Can you paint Formica kitchen cabinets?
Can you paint laminate kitchen cabinets?
April 7, 2020
Where to find professional kitchen cabinet painting near me?
April 7, 2020Many people have Formica cabinets in their homes. Usually, they are in good condition for some time. However, the cabinets lose their finish after a few years, making your kitchen décor look outdated. The question is: “can you paint Formica Kitchen Cabinets?” The simple answer is “Yes.”
Instead of replacing your Formica Kitchen Cabinets, you can paint them to give them a fresher look. Compared to wood, it is essential to know that Formica requires a little more preparation – especially in painting. It is because its surface is not porous like wood. While painting the cabinets, you would need special paint or primer because of the slick surface.
So, if you are dealing with outdated cabinets made of Formica and want to paint, you are in the right place. Today’s article will tell you step-by-step “how to paint your Formica Kitchen Cabinets?”
Painting the cabinet is an excellent alternative if you can’t afford a total replacement. Formica is non-porous, making it a smooth material; hence, it is not easy to apply paint to it evenly. Read on!
Painting kitchen cabinets by hand is the best option for laminate cabinets. It makes them look a lot better than the original finish. You probably don’t want to use anything too hard and certified for kitchen cabinets as you could have problems down the road.
Steps to paint Formica Kitchen Cabinets
1. Remove Doors and Hardware
The first step is to remove doors and hardware from the cabinet. This allows you to paint the frames of the cabinet easily. If you want to change the hardware, which requires drilling new holes, you must fill the gaps with a spackle.
2. Clean the Cabinets
Use one cup of ammonia mixed with one gallon of warm water to clean all doors. Remember to carefully use ammonia in a ventilated kitchen because the more potent fumes can burn your skin.
3. Sand Surfaces
The next step is to sand the surfaces. Before starting the procedure, wear protective gear such as a breathing mask, goggles, and gloves. This will protect you from the Dust when you rough up the surface. This is important as it allows the paint to stick to the surface.
Remember to use an electric sander. Start by sanding the doors with fine sandpaper. If you cannot use an electric sander, you can use elbow grease. Make sure you sand the surface and do not leave any area. The edges must also be sanded. When you feel the surface is grainy and rough, you are good to go for the next step.
4. Remove Dust
In this step, you must remove the Dust from the Formica cabinets. You can do this by wiping down the Formica cabinets with a damp rag – to remove all the Dust. Cover the areas with tape that you don’t want to paint.
5. Prepare Cabinet Frames
Wash them when preparing the cabinet frames, then sand the sides and edges. Again, cover the area with the tape you don’t want to apply the paint on – including the areas that meet the ceiling or wall.
6. Prime Cabinets and Dry them
Use a thick primer and apply 2-3 coats to all surfaces. While priming, it is vital to check whether or not the surface is accepting the primer. Certain areas might not get the primer, smearing onto a slick surface instead of absorbing it. After coating the primer on the Formica cabinets, wait for some time to dry each coat. Wait for at least 24 hours so that the final coat dries adequately.
We were hired to paint these laminate Formica kitchen cabinets in Fairview Park. It only took a few days to make these look much more updated. This was a laminate cabinet painting project before a sale. We keep it Clean, Professional, Protected, and Fully Insured.
7. Paint Cabinets
This is an important step where you apply the paint. The paint will adhere to the primer coats. Likewise, you need about two coats as it soaks into the primer. Remember that the number of coats depends on the paint quality or brand used to paint the Formica cabinets in your kitchen.
8. Dry Paint and Attach hardware
After applying the paint, please wait for some time so that it gets dried. If you have used the tape, which requires removal, you can use a box cutter or razor to run along the edges. So much so that pulling the tape off is an important step. Now, you can replace the hardware and attach the doors.
Wrapping up, you can paint your Formica Kitchen Cabinets – however, not like you paint the wooden cabinets. So, follow these steps to do the job accurately as a DIY project. You can hire a professional painting contractor if you think you can’t do this. Good Luck!
