How to Paint Laminate Furniture in West Chester PA
As you may already know, our talented team at Left Moon Painting offers interior and exterior painting, cabinet painting and commercial painting services in Kennett Square PA and West Chester PA.
In the many years we’ve been in operation, one of the most common questions that homeowners ask is how to paint over laminate furniture or cabinetry–is it ok to paint over laminate in the first place?
Well, just because your laminate furniture isn’t real wood doesn’t mean you can’t repaint it to give it a facelift. It will only take a few more steps before you get started.
In this article, we share a few tips and necessary steps needed to successfully paint over laminate furniture and cabinetry in West Chester, PA.
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
Sand the Furniture
Remove all the handles and knobs from the furniture and put them in a plastic bag so as not to lose them. If a part does not come off, cover it with masking tape.
Fill the unnecessary holes and cracks on the surface with a wood filler material. You can find them at any DIY store or local hardware. Let the product dry according to the instructions on the package.
Lightly sand the wooden surface with 120 grit sandpaper in circular motions until the surface is dull and less shiny.
Do not sand too much, as you may ruin the laminate.
Finally, run a damp cloth over the surface of the furniture to remove any residue and dust. It should be completely clean before moving to the next step.
Apply the Primer
Place a painters’ canvas on the floor in a well-ventilated area and put the furniture on it to avoid ruining your floor with paint and primer drips. If you don’t have a painters’ canvas, you can use old newspapers.
• Apply the primer: Cover the surface of the cabinet with a coat of oil-based bonding primer. You will find them in a DIY store or local paint store. Apply the product with a brush or roller until there is a uniform layer covering the entire surface of the furniture.
• Let the product dry: Leave it for at least 4 hours. After 4 hours, gently touch the primer to see if it is dry. If it is still wet, wait until it dries completely.
• Sand the primer: Lightly sand the primed surface with 220 grit sandpaper. Use circular movements, as when you sanded the furniture the first time. Wipe the item with a damp cloth to remove the dust.
Paint the furniture
Decide if you want the furniture surface to be matte or shiny and look for acrylic latex paint with the desired finish.
• Apply the first coat: Use a paintbrush or roller and make small, regular strokes, always going in the same direction.
• Let the paint dry: Wait for at least 2 hours. Some paints take longer to dry than others. Check the paint can for recommended waiting time.
• Apply another coat: For best results, apply a second coat of paint, making sure the surface ends up with uniform coverage.
• Allow the paint to cure: Leave it for a week. You can put the handles back on the furniture once the last coat of paint is dry, but let the paint set for a week before putting anything heavy on it to avoid ruining your paint job.
The Bottom Line
Painting laminate surfaces can be quite tricky considering the nature and texture of the material.
Without proper surface preparation and appropriate paint selection, your paint job can peel, flake, and crack within a few weeks because of poor paint adhesion.
If you’re not sure about your paint skills, experience, and tools, consider hiring pros like Left Moon Painting for your furniture, cabinetry, woodwork, and interior painting needs.
We have years of experience offering residential and cabinet painting services in Kennett Square, PA, and West Chester PA.
If you would like to give us a try, request a FREE estimate below to get started or call us at (484) 757-5295 for more information.