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. latex paints may take one to four weeks to cure.
Tip: Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Go for a self-priming paint that's formulated for use on glossy, laminate surfaces. This cuts out the need for special primers, reducing both expense and time.
I know sanding isn't all that fun, but it really is necessary for this project. Light sanding makes sure the paint can adhere to the smooth laminate surface properly. It also knocks out any little imperfections before painting, ensuring that damage won't show through the paint.
Don't paint a dirty surface—make sure you clean first. Don't skip sanding. Because laminate has a synthetic, glossy surface, sanding is especially important.
We're using a plastic and laminate primer from the Dulux Renovation Range. It comes in a tin. Add one entire tube of the laminate primer (which comes with it, in the blue lid), and give it a good stir for around two minutes. Once this is done, pour everything into a paint tray, and you're ready for rolling.
Allow the furniture to dry for at least two hours between each coat. Let the newly-painted furniture cure for a week. You can re-attach any handles or knobs to the furniture once the final coat is dry, but avoid setting anything on the furniture until it's cured for a week to prevent peeling.
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.
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.
BONDING PRIMER
The highest quality bonding primers will often state 'no sanding is necessary' and will adhere to almost any shiny surface, such as glass, metal, tile etc. Primers like Kilz, Fuse, and Zinnser are good for bonding very strongly.
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.
Instead of committing to the expense of replacing rundown kitchen cabinets, consider the more cost-effective solution of repainting them. Repainting laminate cabinets is an affordable way to turn eyesore storage into eye-catching, modern cabinetry.
In most cases, it is best to use an enamel paint that is formulated for laminate flooring. If you are using a spray paint, be sure to shake the can well and hold it about 18 inches away from the surface when spraying. Apply several thin coats, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next one.
Laminate is not wood. It is a plastic coating, or a plastic-type coated paper. The KEY to having the paint stick is to use the proper primer. I recommend using Zinsser Oil Based Primer.
I always use Kilz primer for laminate and have had great luck with it. 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.
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.
Many recommend a water-based acrylic primer, paint and top coat. Acrylic paint dries to provide the hard surface needed for heavy-use areas like countertops, while water-based acrylic paint cleans up with water and is low on odors.