"Yes"... Formica® countertops can be painted and over time people have used latex paints, epoxies, and even cans of enamel spray paint.
Before you begin painting, you must prepare the surface. You'll need to clean the area with hot, soapy water to remove dirt, and then clean it again with ammonia or denatured alcohol to remove any grease and soap residue. After your Formica has dried, use a light- to medium-grade sandpaper and sand the entire surface.
Laminate countertops can be covered to refresh the look. 'Contact paper is a great short-term solution to cover outdated laminate countertops,' says Erin Dunlap. For a longer term fix? 'An epoxy countertop paint product is a much better option if you want your DIY effort to last more than a year or two,' she says.
A professional will thoroughly clean the surface, repair knife cuts and chips, apply a special bonding agent, and then apply several coats of a high tech acrylic enamel. A properly refinished laminate countertop will last for many years with everyday use and normal care and cleaning.
Miracle Method uses coatings specifically created to restore and refinish Formica®, Wilsonart® and other laminate countertops. A Miracle Method refinished countertop will look better, last longer, and feel better than any attempt at painting a kitchen countertop using DIY refinishing kits.
Resurfacing Is a Cost-Effective Option
Resurfacing your kitchen countertops, though, is still a cost-effective alternative—not to mention a low-cost investment that will last for years to come.
Painting Countertops
This is possibly the least expensive way to cover up old countertops, especially old wood or linoleum countertops. It's very easy to paint your countertops yourself. Just sand, prime and then paint. You can use a pad sander, but sanding by hand will work just fine.
Laminate, Formica®, and Wilsonart® are all essentially the same thing; laminate is the substance, and Formica® and Wilsonart® are the brand names. Both types are widely marketed for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and bar counters and available in a variety of colors and designs.
Yes, it sure can. I was so excited to find this out! Installing the new laminate right over the old made this project go so much faster than having to build all new countertops from scratch. And it saved some money as well.
Minor Fixes. Small scratches, gouges and chips can be fixed with laminate repair paste or a color-matched repair pen, available at most hardware stores and home improvement centers.
In the thirty years that I've been making kitchen cabinets and counters, many people have asked; “can Formica be installed over Existing Formica?” The answer is yes. The process is usually very successful if the existing surface is in good shape.
I use a trowel to further mix the epoxy on the counter then spread the epoxy over the entire counter with either a trowel or a foam roller. Bring the epoxy to the edges last and allow the epoxy to flow over the edge. Then use a paint brush to paint over the edges to make sure you have full coverage on the edges.
To clean Formica, apply a mild dish soap to the surface. You can either apply the dish soap directly to the surface or mix with water and then dip a sponge into the solution before rubbing it on the surface. Try a white vinegar and water mixture. You can also use a white vinegar and water solution to clean formica.
Epoxy resin can be poured and bonded to materials like Formica, wood, concrete, metal, and so on to create a seamless, non-porous surface.
To give you an idea of quality and longevity, most warranties max out at about five years. However, if the countertops are in a high-traffic space you'll likely see signs of wear much sooner than that, even with a higher quality product.
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.
A: We don't typically recommend laminating over laminate – but you can do it if you're willing to put some elbow grease into it. You need to sand the old surface down to the brown core in order to make sure the adhesive sticks and stays stuck.
The average lifespan of refinished countertops is 5-7 years.
A refinished countertop can usually be returned to light duty within 24 - 36 hours. You'll have the kitchen you want in days, not weeks. A refinished countertop is durable and can extend the useful life of your counters for 10-15 years with basic care and maintenance.
Use a paint with an epoxy base to paint your formica countertops. It dries up to give a harder cost and is more durable and will last longer than any other regular paints.
Lifespan. With standard use, well taken care of laminate countertops will last about 15 years. After that, they'll show significant wear and fading. Heavy use will dramatically shorten their lifespan.
Normal Cleaning
Abrasive cleaners, powders and abrasive cleaning pads should never be used on your laminate countertop - they will scratch and damage the laminate and make it susceptible to staining.