How to sand laminate cabinets? Use 120 grit sandpaper to sand the whole surface by hand or with a sander. Pay special attention to the edges. You only have to lightly sand the laminate to create lots of little scratches to give the paint a better surface to stick to.
Thoroughly scuff the surfaces of the cabinet with 120-grit sandpaper—enough to get a dusting, but not so much that you tear through the paper-thin laminate surface. Clean up any dusty remains with a handheld vacuum and a damp cloth.
Using 120-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the laminate surface in a circular motion. Don't worry if the furniture starts to look a little dull and less glossy, this is what you want to happen. Avoid sanding too much or you might tear up the laminate from the surface, or even make a hole.
Laminate is a synthetic product with a glossy surface, which makes it difficult for the paint and primer to adhere to it. Sanding eliminates the gloss, which allows the paint and primer to stick better.
Your best bet is probably an orbital sander. You could hand sand your cabinet, but it will take a lot of elbow grease. You may even want to use both. An orbital sander can make quick work of the bulk of the cabinet door, but a sanding block or sanding sponge can help you cover any grooves or tight spots by hand.
A survey of four woodworkers and four home-improvement editors in “The Family Handyman” yielded the unanimous answer that a random orbital sander works best for finishing cabinets.
Yes, laminate cabinets can be refaced as long as the cabinet boxes are in good shape. But if the cabinet boxes are weak or damaged, you may need to replace your cabinets altogether.
Unlike wood, however, laminate floors don't have any grain. The color and grain you see are actually just images printed onto the fiberboard and sealed by a layer of protective resin. Accordingly, too much sanding on laminate could end up scratching the underlying image and distorting the look of the board completely.
Painting laminate – step-by-step
and the entire surface of the laminate floor. You can use an orbital sander for the main part of the work, and a hand sander or sandpaper for tricky edges and corners of the room. 2. Thoroughly clean the floor of sanding dust, alongside other dirt and debris like pet hair.
Make sure to start with a liquid sandpaper or liquid de glosser product to clean and slightly “etch” the surface. You don't necessarily have to sand (or liquid sand) a laminate or melamine surface before painting it. You DO have to clean it thoroughly though.
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. If you have any questions, you can always consult one of our design professionals to help you determine if your cabinets are made from laminate.
Choose the proper items for the job; the best paint for laminate cabinets will be highly adhesive. Sanding will help create a rougher surface that will bond better. You'll still want to choose a strong-enough bonding primer to stick to laminate, plus oil- or latex-based paint (after curing).
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.
'If you prefer not to sand to rough up the surface before you paint, you still have options that will work great. One option is to use a product called liquid sandpaper. It will chemically interact with the surface of the furniture to dull it and make it ready to paint.
A couple things to note for the laminate cabinet makeover; You could get away with 1 coat of primer, 2 coats of paint, and 1 top coat and it will look great.
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.
Sand your cabinets
You can sand by hand if you like, but your arms will probably get pretty tired. Painted cabinets should get a thorough sanding with 120-grit paper, but no matter the finish, do a final pass with 220-grit.
Once your cabinets are clean and dry, use a 100 or 150-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the cabinets. Cabinet paint won't adhere properly to a smooth or shiny surface.