How to paint laminated kitchen cabinets (a quick guide)

Laminate kitchen cabinets are a common feature of older homes. They are often not very trendy and out of fashion, which is made worse by the fact that they are not properly cared for. However, there is the possibility to update a laminate kitchen cabinet.

With minimal investment of time and money, you can make them look as good as new. The best way to do this is to buy some paint and paint them on kitchen cabinets. But you have to know how to paint laminate kitchen cabinets.

Image source: The spotted frog designs

But laminate isn’t really the perfect pain reliever, but you can still do it. This can be a great temporary solution if you are not yet ready to spend on a new laminate kitchen cabinet. With a quick repaint you can still get a lot of value from your old closets.

In this article, we’ll look at how to paint laminate kitchen cabinets and make them look great again.

Step 1: preparation

The first and most important step is preparation.

First of all, you should make sure that all surfaces are clean and dust-free. Wipe them well with a cloth and laminate cleaner of your choice.

However, it is important that you use the right laminate cleaner. Trisodium phosphate cleaners (TSP) are very effective. You can easily remove grease as well as the glossy surface that is normally applied to the laminate. This will give you only the raw surface you can work with and can rub in the new paint well.

Make sure the area is protected

You should cover the area with a cloth or tarp to protect it. You don’t want the paint or paint to spill and fall on nearby surfaces, especially if it’s carpets or valuable equipment that you may have near the closets.

For example, you can use old sheets and cover them over the vulnerable parts of your kitchen. You can even use multiple layers to make sure no color gets through.

You should also cover the counters with large sheets. Make sure you cover the corners and go up to the walls. And the walls should also be protected – use a painter’s tape to cover the walls.

Check the laminate for damage

You don’t want to start painting over the previously damaged laminate or if you find some flaws in it. First, you should check it to make sure everything is as it should be.

If you notice any damage to the laminate, refinish the laminate and iron out the contaminants. This way you can make it as good as new. It may take some time, but be patient and take it slowly.

Take out the doors

Remove the doors to simplify the painting process. This can be done by removing it from the hinges, although some cabinets don’t allow it.

If you can, you should. This makes painting easier, but also protects the surrounding areas from potential spillage. Place the doors on a work surface and paint them separately.

Make sure you put a cloth on the doors to catch any drops.

Remove the hardware from the cabinets

Next, you want to remove all of the hardware from the cabinets to prevent them from being painted over. This includes knobs, pulls, and other metallic or other items that hold the cabinet together or make it work.

It is definitely a good idea to remove them before you start painting. This makes the grinding process easier and you can paint better. You also have the option of servicing the hardware if necessary, or you can replace it with new parts so that they show through.

Grind the closet

The last step in the preparation should be to sand the cabinet. For this task, of course, you need to use sandpaper that roughen the laminate and make it more receptive to the new color.

Use the sandpaper to remove the slick or glossy finish that is often applied over the laminate. Of course, you should only do the sanding with the laminate. Therefore, first remove all fittings and doors to ensure that you can grind as much surface as possible.

This is a crucial step in your painting process. For example, avoid electric grinders that can be too intense for the laminate under the paint.

When you have finished sanding, use a cloth to remove any dust that may get into the new layer of paint.

Step 2: priming and painting

Now for the fun part: the painting.

Prepare the cabinet and doors

You should apply a primer to make the paint or crayon better. An oil-based primer works wonders for your housing. Use a foam roller to apply the primer, and you should also apply multiple layers of the primer to make sure it gets into the laminate.

If you want to get good results, you need high quality materials. Use a good quality primer and you also want to use a good quality roller. This way you will remove the brushstrokes from the roller, which is great for a high quality primer coat.

For the edges, you should use a brush to access these hard-to-reach areas. Make sure every piece of your drawer is painted with a primer – from the edges that should be done with a brush to the larger areas that can be done with a roller.

If you notice bubbles when applying the primer, it means that it does not stick to the surface. In this case you should use a different, better quality primer to ensure that it adheres.

Sand again

You don’t want to work hard this time. Once the primer has dried, add another light sand to the surface with a fine grain of sandpaper to smooth the surface. However, do not remove all of the primer.

Start painting

Ok, now you can (finally) start painting.

The first thing you want to do is choose the right color for the laminate you have.

Once you’ve made your choice and can start painting, stir the paint. Then pour half of the paint into the work pot and the other half into the paint pan. You can start painting. It may be a good idea to start with the edges that you need a brush to get to the hidden areas.

For larger areas you should use a roller. If you still notice rough spots with dents on your laminate, you should use satin to cover up these imperfections.

Then the top coat comes. This must be compatible with the primer. To ensure this, read the label on the primer whether you need acrylic or oil based products. Also, make sure you get an enamel top coat that protects the cabinet and protects it from the abuse it will suffer during this time. Finally, you want to finish it off with a shine, preferably a satin. This will hide imperfections.

Choosing the right color for your laminate

Image source: Kitchen magic

Here are some considerations when choosing color.

• Choose glossy, silk-matt or satin surfaces and avoid matt surfaces that can easily smear.
• Choose oil-based paints. These are more durable, but also dry better.
• Choose a color that is specially made for laminate.
• Skip the stain.
• Add a layer of polycrilic if you want additional protection for the laminate.

Final thoughts on painting laminate kitchen cabinets

So there you have it, paint laminate kitchen cabinets. If you have old kitchen laminate cabinets, you should paint them from time to time. The trick is to be patient and learn details. Hopefully you now have a better idea of ​​how to effectively paint laminate kitchen cabinets.

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