If your laminate kitchen cabinets are still in a good physical condition but starting to look a little tired and worn out on the surface, you should consider painting them. However, unlike most regular wooden kitchen cabinets, painting laminate cabinets can be quite tricky. In this article, we want to share with you some dos and don’ts you should keep in mind when painting laminate kitchen cabinets.
Have a look:
Dos and Don’ts
Dos
• Do take down the doors and remove the hardware: In order to paint your cabinets conveniently, take down the cabinet doors and all the hardware including pulls, knobs, and hinges. This will give you an easy time when you try to sand and paint your cabinets. Place the doors on a bench or sawhorse and paint them separately.
• Do sand the cabinets: Laminates are generally difficult to paint due to the fact that they form very weak bonds with paint. To create a strong bond between the paint and your cabinet, you’ll need to roughen up the slick laminate using sandpaper. If you have a large surface area, or particularly many cabinets to sand, consider using a motorized orbital sander. Clean up all the dust once you’re done.
• Do test your paint: Pick a paint that is designed specifically for laminate surfaces, this way, you will minimize chances of frustration a few months down the line. But even after that, make sure you test your paint on a small inconspicuous section of your sanded cabinets before committing to a full paint job. Allow the paint to dry and inspect the bonding. If there’re any signs of bubbles or the paint easily comes off with minimal scrubbing, consult a painting contractor for help.
• Do minimize your exposure to paint fumes: Extended exposure to paint fumes can be harmful to your health. To avoid this, if you’re painting from indoors, open all the windows and doors and increase ventilation to minimize exposure. Keep the pets and kids out too and remember to wear chemical resistant gloves and a dust mask.
Don’ts
• Don’t paint over damaged laminate: If the laminate is cracked, warped, or peeling, that damage can interfere with the bonding of paint to the cabinet. Consider repairing minor damages or refacing your kitchen cabinets before painting.
• Don’t leave dirt behind: your laminate cabinets might be looking relatively new and tempt you to paint over the barely visible dirt on the surface. But this dirt will reveal themselves down the line when your paint starts to peel prematurely. Be sure to wipe off any remaining dust on the surface after sanding.
• Don’t leave brush strokes behind: if you’re using a paintbrush for all the cabinet surfaces, chances are you will leave brush strokes behind. Consider only using a paintbrush on small surfaces and grooved surfaces, and opt for using a roller for the large surfaces such as the cabinet door panels.
• Don’t forget to consult a painting contractor: Painting laminate kitchen cabinets is not a regular painting project. It takes the right training, skills, and experience to prepare the surface properly, pick the right primer and paint, and apply an even coat. If you have any shred of doubt in your skills, you should hire a painting contractor right from the beginning.
Bottom Line
Repainting your kitchen cabinets is a great way of restoring their appeal and durability, and avoiding the prohibitive cost of having to replace the entire cabinetry. If you need any help with cabinet painting in the Greater Columbus, Ohio Area, our experienced and trained crew of painters can help. Just give us a call and we will be happy to come and issue a free estimate and pick things from there.
