How to Paint Over Laminate Cabinets

Tired of the look of your dated laminate cabinetry but don't have the money to replace them? Learn how to paint over laminate cabinets and give them a fresh updated look. You'll save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars by painting them yourself, and the finished project will give your entire kitchen a brand new appearance. When done properly, it will look as if you've replaced your old cabinetry with new.

Learning how to paint laminate cabinets is not difficult, but it is a time consuming project. And, of course, the more cabinets you have in your kitchen, the longer this DIY project will take. For best results, block off an entire weekend to spend strictly on painting the cabinets. You'll also yield better, and quicker, results if you can plan your project to be done on a good-weather weekend. Because you'll be working with chemicals and paint, and will be sanding down the cabinets before they can be painted, you'll need to work in a well-ventilated area.

Materials needed to paint laminate cabinets:

- Screwdriver
- Metal putty knife
- TSP cleaner
- Caulk
- Alkyd primer
- 220 grit sandpaper
- Electric sander
- Drop cloth
- Paintbrush
- Semi-gloss paint

How to paint over laminate cabinets:

STEP 1 - Remove doors, hinges and cabinet hardware.

STEP 2 - Use a metal putty knife to gently remove any chipped or peeling surface area.

STEP 3 - Fill in any cracks or nicks with caulk and allow it to dry.

STEP 4 - Thoroughly wash the cabinetry with a mixture of TSP cleaner and warm water. This will remove all trace of grease, dirt, mildew, and other build-up from the surface. TSP cleaner can be purchased at any home improvement or paint specialty store.

STEP 5 - Sand the laminate cabinets until the glossy surface is removed. Since there will be a large amount of sanding involved, I would recommend using an electric sander. Not only will you complete this step much faster with a sander, you'll save your arm a lot of wear and tear too.

STEP 6 - Place a drop cloth on a flat surface and lay the doors on top of the cloth.

STEP 7 - In a well ventilated area, brush an alkyd primer on all the laminate cabinets. Make sure you apply an even coat of primer on each surface area. Allow to dry a full 24 hours.

STEP 8 - Now you're ready to paint over laminate cabinets. You can select the paint color(s) of your choice, but you'll definitely want to use a semi-gloss paint. This is a very durable type of paint that can be easily wiped clean, and even scrubbed if necessary. It will give your finished cabinets a pretty, glossy, finish that will accent your kitchen very well. Which color(s) should you choose? That's up to you. You have the option of painting laminate cabinets all one color, or painting the base one color and the panel inserts another.

STEP 9 - Once you are finished painting laminate cabinets, allow the paint to dry entirely before reinstalling them or adding the hardware or hinges. Once they are back in place, avoid using them for at least one 4 - 5 days.

Once you have learned how to paint over laminate cabinets, why stop there? Chances are, your freshly painted cabinets will look so nice, your countertops may now appear old and/or dingy. Why not update them to complement the look of your new cabinetry? Consider learning how to 'Resurface Countertops with Modern Masters Countertop Transformations', which will give countertops a rough, granite-like appearance. Or, simply learn 'How to Paint Over Laminate Countertops' to give them a fresh new look.

Additional tips from Jennifer Wagner:

10 Ways to Refresh Your Cabinets

Easy Ideas for a Kitchen Backsplash

Quick Kitchen Makeover Ideas

　

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge and experience

Jennifer Wagner - Yahoo! Contributor Network