You may need two coats to get an even, satiny finish. Again, it's important to roll and brush in the direction of the “wood” grain, and avoid paint build-up in the corners and edges. Let your project dry for at least 24 hours and then reattach the hinges and pulls and match up the doors to the proper cabinets.
The paint needs the primer to help it bind to the cabinets. Use a bonding primer, a stronger product than a regular primer, to ensure it sticks to the laminate. If you don't prime laminate candidates, the paint may quickly flake or peel.
I like to do at least two coats of primer, and I strongly recommend you do two coats of primer for laminate kitchen cabinets (or bathroom cabinets) where you're going to subject them to everyday use.
Paint the cabinet boxes
If you're using roughly the same shade as the existing color, two coats ought to do the job. You might even get away with one. Painting over a dark finish with a light color is tougher and could require three coats. Break out a new brush for each coat.
Generally speaking, 2-3 coats total do the trick (primer first, then paint), so long as you keep in mind the quality of paint you're using, the condition of your cabinets, and how the color in question might interact with the existing color of your cabinets.
Oil-based Paints– The oil-based paints dry within around 6 to 8 hours normally. Meanwhile, they take about a week to cure. To put a secondary coat, you got to wait for a whole day after applying the primary one. Latex Paints (Water-based)– Usually, latex paints take a low time of a couple of hours to completely dry.
Although professionally painted cabinets should last 8-10 years there are a few factors that can drastically impact your cabinet's lifetime, requiring repainting only 3-4 years later. How long your kitchen cabinets will last depends largely on the way the paint was applied, and with what tools.
INSL-X Stix Acrylic Waterborne Bonding Primer
Dry time is longer than water based at 3-4 hours but still quicker than oil based primers. Best cabinet surface to use on: This primer is excellent at covering very slick, plastic, melamine or laminate cabinet surfaces.
Tip: Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish. Try ProClassic® Waterborne Interior Acrylic Enamel for lighter colors, and All Surface Latex Enamel Base for deeper hues.
There is a shortcut, if you are feeling so inclined. But for the most part, you'll want to sand and clean your laminate surfaces well before painting. You'll need: 180-grit and high-grit (300+) sandpaper.
In conclusion, if you are unsure if you have laminate cabinets, there are a few ways to check. One is to look for a paper or plastic film on the front of the cabinet. Another is to check if the cabinet is lightweight and has a smooth, shiny surface.
When painting over laminate cabinets, the first thing you have to do is choose a quality paint. The right type of paint will leave a chip-resistant finish that's easy to clean with a damp cloth or sponge. Paint with a satin finish will yield the best results because it will help hide the cabinets' imperfections.
And, with that final layer of topcoat dry, you've given a fresh new look to an old laminate countertop. The painted surface is durable, but not quite as resistant to water and scratches as the laminate, so be sure to wipe up spills quickly and avoid scratching the paint as much as possible.
Painting laminate wasn't difficult, but I did find it more time-consuming than painting wood. To sum it up, the most important steps are to sand and prime all the surfaces before painting. If you were to skip those two steps, your paint would have nothing to adhere to and would most likely peel right off.
The best way to ensure paint on laminate lasts is to sand the surface and use a good bonding primer, followed by two layers of high-quality latex paint and a durable top coat – allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before adding the next.
For painting laminate furniture, you want to do at least 2 coats of primer and let them cure completely (overnight if you can!) in between coats. You can even sand in between coats for maximum adhesion. (Fancy words eh?) I used a smooth roller and rolled on 2 coats of primer and let it dry overnight.
If you want to make a big impact in your kitchen without a big investment, consider priming and painting your laminate countertops. Your local paint store can supply you with the best type of paint to use in this project. Many recommend a water-based acrylic primer, paint and top coat.
If you want to protect your cabinets and extend their lifespan, sealing them is recommended. However, if you prefer the look and feel of unsealed cabinets, it's not necessary.
Although they're overall more durable than wood cabinets, laminate cabinets' coating can peel away and weaken over time, and it can be challenging to repair them. This means you may need to replace them after some time.
If your project is in a harsh climate with strong UV rays, you may consider using a 3-coat paint system as the extra layer is equivalent to a coat of sunscreen on your building. However, for most construction projects that we see, two-coat PVDF paint systems using a primer and a topcoat are sufficient.
Applying the second coat too early will result in streaks, peeling paint, and uneven color.
The general rule is that you should use two coats of paint. However, this rule changes based on the color, quality of the paint you use, whether or not you used primer, and the type of surface you're painting.