Can You Paint Laminate Kitchen Cabinets?

Laminate kitchen cabinets are the backbone of the modern kitchen, and whether these cabinets are well-designed make or break the kitchen’s experience. Painting has proven to be an easy and cheap method of designing cabinets. But with uncertainty due to its surface, a problem is brought up, can you paint laminate kitchen cabinets?

Painting a laminated kitchen cabinet is simple with the right paint and methods adopted, but there is a slight variation, unlike painting other surfaces. There are several paints like acrylic, oil and satin enamel paint. Applying prime paint help reduce the glossy nature of its surface.

Key Takeaways

• To paint a laminated cabinet, it has to be primed first.
• Laminate kitchen cabinets dont support all paint types.
• Beyond paint is the best type of paint for laminate cabinets.

Can You Paint Laminate Kitchen Cabinets?

Before knowing if its possible to paint laminate kitchen cabinets, it is crucial to know what laminate furniture is. Laminate furniture, often known as sun mica, is not genuinely wood. It has a wood grain appearance thanks to a printed method. The upper layer is frequently printed with a decorative pattern or colours and a polished finish to produce it.

Laminated kitchen cabinets withstand heat and scratches, and it still looks new and polished after a long period of heavy use. As a result, when developing furniture for high-traffic areas like the kitchen, laminate is frequently chosen over other materials.

Laminate cabinets come in a variety of styles and prices. Low-pressure laminates, depending on the strength of the construction materials employed, may chip and crack, but they are less costly. High-pressure laminates are a fantastic option for kitchen cabinets, but they may be expensive.

When painting a piece of real wood furniture or cabinetry, the wood absorbs part of the paint or primer into its pores, forming a tight connection and aiding paint adhesion. On the other hand, laminate lacks a porous surface, making it more difficult for paint to adhere to it. The non-porous nature of the laminate furniture is substituted by sanding the surface, but it is a pretty tiring and messy process. Regarding the question, can you paint laminate kitchen cabinets? It is more straightforward, nevertheless, with the correct paint and methods.

The advantage of laminate cabinets or countertops is how easy they are to clean and how stain resistant they are. It is the same feature that makes painting laminate problematic. Below are the pros and cons of laminate kitchen cabinets

[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]It is effortless to clean.
It is solid and durable.
Laminate furniture come in different varieties.
The gleaming polish on the surface makes cleaning a breeze.
There is no need for constant polishing.[/i2pros][i2cons]The laminates top layer is brittle and susceptible to wear.
Despite being long-lasting, it lacks the quality of solid wood.
It is harder to paint compared to a regular wood.[/i2cons][/i2pc]

Why Choose To Paint Your Laminate Cabinets?

Painting laminated cabinets are not compulsory, it doesnt add support to the integrity of the structure in any way, but sometimes the need arises. After a sudden renovation of the house, the colour of the cabinets has to blend with the house. It is ideal for repainting.

Painting laminated cabinets add beauty to the kitchen giving it a new look. It is quite a pleasant sight. It is pertinent to paint the cabinets after the renovation of the house.

What Kind Of Paint Do You Use On Laminate Cabinets?

Because of the nature of the surface of laminate cabinets, it has proven to be quite tricky to paint. First, understand that paint will not stick to laminate surfaces unless adequately prepared. Some paints tend to build upon the laminate surface. Paint with a rough finish will last a while, and the first coat will come off as soon as a second coat is applied.

Using the wrong paint to paint would be a waste. There are certain types of paint fitted for laminate cabinets, although sanding the surface of the laminate cabinets is compulsory first.

Satin enamel paint: It is a diverse sheen for the whole house, with a pearl-like lustre and effortless finish that works well in moderate-to-high-traffic areas. It works together with a primer.

Primer: The purpose of a paint primer is to create a firm surface for the following paint layers to stick. Paint primer also aids in the concealment of surface stains. The porosity of a surface is the condition that most commonly necessitates the application of a paint primer. Too much paint will pull into the surface if the surface is too porous. Apply it multiple times before the paint can build a thick, protective shell.

The inverse can also be an issue. Paint coat adhesion is difficult when the surface gleams, such as on a laminate cabinet, since the paint cannot latch onto the surface. Because paint primer is slightly rough and porous, it creates a great texture for the paint to stick. Primers are applied before painting to serve as a balancing medium. A good primer is chalk paint.

Acrylic paint: It is a quick-drying paint that contains pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion as well as plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, and metal soaps. The majority of acrylic paints are water-based; however, once dried, they become water-resistant. Painting laminate countertops is a terrific way to create a massive deal in the kitchen without breaking the bank. Apply it after priming.

Oil paint: It is a delayed paint made of pigment particles suspended in a drying oil, most often linseed oil. It is also an excellent option to paint laminated cabinets after priming.

Beyond paint: It is an all-in-one bonder/primer/finisher that dries to a durable, washable surface in just one or two applications, allowing the refinishing of furniture, cabinets, countertops, and accessories on any surface such as a laminated one. With this type of paint, there is no need for sanding or priming.

How To Paint Laminate Kitchen Cabinets?

There are particular processes to follow to achieve a perfect painting of a laminated kitchen cabinet.

Firstly, the doors to the cabinets have to be carefully detached. Use an electric screwdriver for ease. Then, set it aside on a workbench.

Clean the doors thoroughly with a grease remover and cloth to get rid of grease and dust. There are several types in the market.

Pour the primer into a bucket and use a roller to apply on the doors. After painting the doors, apply on the cabinets frame. Take little quantity as the primer is quite thick.

Apply the Prime paint on any joints that the roller does not reach with a paintbrush. Keep an eye out for paint drips or build-up.

After covering every area with prime paint, give it some time to dry. Then apply any of the paint listed above covering the entire region. Apply in two coats if needed.

Finally, allow drying. The number of coats applied determines how long itll take to dry. Give it at least 10 hours.

Reattach the doors when dry. With the beyond paint, skip the priming process. Just apply directly and allow to dry.

Conclusion

Can you paint laminate kitchen cabinets? Yes, it is possible with the right paint and method.

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