Can i paint laminate cabinets

Shiny laminated finish will require a little more sanding than dull laminated finish, so adjust your sanding accordingly. Kitchen cabinets are naturally exposed to a ton of dirt, crumbs, grease, and moisture in their everyday use, so you need to give the kitchen cabinet doors a very good clean before you paint them. For general cleaning, you can buy specialized tile and laminate cleaner from most hardware store locations. If the cabinets are very dirty, spray the cleaner on and leave it for 30 seconds before removing with a damp sponge.

Repeat the process a couple of times if necessary. If your laminate kitchen cabinets are very old, they may suffer from mold growth in some areas. If this is the case, create a solution that is 1 part bleach to 3 parts water and then wipe down the cabinets with a sponge or cloth using this water-bleach mixture.

If you're able to, unhinge the cabinet and remove any fittings such as door handles and hinges that you don't want to paint. If you want to change the color of the handles, we cover that in step For now, just put them to one side so that you have a plain cabinet door to paint. Ideally, you want to place the cabinet door on a work surface which is protected from any stray drops of paint or primer. I've seen people paint the cabinet door while they're still attached to the frames, but it's very risky and we don't want to accidentally drip color in unwanted places.

Some people like to apply primer before painting laminate; others prefer to prep the surface and then go straight in with paint.

Personally, I think it's better to use 1 or 2 coats of primer just to make sure that everything will go as perfectly as possible. Using a microfibre roller or a paintbrush, apply Adhesion Promoting Primer to the cabinet door, starting with the edges first.

Once it's all on, leave the primer to dry for 4 or 5 hours. You can apply a second coat of primer if you wish, but it shouldn't be necessary. Using a paintbrush, roller, or combination of the two, apply your first coat of paint as evenly as possible.

Many people find it helpful to start at the edges and work inwards, but everyone's painting technique is different. If you're working with a flat laminate cabinet surface which you probably are , then a roller can make this process a lot quicker, easier, and ensure that lovely smooth finish that we're after. On the other hand, if your laminate kitchen cabinet is an unusual shape, it may be better to use a combination of roller and paintbrush.

When it comes to the color itself, the best paint is specific paint which is designed for laminate cabinets. However, if you've prepped the surface properly, you should be able to use any high-quality wood paint as a laminate cabinet paint too. And if you're unsure about the best finish for kitchen cabinets we compared 4 different paint finishes.

Take your paintbrush and hold it at a degree angle, lightly spreading the color in a way that hides streaks. If you used a roller to apply your first coat, carefully move the roller from the top to the bottom of the surface, evening out any streaks that you may have created.

Repeat the process along the width of the cupboard door until all the streaks have been evened out. The goal is to get a perfect, smooth finish! If you've got the time, I would recommend applying a second coat of paint. At this point, the first coat should have been left to dry for a minimum of 4 hours and it should feel dry to the touch.

Be extra careful to check that the edges of the cabinet door are dry, as excess paint tends to accumulate in these areas. Make sure you're not taking any of the paint off as you do this. Then simply repeat steps 5 and 6 with the second coat, finishing it off and leaving it to dry for a minimum of hours.

When your final coats are dry, consider lacquering the kitchen cabinets if you want to give them a really nice glossy finish and help to protect them from damage and chipping in the future. To be clear, this step is optional, but the best paint jobs on laminate surfaces are usually primed and lacquered for the best effect.

Primer and lacquer should not be underestimated. You should then use grit sandpaper to gently sand the last coats of paint, helping to give them a nice, even, streak-free finish. Be careful not to sand too hard, or you risk removing too much paint from the surface. The goal is to make them look as smooth and seamless as possible. When I published my original tutorial on the best way to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding!

The short answer is yes, with one easy modification. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. What is laminate, you ask? It can basically be any type of furniture, cabinets, or wood-like product that is made by attaching a thin layer of printed plastic sometimes called Melamine or Thermofoil to a substrate of plywood or particle board.

Usually the plastic is printed with a wood pattern to mimic actual wood flooring or cabinetry, but it could be any color or pattern. If you paint a piece of real wood furniture or cabinetry, the wood will absorb some of the paint or primer into its pores, which creates a tight bond and helps the paint stick to the wood.

The beauty of laminate cabinets or countertops is the ease of clean-up and resistance to stains. This is the very same property that makes laminate difficult to paint.

Veneered wood is a similar concept, but instead of a plastic layer on top of plywood, it has a very thin layer of actual wood, called a veneer. If you are painting a veneer-wood piece of furniture, I recommend the method outlined in my original cabinet painting post. As with any paint job, the secret to success is in the preparation, not the painting.

And this project is no different. So how do you prepare laminate correctly, so the paint can adhere to its slick surface? Long story short, I contacted my favorite paint people, DecoArt , and asked them if they had a product they recommend for painting laminate cabinets, similar to the Satin Enamel I used on my kitchen cabinets.

To my surprise, they responded by recommending I use Chalky Finish paint as a primer, and Satin Enamels as a top coat. And then they sent me some of both to try. Thank you DecoArt for providing the paint for this project! As always, my opinions on the products are my own.

Peeling or buckling will not be fixed by painting! Then clean your cabinets really well. Especially in the kitchen, cabinets can harbor all sorts of greasy grime that will prevent even the best paint from sticking. I love Krud Kutter for this job. Just spray it on and wipe it off with a damp rag, taking care to get into all the crevices between surfaces.

The rest is simply a two part process, consisting of a primer coat of Chalky Finish paint and a top coat or two of Satin Enamels paint. Easy peasy! Well, sort of. Thoroughly scuff the surfaces of the cabinet with grit sandpaper—enough to get a dusting, but not so much that you tear through the paper-thin laminate surface—and clean up any dusty remains with a handheld vacuum and a damp cloth.

If you opt for a primer, choose a bonding primer tenacious enough to stick to laminate view example on Amazon , and then top it with an oil- or latex-based paint after the primer has cured. If you select a paint that can be applied directly over laminate view example on Amazon , you can skip the primer—just know that this qualification may limit your color choice.

But first, double-check that your stock is well suited for the job. Testing its bonding capabilities before diving into an entire paint job could save you from a case of peeling paint down the road—and the need to redo hours of work. Apply your paint to a small, inconspicuous area of the cabinet like the back of one you hardly ever open , let it cure, then inspect the bonding.

If you spot some bubbles in the coat, that means it is not adhering well; consult a paint dealer at your hardware store to pinpoint a more suitable paint for the job. If your first-choice paint applicator for the traditionally flat surface of laminate cabinets is a brush, take a moment to reconsider.

Refacing is another option. Adding a couple of glass doors can dress up your existing laminate cabinets. Check out quality companies in your area to do the work, or save money by doing it yourself. You can spend a bit more on real wood cabinet doors and drawers, or go with premium rigid thermal foil. Prices depend on materials , door style, and construction frame or frameless. The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets.

Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done. If you consider the paint job a temporary solution until you can invest in new cabinetry, you'll probably be more satisfied with the results. Follow these steps to get the best finish possible.

Before you begin painting laminate cabinets, you'll need to complete some prep work, including any repairs, sanding, and cleaning. Once your doors are ready, we'll show you how to prime and paint laminate cabinets. The key to getting the best paint results is preparation.