Can You Paint Over Formica Kitchen Cabinets

Many kitchen cabinet doors are made out of formica.

Can you paint over formica kitchen cabinets.

Rather than replacing the cabinets paint over the formica to give it a fresh look. You wouldn t want to go through all the trouble of painting only to have it flaking off months later. Painting over formica can be difficult as it is but if the laminate is cracked warped or peeling then this is just going to make it that much more difficult for the paint to adhere to the cabinets. Painting over these doors requires a little extra work to make sure the paint sticks to the slick surface.

Wipe down the cabinets thoroughly with a damp rag to remove any remaining dust. Remove knobs pulls and other visible cabinet hardware before painting laminate cabinets for smooth paint application without obstructions. If there are any areas on the cabinet that you aren t painting cover them with painter s tape. If you use a paint that s made to go directly on top of laminate you can skip the previous step.

Vacuum the loose dust off of all surfaces of the formica kitchen cabinets. Absolutely make sure you remove the cabinet hardware. Clean all surfaces with a good grease cutting soap like dish soap and water. As long as you prep patiently and properly starting with a bonding primer to aid paint in adhering to the slick nonporous surface of the formica you can achieve professional results.

You can mask metal on the hinges with painter s tape. In contrast water based paint over water based primer can take up to a month to dry source. While replacing countertops may not be in your budget if you re looking to do some remodelling in your kitchen or bathroom you can actually paint your formica counters to give them a brand new look. Over time formica cabinets may be in good condition but the finish is outdated or simply doesn t match your style.

You can also use a mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.