Painting Over Plastic Laminate
By: Host John Dee
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November - Refresh your rooms with color
Q: Is there any way to paint over dark-brown plastic-laminate kitchen cabinets? I can't replace or reface them right now, and they're just too dark for the room. I'd appreciate any tips.
— Lyndee, via e-mail
A: John says: If you're looking at ugly laminate, refacing it with not-so-ugly laminate is the best course of
action, from the standpoint of durability and ease of care. But if it's
paint you want, the answer to your question is yes, as long as the
laminate is well-adhered and in good condition. First, I'd wipe down all
the surfaces with a solvent such as xylol to get rid of dirt and grease.
Be sure to don chemical-resistant gloves, wear a respirator, shut off
any pilot lights, and kick out the dog — this is powerful stuff. Then
scuff up all the surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper and wipe them down
again with xylol. Next, you want a primer that will adhere tenaciously
and serve as a good base for paint. The one I use comes from X-I-M, a
company that manufactures bonding primers; they have several
solvent-based products suitable for your application. I find that the
spray-applied primer actually holds better than the brush-on version.
Allow two or three days for the primer to cure before sanding it lightly
with 220-grit paper. Then you can apply either a latex or oil-based
paint; I prefer oil in kitchens because it gives a smoother finish and
is easier to clean. (John Dee, a painting and decorating contractor
based in Concord, Mass., has restored finishes on five This Old House projects.)
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