Products to Repair Scratches in Laminate Countertops

Putty Products

• Putty products remove scratches in laminate by filling in those marks with a thick layer of putty. According to Laminate Floorings, hardware stores and home improvement stores sell laminate flooring repair kits that include a latex putty or acrylic putty. Rub the putty between your fingers, which warms the material and makes it more flexible. Wipe the putty across the laminate scratches. Rub a flat-edged plastic spatula across the counter, removing the excess putty and making it sit flush with the surrounding counter.

Wax Pencils/Crayons

• Unless you use a putty that exactly matches the color of your countertops, you need a wax pencil or crayon. After applying the putty, let it sit overnight to cure or dry. Rub the wax pencil across the surface of the laminate, following the scratch marks. If you accidentally wipe wax on other areas of the counters, then remove the excess, using denatured alcohol on a soft cloth.

Seam Fills

• For wood laminate counters, use a seam filler. Apply a thin coating of the seam filler to the scratched areas of the counter. Use a shade that matches the prominent color in your countertop, as seam fillers come in hundreds of different shades. Apply additional coats of the seam filler until the scratched areas blend into the counters. Paint a thin coat of clear sealant or lacquer onto the surface of the counter, which makes the repaired area as shiny as the original counter. The seam filler solution is only suitable for countertops made from wood laminate, and you should not use the product on other types of laminate counters.

Considerations

• Before using any type of scratch repair product, contact the manufacturer of your countertops. The manufacturer may sell products specifically designed for your specific counter or know another manufacturer that makes a fill kit in the correct shade. If the manufacturer cannot help, then take a sample of the laminate to the hardware store. Compare the color of the laminate to the color of the wax pencil or other product. Make sure you find a product that closely matches the original color of the laminate.