How to Paint Laminex Kitchen Cupboards

Laminex is a brand-name laminated surface for cabinets, cupboards and countertops. Like most laminates, it's essentially a thin layer of plastic that goes over a base of particle board or other building material. Laminex and other laminates are meant to be an alternative to a painted surface. Yet, when they get worn or just out of style, they can be painted. It takes some preparation to get the paint to stick properly, and it's important to seal it all in with polyurethane, a clear liquid plastic that dries into a glass-like shell.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Small vibrating pad-sander with 100-grit sandpaper
• Dry cloth
• Newspapers
• Painter's tape
• Brush
• Sealing primer
• Paint
• Spray-on polyurethane gloss
• 250-grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Remove all knobs and other fixtures from the cupboard, using your screwdriver. Set them aside.

2. Sand the whole surface of the cupboard with a small vibrating pad-sander with 100-grit sandpaper. Start at the highest area and work your way down. Continue until you've sanded the shine out of the Laminex coating. Wipe away the dust with a dry cloth.

3. Place newspapers all around the base of the cupboard. Put painter's tape around any edges of the cupboard that are attached to a wall.

4. Use a brush to apply sealing primer to the cupboard, starting at the highest point and working your way down. Brush it on in thin, even strokes, going with the length of each part of the cupboard. Let the primer dry completely, according to the instructions on the packaging (generally, two to three hours).

5. Apply your first coat of paint in the same manner as the primer, from the top down, in thin, even strokes. Don't try to completely cover the primer in one coat, but keep it thin and even. Let it dry.

6. Apply a second coat of paint in the same manner as the first, keeping it thin and even. Let it dry. Apply a third coat if necessary. Allow the final coat to dry for a full 48 hours.

7. Apply a coat of spray-on polyurethane gloss, spraying it on very lightly, starting at the top and working down. Keep the nozzle 6 to 8 inches from the surface and keep it moving at all times to avoid drips. Cover the whole cupboard in a very light, thin coat. Let it dry completely.

8. Buff lightly, by hand, the dried polyurethane with 250-grit sandpaper to take off the shine. Use light, quick strokes. This will allow the next coat of polyurethane to adhere. Dust off the surface with a dry cloth. Apply a second coat of gloss in the same manner as the first, making sure to let it dry completely.

9. Buff the second coat of gloss in the same manner as the first and apply a third coat. Let it dry for a full 24 hours. Re-install the knobs and fixtures.

Tips & Warnings

• Ventilate the workspace when using paints and glosses.

References

• Living With Lindsay: How to Paint Laminated Furniture