Repairing Scratched Laminate

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

June 13, 2002

Q. We just had our kitchen cabinets refaced. We are pleased with the job the company did. However, when the installers put up a valance over the window, they scratched the laminate next to the cabinet door. The valance was a real tight fit. To fix the scratch, the company wants to replace the whole piece of laminate to the next seam. This would mean taking down the valance and reinstalling it after the repair. Replacing the laminate also would involve removing molding and the grout to some tile. The alternative is to sand the scratch, then spray the surface with a satin finish. Is there a laminate filler we can use to repair the scratch? We don't want to go through all this to fix the scratch.

-Arline Richter, Garden City

A. If you trusted the company to reface your cabinets-and you like their work - why not trust their judgment in the laminate repair? Let them replace the entire piece of laminate up to the seam. This way, you'll get a clean, even piece of laminate instead of a spray or filler. There are lots of products that repair laminate surfaces. Depending on the size of the scratch and its location, some of these repair products work OK. But if yours is a large scratch in a prominent area, and it's a new kitchen to boot, I'd go for the new laminate. I've used some of the over-the-counter laminate repair products, and I find that over time they wear away and the scratch is back. I'm sure some of the commercial repair approaches are better, but not much. All you're doing is covering the scratch and waiting for the material to wear away. It's not a long-term solution, especially in a new kitchen.

As for replacing molding and regrouting tile, these are common repair tasks, and the company's skilled workers should be able to do them. My suggestion, however, is to take some precautions when reinstalling the valance. Cover laminate areas with a drop cloth and remove cabinet doors if necessary. If possible, use masking tape to cover sharp edges of the valance, then remove it when the valance is in place.

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Q. My friend and I are repairing walls in his old house. He has some large cracks in the plaster (not drywall). He's tried filling them with drywall compound, but the cracks reappear. One wall, for example, is full of cracks. On some walls, there are just a few damaged areas. Do you have any advice?

-A.V., Seaford

A. Over time, walls settle and move, and these small cracks in drywall and plaster appear. Homes breathe, and the walls expand and contract. Repairing these cracks with drywall compound is not a good idea because the compound shrinks a great deal and is not very pliable once it dries. A better material is spackling compound, which comes ready-mixed, doesn't shrink as much, and works well on either drywall or plaster repairs.

On deeper cracks, try a combination of a paintable latex caulk and spackling compound. Let me explain: First, clean the crack thoroughly. Use either an old screwdriver or a utility knife to scrape away loose plaster, drywall or drywall paper. The crack should be cleaned so it gets wider as it gets deeper, sort of an inverted triangle. Once the area is clean, use a damp cloth to wipe away dust. Let the area dry thoroughly. (Use a blow-type hairdryer to quicken the drying.)

Partially fill the crack with a paintable latex caulk. A thin stream of caulk should be applied. Press it into the crack with your finger; you can wear a disposable latex glove, if you want, but the caulk will wash away with water. Wipe the edges of the crack clean with a clean, damp rag. After a day or so, the caulk will dry. You can then cover the area with spackling. Use a drywall knife and apply the spackling in thin coats until the crack is covered. Sand, prime and - voila! - you have a clean repair that should last for some time. The pliable caulk underneath will keep the crack from reappearing.

Sometimes, however, you might need even more help on these cracks. For tough ones, try cleaning the crack and the area around it so you can apply a fiberglass mesh drywall tape. This tape becomes hard, like a plaster cast, when drywall compound is applied. Clean the crack and cut away an area the same width and length of the piece of tape that will be used in the repair. Place the tape into the area, just like taping a torn page in a book. Then slowly cover the crack with thin layers of drywall compound.

For treating an entire wall, try using a roll of fiberglass mesh to cover the wall, then skim coat the mesh with drywall compound. These mesh rolls usually come in 3-foot widths and are used in exterior finishing applications, like stucco and flat roof repair. You can get the rolls at building supply stores.

Another source is PermaGlas-Mesh, which sells all types of fiberglass mesh tapes and rolls for interior and exterior repair.

Call 800-762-6694 or visit the firm at www.permaglas mesh.com.