Yes! It's easier than you think to transform your laminate kitchen with paint. If you use the right products and follow this step-by-step guide you'll end up with a durable and long-lasting finish that will look great for a long time. Even after years of daily use, our cabinets still look perfect.
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.
Do use a good primer before even thinking of applying paint. Primer is KEY. This is where I went wrong when I painted my laminate cabinets the wrong way. Like I said earlier, most laminate surfaces are made of plastic and the only way to get paint to stick to plastic is with a good primer.
Use a very fine sandpaper – 220 grit, if you can find it. Sanding will make the plastic surface more textured. This helps the paint stick to the PVC cabinet better. Clean the cabinet pieces again to remove loose fragments that may still be on the surface from sanding your kitchen cabinets.
Thermofoil, also sometimes simply called “thermo”, is a PVC vinyl colour coating that gets heat shrunk over a cabinet door. Think about it like supernaturally strong shrink wrap—it really sticks! The result is a seamless surface, usually in a solid colour, but sometimes also a faux wood grain pattern.
Standard exterior gloss paint is a suitable finish for plastic when used in conjunction with an appropriate primer and undercoat. Either acrylic or oil-based gloss can be used, and both are available in a wide range of colours.
Remove the laminate doors you intend to paint and put the door on a flat surface to enable maximum convenience while you paint. 2. Use either 80- or 120-grit sandpaper to sand all the surface of the door. This helps to create a well-roughened surface, which makes the paint stick to the door easier.
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.
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.
Clean and prepare the cabinet doors.
Then, begin to either sand or apply chalky finish paint, depending on your preference: Sanding: Using a rougher grit sandpaper, sand the laminate so it will better bond to the primer you use. Be careful not to over-sand the area, since laminate surfaces are typically very thin.
The BIN shellac-based primer, Cover Stain primer, and clear shellac primer mentioned above all come in aerosol spray paint cans and are SO good at getting paint to stick to laminate cabinets or furniture.
Rust-Oleum Universal Spray Paint/Primer
This sturdy paint-and-primer in one sprays from any angle and easily covers plastic, wood, metal, wicker, and masonry. It neither fades nor chips, and it resists rust, so even rough weather doesn't leave a mark.
Prime: If you're painting interior plastics, apply a high-adhesion latex stain-blocking primer. For outdoor plastics, spray-prime with specialized primers formulated specifically for adhesion to plastics.
If the paint isn't sticking to the plastic, the problem is usually that the surface is too glossy. Thoroughly sand the plastic to a matte finish for best results. Keep the spray light to avoid drips. An initial tack coat of about one-third to one-half coverage will help later coats stick better.
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.
A: Like most rules, there's always an exception, so YES, you can paint laminate furniture without sanding or priming IF you use the right kind of paint. You can skip the primer if you are painting laminate furniture with chalk paint.
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.
Most homeowners are not trained in painting properly. This is especially true for cabinets, since they require special attention. Professional painters should be hired because they have the skills to apply primer on laminate surfaces with precision. The tools used are professional grade and they will minimize mistakes.