Can gel stain be used on laminate?

Theresa Stewart
by Theresa Stewart
I am looking for an affordable, easy way to update my blue laminate master bathroom cabinet and counter top. If I sand the laminate, can I use gel stain or is it just for use on wood?

  8 answers
  • Donna Keske-Howard Donna Keske-Howard on Jun 25, 2017

    Gel stain is not recommended on laminate. It is specifically created for wood.

  • Christy Christy on Jun 25, 2017

    If you're talking about Unicorn SPIT gel stain, then you can use it on pretty much anything. I would think that sanding it would be a must. I know that there's a prepatory thin you can get for milk paint that will ensure that it will adhere to the surface, so you may be able to use that or something like it. Alternatively, once you sand it, you could apply a milk or chalk paint, allow it to dry, and use the gel stain over top of that. There is a how-to Facebook page for Unicorn SPIT that is awesome. There are tutorials available as well. If you ask the question on that FB page, you'll probably have an answer in minutes. Since it's in your bathroom, you'll need to apply several coats of poly - you'd want to use outdoor stuff because of the moisture in bathrooms. Good luck!

    • Theresa Stewart Theresa Stewart on Jun 25, 2017

      Thank you Christy! Maybe "Youtube" will have a tute but I thought I would ask my Hometalk buds 1st :-) And yes re: the bathroom moisture but double because we live in Florida with high humidity! Thx again!

  • Donna Keske-Howard Donna Keske-Howard on Jun 25, 2017

    Milk paint would be better

  • Judith Judith on Jun 25, 2017

    You can use gel stain on just about anything. I would paint it the color you like first, then put the gel stain over that. Be aware that gel stain has a definite learning curve because it dries so quickly but the results are worth it.

  • Theresa Stewart Theresa Stewart on Jun 25, 2017

    Thank you Donna! I kind of thought that a "stain" would only work on wood but you never know with all the new things coming out :-)

  • Judith Judith on Jun 25, 2017

    Just another comment. I used gel stain over white, so the white showed through as the grain. It just took two coats so it was okay but that is why I suggested painting it a color you l first.

  • Judith Judith on Jun 25, 2017

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