Painting laminate cabinets

10 years ago

We have two areas where dark green laminate just has to go - an outdoor BBQ (covered lanai so no rain exposure) and a small bath. Painting the BBQ to white/light, and the bath is still undecided - maybe wood-like finish.

From what I've read, cleaning and light sanding will help the paint adhere, and we will obviously have to use a stain blocking primer to go from dark to light - though I am concerned about the outdoor area since we just moved to FL and it's ridiculously humid 10 months a year.

1. For the BBQ area - will interior paint be OK or do I need to go exterior only? (Hopefully water based) - or something else?

2. Laminate already has a slight texture - bumpy roller marks would not look very good - so do I just use a brush and go with horizontal strokes? Or take it all apart and use spray cans, buy a compressor/sprayer setup - or hire a paint shop (at which point might as well just replace the cabinets)?

3. I'm thinking of tiling the actual outdoor countertops - unless I can find a hard/epoxy coat paint on stone look material that can endure the heat and humidity.

Other suggestions welcome!

This post was edited by karyn on Thu, Jul 25, 13 at 9:33

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Comments (2)

geoffrey_b
10 years ago
Google: "replacement cabinet doors"

I have tiled right over laminate counter tops with no problems.

This post was edited by Geoffrey_B on Thu, Jul 25, 13 at 15:17
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BeverlyFLADeziner
10 years ago
You cannot use interior paint on the outdoor kitchen area. You'll be lucky to get the exterior paint to stick and not be a constant maintenance problem with Florida humidity. I think it's safe to say that paint on your cabinets is a short term solution. Replacing the door and drawer faces would be the long term solution.

You'll have to wash the faces with TSP & sand the laminate finish so the paint will grip, apply the appropriate Kilz primer and then use a good exterior enamel. I'm using a new exterior paint from Lowes on wood Adirondack chairs I am repainting called DURAMAX. It's water based. It has a primer in it but the tech at Lowes recommended using an additional primer to eliminate problems and adhere the paint better. So far so good.

Do NOT brush. Use a small 4" short napped roller. This paint is good enough that after you roll, the paint will level out. You don't want marks from a brush on these plain flat doors. I would use the same combination of paint in the bath and lanai. Good luck.
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