Best Paint For Laminate Surfaces

The dos and don ts of painting laminate cabinets prime your laminate cabinets for the perfect paint job with these tips for surface preparation paint selection and application.

Best paint for laminate surfaces. To paint laminate furniture start by sanding down the surface using 120 grit sandpaper so that the paint will stick better. I will say giving this 80s kitchen a good coat of paint totally transformed the kitchen. Use a sander to add a little texture to the surface and remove the laminate s shine. If you ve scoured the internet for the best paint for your laminate kitchen cabinets i ve got a lot of answers for you.

Laminate cabinets need a coat of good primer before the actual paint to help the paint bond with the laminate surface. Cabinet coat is designed to adhere to plastic metal and urethane surfaces without a primer but laminate and melamine surfaces should be sanded before painting. 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. This old house recommends using a solvent based primer that comes in a spray bottle.

Always start by washing the surface with a good cleaner degreaser. Many recommend a water based acrylic primer paint and top coat. If you paint over an area that s damaged or warped it might not bond like the rest of the paint will. I will not call this a tutorial on painting your kitchen cabinets because well i have zero photo proof of painting the cabinet doors.

Trust me this step will ensure your paint job lasts. You can also obtain a primer that has been specially formulated for use on laminate surfaces. Don t use an oil based paints when painting a laminate surface white. Careful not to sand off the surface.

Next apply an oil based primer with a brush or roller and wait 4 hours for it to dry. Once it s dry gently sand the surface with a 220 grit sandpaper. Then apply a coat of an acrylic latex paint with a brush or roller using short even strokes. I use 150 220 grit sandpaper to sand the laminate because it s the best way to get the primer and paint to adhere properly.

Remove the dust from your surface with a dry cloth or dust spray. Be careful not to over sand though. A third option is to apply a 100 percent acrylic flash bond primer such as xim rust oleum bullseye 1 2 3 zinnser or fresh start benjamin moore followed by two coats of. Laminate is a slick and non porous surface so it s best to lightly scruff the surface.

Your local paint store can supply you with the best type of paint to use in this project.