How do I fix this laminate table?

Stuart A
by Stuart A

Hello,

I recently screwed through a laminate table top due to my error of not fixing washers to the underside of the brackets.


Is there anything that can be done to save this table?

  19 answers
  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Aug 16, 2020

    I am sorry to say You will have to use smaller screws.

  • Nan W. Nan W. on Aug 16, 2020

    Stuart: start over with washers. The push down the protrusions and maybe affix with super glue. You may, ultimately need a tablecloth... but art least you won't have those screws sticking up!

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 16, 2020

    Thinking that is a good idea from Nan, put the pieces in place and use glue then re-do the screws so nothing pops through.

    Maybe consider doing a mosaic and covering with glass or plexiglass.

    Another thought is cut up CD's and do a resin top.


    https://www.instructables.com/id/CD-Mosaic-Table/

  • Remove them and use the washers. Glue down the four spots the best you can and then try a new finish on the table - pennies, decoupage?

  • Doc Doc on Aug 16, 2020

    The only thing I can think of is laying the pieces back down and sealing and then buy a sheet of laminate and glue down on top of it .

    You can buy 4 x 8 sheets like the kind that go in bathroom shower areas or wet locations

  • You can try and glue the holes back into place but I think you will still see the damage. Another option is to fill the holes and paint the table top again.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 17, 2020

    Hello,

    You could re do the fixing, push the bits down and apply a Ceramic tile centre to the table, or stick a round of Timber or Perspex on top and make it part of the design.

    Best of luck. Things are never as bad as you first think, once it is thought through.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Aug 17, 2020

    Hello. I would suggest trying to rebuild the table with the proper washers and then trying to refinish the top.

    Sometimes getting a smooth discrete invisible repair on a solid colored smooth slick item is quite difficult. If you don’t want to consider a texturized paint finish, decoupage you may want to try to find a tray or some sort of table linen or large planter to disguise your attempted repair.

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Aug 17, 2020

    I'd push the bits back down or remove them completely. Then fill in the holes with something like Durham's water putty and sand smooth. Buy a new piece of laminate and apply with contact cement. Use a router to flush trim the laminate.

    You might also want to cover the area with a lazy Susan to hide the boo boo.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Aug 17, 2020

    Hi! I would redo the screws, possibly with shorter screws. Then, I would fill the holes with a material that hardens like JB Weld. Just get it as smooth as possible before it dries. Then I would paint it using this tutorial:


    https://pin.it/3A6h52P

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 17, 2020

    You could cover it with tile or plywood or place coasters permanently affixed to the 4 spots once you back off the screws and put the washers in place.

  • William William on Aug 18, 2020

    Use smaller screws. Fill the holes with wood putty and sand smooth. Get a color match paint or nail polish to paint the patches. Or paint the whole top. Or cover the top with 1/4" plywood after the repair. Paint or stain.

  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Aug 18, 2020

    Remove the screws, pick off the bits, and cover w contact paper.

  • Maura White Maura White on Aug 19, 2020

    Pound the screws back down so you have a flat table. Then use wood filler and let it dry. Then sand it smooth and repaint the top.

  • Dee Dee on Aug 19, 2020

    You can put smaller screws in, then push down the parts so that the table is even. I would fill the spaces with bondo then sand. When flat get some contact paper that looks like marble and cover.

    You can paint the table after that, you will have to use a good bonding primer, and then a good acrylic paint. Plus you will have to seal with Poly


  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Aug 22, 2020

    Yes, smaller screws won’t hold in the big screws’ holes. So fill first, then smaller screws.

    Fill the top holes, sand them smooth and then paint with an epoxy paint or a paint made for plastic laminate (Formica).

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Aug 22, 2020

    Unscrew the screws put the legs in the correct way so they don’t come through.if you get wood glue you should be able to glue those pieces back gown .to we’re you could barely see them then use some touch up paint to fill in the cracks.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Aug 31, 2020

    I would either add another layer of plywood or patch it up and paint all over again to make it a easy process. If you feel crafty you can actually use some paint and then cover that with epoxy. .... or get some mosaic tile and add to the top

  • Cathy Holcomb Cathy Holcomb on Sep 01, 2020

    Try finding a lazy susan that covers the holes, or put a round piece of wood over the screw holes then use the same screws to hold that in then put your lazy susan on that kinda a build up.