We recommend INSL-X Stix Acrylic Waterborne Bonding Primer because it's formulated to bond to surfaces such as slick laminate cabinets. To achieve a stroke-free finish, use the brush to paint the edges and tight spots, and a roller on the large surfaces.
Don't use just any old primer or paint.
If you opt for a primer, choose a bonding primer that's tenacious enough to stick to laminate, like Zinsser Interior Primer, and then top it with an oil- or latex-based paint after the primer has cured.
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. With a water-based primer underneath.
All of the primers that we tested ended up sticking to the laminate. But some needed sanding before priming! Both the Bulls Eye 123 primer and the Country Chic Paint Bonding Primer need the laminate to be sanded before priming to really stick.
Get This Look: Start with a high-quality primer that promotes adhesion, like KILZ 2® All-Purpose. This formula is designed to help paint adhere to a variety of surfaces, from rough wood to glossy laminate.
I used Kilz Primer (view on Amazon), which blocks, seals, and preps the surface to which the paint will adhere. 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!
Our cabinets have a laminate finish which means that they're really smooth and getting paint to adhere to them can be tricky. The secret to achieving a long-lasting finish is sanding and using the right primer.
You don't absolutely have to, but they'll look much better if you do. Laminate is a synthetic product with a glossy surface, which makes it difficult for the paint and primer to adhere to it.
However, like latex paint, 1-2-3 Primer is water-based, so it won't adhere as well to laminate furniture without first sanding, and a longer cure time is also recommended when painting laminate.
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.
Depending on what kind of primer you're using and the state of the cabinets, you will need 1-2 coats of primer. For many cabinets, one coat is plenty, but if you're uncertain, a second coat won't hurt as long as it's not applied too thick. When it comes to the actual paint, you will need at least two coats.
If oil-based primers are the best primers for kitchen cabinets, then the best oil-based primer is Zinnser BIN Shellac primer. I have tried a few oil-based primers (Like Zinsser Cover Stain, one I used to use often) and this shellac based primer is the best thing to use when you want a smooth finish.
Yes—and it's actually quite simple. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to paint laminate furniture, including project-specific tips for painting laminate cabinets, desks, coffee tables, bookshelves and dressers.
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.
Since laminate is a cheap surface that is often very slick and smooth, you need a product that will really “grip” and adhere to the cabinets. My go to primer and the best bonding primer for laminate surfaces is the Zinsser Primer, which covers all surfaces without the need of sanding.
Tip: Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish.
Paint your cabinets.
If you are using General Finishes Milk Paint, you do not need to sand or prime! You are ready to start painting! We used the built-in benches on our deck to lay out our doors, which worked well. If you don't have a large space to work with, just work in batches.
Start out by peeling the laminate with your hands or a spackling knife, just make sure you don't dent the surface. Don't try to paint over the laminate, peeling it off is much better. After that, I patched some of the uneven parts and dents with my favorite filler Wunderfil.
The tests conclude that yes, painting laminate furniture without sanding does work well when you have a really good adhesion or bonding primer and seal your piece with a sealer. Some primers did require sanding before priming, the Bullseye 123 and Kilz 2 primers will perform better with a light sanding beforehand.
Smoke damaged, knot bleed, metal, plastic, or laminate furniture – you need a primer, luckily you will find a version to suit your needs. So first up Zinsser 123; Zinsser's 123 Primer can be used on pretty much all surfaces and has a dry time of one hour. The low odor and water cleanup make it ideal for use indoors.
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. We recommend using 120 grit sandpaper for this.