If you're planning to paint the laminate a dark color, you can skip the primer altogether and paint on one of these enamel paints. Beware that painting over damaged laminate will not result in a perfectly smooth surface.
Chalk paint is famous for sticking to just about anything, and in this case it makes the perfect primer between the laminate surface and the Satin Enamels paint. It's easy to apply and dries quickly. And the Satin Enamels provide the perfect durable finish over the chalk paint.
Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish.
Latex Paint
Latex or water-based paint works well on laminate cabinets if you use a good primer. But before it fully cures, the paint remains sticky and may peel off easily if two painted surfaces bump against each other.
You can sand, prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture! It's easy to skip the sanding step, because sanding is a drag… but it's especially important with laminate. Because it's often somewhat glossy-looking, and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming.
So yes! You can paint laminate furniture without sanding! Keep in mind though, if you have any scratches or spots of nail polish (like I did), you'll want to sand those areas so you have a nice smooth surface for your paint.
The key difference between the two products is that Tile paint provides a gloss finish and Laminate paint provides a satin finish. Both paints feature built in anti-bacterial properties and protects against mould and mildew.
The KEY to having the paint stick is to use the proper primer. I recommend using Zinsser Oil Based Primer. This stuff sticks like glue! I love their water based primer too, but when painting laminate, just go for the oil based, I feel it adheres better.
Laminate doesn't play well with all primers and paints, only those specially formulated to adhere to its picky surface. 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.
Once the cabinets are primed, you can paint them with oil-based paints, acrylic paints or melamine paints. Melamine paints are specifically designed for painting laminate surfaces, as the moisture-resistant materials in the paint make them just right for the moisture and steam so prevalent in kitchens.
Chalk paint is a great choice for painting laminate cabinets because it “hides” brush strokes. If you're using chalk paint for a project, you pretty much can't mess it up.
INSL-X STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer is one of the best primers for laminate furniture. This primer is made specifically to bond to surfaces that are hard to coat, and will give you a smooth, level finish.
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.
Yes, laminate can be painted but not with regular paints. You will require special paints that can stick to the shiny surface of the laminate and a lengthy preparatory process. Both laminate and paint repel kitchen spills and moisture. So, the paint won't stick to the glossy laminate surface, readily.
As for the kind of paint you should choose, we recommend that you pick a resilient paint product like porch paint, though latex paint is also an excellent alternative. If you want to match your laminate wood floor with floor tile or nearby vinyl plank, you can also choose to use chalk paint for better contrast.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface. Wood Veneers give the impression of a more desired quality wood without being as costly.
Primer is important, especially when painting over laminate. Unlike wood, laminate is a smooth, non-porous material, so it really needs something to 'grab' onto—primer will do the trick! It's suggested that primer takes seven days to completely dry.
Carefully fill and sand any dents, bashed corners or chipped edges with a wood filler. After that, apply two coats of our Multi Purpose Primer. This will give your MDF and laminate furniture a really good base and help the paint to stick.
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint will adhere beautifully to laminate. All I do is clean my piece to remove any residue or dirt and then apply the paint.
Step 3 – Paint
Some will tell you to use laminate paint but I love milk paint for laminate so I would recommend that. Use your roller to paint the flat surfaces and a brush to carefully paint the detailed areas. Let it dry per the paint can's instructions. Apply another coat or two as needed.
Mod Podge is sort of like clear glue {thought not quite the same as Elmers glue} – and its the tackiness that allows it to really truly grip onto the laminate without needing any sort of prep work beforehand.
The question is: “can you paint Formica Kitchen Cabinets?” The simple answer is “Yes.” Instead of replacing your Formica Kitchen Cabinets, you can paint them to give them a fresher look. As compared to wood, it is important to know that Formica requires a little more preparation – especially in terms of painting.