Laminate and also melamine are common finish surface areas for many counter tops, cupboards, as well as racks, yet these plastic products are known for being prone to wear– and also becoming quickly dated. They tend to get damaged and nicked with regular use, and also several kitchen counters have a burn mark or two. And unlike uniform solid-surface products, such as Corian or butcher-block timber– both of which can be properly fined sand down smooth as well as brought back to like-new problem– laminate and also melamine are composed of numerous layers that must not be sanded through. Yet you can do the next best point: resurface the laminate or melamine with a top quality paint work.
Prepare the Surface area
Unlike timber, laminate and also melamine can not be sanded to a natural grain– because they have no all-natural grain. With wood, exposing the grain is vital for the paint to adhere to. Laminate and also melamine are created to push back kitchen area spills, like food, oil, and also water, so they normally drive away paint, also.
For this reason, it’s vital that you appropriately prepare the surface to make sure that the paint will certainly stick over the long-term. Improperly used paint will certainly peel of laminate as well as melamine, developing a bigger mess than you began with. The secret is to degloss and rough up the plastic surface of laminate as well as melamine, and also to make use of the best paint or layer products. Some paints ask for get a guide coat before using the paint; others can be utilized without guide.
Selecting the Right Paint
When paint laminate or melamine counters, instead of making use of normal paint, you might wish to acquire an all-in-one kitchen counter resurfacing system, such as Rust-Oleum’s Countertop Transformations. These packages are formulated for the rigors of kitchen counters by laying down a thick topcoat that is safely followed a bonding primer layer.
These systems are considerably various from paint-only processes in that they consist of a layer of solid ornamental chips. The chips are dispensed from a hand-cranked spreader, similar to an outside spreader that you utilize to distribute lawn seed. These chips put down a thick coat that is far thicker than paint. One benefit of this thick layer is that it properly conceals all scrapes.
Additionally, you can utilize a urethane-reinforced acrylic paint, such as INSL-X Cupboard Layer. While much more pricey than the common acrylic-latex paints you would utilize on drywall, the urethane-reinforced items have far better hiding abilities as well as will certainly stick much better to trouble surface areas. Closet Layer is developed to stick to plastic, metal, and urethane surfaces without a guide, but laminate and also melamine surface areas need to be fined sand before paint.
A third option is to apply an one hundred percent acrylic, flash-bond primer, such as XIM (Rust-Oleum), Bullseye 1-2-3 (Zinnser), or Fresh Start (Benjamin Moore), complied with by two layers of satin or semi-gloss enamel paint and also two layers of clear acrylic sealant.
What You’ll Require
Devices/ Tools
Box fan
Dust mask or respirator
Work light
Paint roller with dense-foam roller cover
Synthetic-bristle paintbrush
Materials
Drop cloths
Painter’s tape
Contractor’s paper
Plastic sheeting
150- or 180-grit sandpaper
Tack towel
Tidy, lint-free fabrics
Mineral spirits
Primer (if needed).
Paint.
Guidelines.
1, Prepare the Area.
Remove all items near to the cupboards or counters to a garage or a covered patio. Open up the home windows. If desired, established a box fan so it burn out of one home window, to promote cross-ventilation via the work area. Location drop cloths on the floor covering and tape service provider’s paper or plastic on all surfaces that will not be obtaining the coating. Constrain the work area with plastic sheet to avoid fining sand dust from taking a trip throughout your house.
Roughen up the Surface.
Secure on your own from fining sand dust with a dust mask or respirator. Sand down the laminate or melamine surface area with 150- or 180-grit sandpaper. Making use of a job light, check regularly to see to it that you are reducing all shiny surfaces to a matte (or flat) surface. Do not sand down as well difficult or you run the risk of damaging the thin wear layer of the laminate or melamine.
Clean the Surface.
Wipe down the surface with a tack towel, using light pressure to prevent transferring the wax from the cloth to the surface area. Follow by wiping down the surface with mineral spirits and also tidy, lint-free towels. Allow the surface completely dry totally.
4, Use the First Coat.
Apply a slim layer of paint (or primer, if the paint you’re using ask for it) to the entire surface area, making use of a paintbrush for the sides as well as tight spots as well as a roller with a high-density foam roller cover (developed for smooth surface areas) for the flat locations. Take unique care to maintain a damp side while painting: Overlap the edge of each painted section with fresh primer or paint before the previously painted edge dries. Enable the very first layer to completely dry for at the very least 6 hrs or as advised by the producer.
Note: You can passively ventilate the workspace, if wanted, during the initial drying procedure for any one of the paint coats, yet do not use fans, which can pull air-borne dirt and also particles onto the wet paint. Ventilate with open home windows just if there is no air disturbance or strong drafts in the work area. Additionally, make certain the temperature and moisture levels in the work area remain within the maker’s advised ranges. In general, odor from drying or treating coverings is best while the finishing is still wet.
Use the Subsequent Coats.
Use several additional coats of paint, making use of the same techniques. Let each coat completely dry as directed. If you are using common enamel paint, the last a couple of coats can be layers of clear acrylic sealer. It’s not uncommon to apply as lots of as four or 5 coats in total: a guide layer to begin, after that 2 coats of enamel paint, do with a couple of coats of acrylic sealer.
Treat the Surface area.
Let the last layer cure completely for a couple of weeks prior to placing any type of hefty things on it or rubbing the surface area vigorously. You do not need to ventilate the area during this period. In the meantime, you can use the surface area gently and also clean it just with a wet fabric. Letting the paint treatment completely prior to making use of the surface as usual will assist avoid small devices and also kept things from sticking to the paint or ruining the surface.
