, then add 2-3 more coats, allowing each one to dry for 2 hours. Once you've applied your layers, let the stain cure for a full 48 hours before you start walking around on it or moving furniture back into place. Over time, your finish's color may fade. Reapply 1-2 finish coats if your floor looks dull or you want a richer color.