Many people have Formica cabinets at home. Usually, they are in good shape for a period of time. However, after a few years, the Formica cabinets lose their finish, making your kitchen decor look dated. You don’t need to replace your Formica kitchen cabinets, you can paint them for a fresher look. In today’s article we will show you step by step how to paint your Formica cabinets?
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What Kind of Paint Do You Use On Formica Cabinets?
Epoxy and water-based coatings are the most preferred coatings for Formica cabinets. These paints are known to dry quickly. Also, they are more durable than other typical options.
Ideally, water-based paints are perfect for Formica cabinets that will withstand a lot of wear and tear. The reason is that they release less volatile organic compounds when used.
VOCs are not safe in the kitchen environment, which has many interactions with food and various other consumables.
Therefore, it is important to stay away from paints that emit volatile organic compounds, especially in kitchen environments.
Steps to Paint Formica Cabinets
To paint kitchen Formica cabinets, or even formica, perfectly, you need to follow these steps.
1. Remove doors and hardware
The first step is to remove the doors and hardware from the enclosure. This allows you to easily paint the frame of the cabinet. If you want to replace the hardware, this will require drilling new holes, which you will need to fill with spackle.
2. Clean the cabinet
Clean all doors with a mixture of one cup of ammonia and one gallon of warm water. Remember to use ammonia carefully in a ventilated kitchen, as the fumes can burn your skin.
3. Sand surface
The next step is to sand the surface. You will need to wear protective equipment such as a respirator, goggles, and gloves before starting the procedure. This will protect you from dust when roughing surfaces. This is important because it allows the paint to adhere to the surface.
Remember to use an electric sander. Start by sanding the door with fine sandpaper. If you can’t use a power sander, you can use elbow grease. Make sure to sand the surface without leaving any areas. The edges must also be sanded. When you feel the surface is grainy and rough, you’d better move on to the next step.
4. Dust removal
In this step, you must remove the dust from the Formica cabinets. You can dust off Formica cabinets with a damp cloth. Cover the areas you don’t want to paint with tape.
5. Prepare the rack
When preparing cabinet framing, you first need to wash, then sand the sides and edges. Likewise, tape over the areas you don’t want to paint on, including areas that come into contact with ceilings or walls.
6. Prime the cabinet and dry
Using a thick primer, apply 2-3 coats to all surfaces. When priming, it is important to check that the surface accepts the primer. Certain areas may not accept primer as the primer may apply to smooth surfaces instead of absorbing it. After applying primer on Formica cabinets, allow time for each coat to dry. Wait at least 24 hours for the final coat to dry sufficiently.
We were hired to paint these Laminated Formica kitchen Formica cabinets in View Park. It only took a few days to make these look a lot more updated. This is a pre-sale laminate cabinet painting project. We keep it clean, professional, protected and fully insured.
7. Paint cabinet
This is an important step in applying paint. The paint will adhere to the primer. Again, when it dips into the primer, you need about two coats. Remember that the number of coats depends on the paint quality or brand you are using to paint the Formica cabinets in your kitchen.
8. Dry the paint and connect the hardware
After applying the paint, allow time for it to dry. If you used tape that needs to be removed, you can use a box cutter or razor to run along the edge. Therefore, removing the tape is an important step. Now you can replace the hardware and attach the doors.
Finally, you can paint your Formica kitchen Formica cabinets – however, unlike the wooden cabinets you painted. So follow these steps to get the job done exactly as a DIY project. If you think you can’t do this, you can hire a professional paint contractor. Good luck
How Can I Paint Formica Cabinets Without Sanding?
If you want to elevate the look of your kitchen, painting the Formica cabinets is the best DIY option. Basically, painting can be simplified by skipping the sanding process. Here’s how to paint Formica cabinets without sanding.
Why don’t you want to polish anyway? It’s easy to understand that sanding is time-consuming, especially if you’re trying to sand an expansive surface, it can be tiring. Often, there are chemical applications that will directly replace the sander and make your job easier.
- Get a painting kit
First, you must prepare yourself a set of painting tools that meet your needs. Ideally, choose paint that contains air release agents to avoid old coatings on your Formica cabinets.
Paints that use a deaerator can skip the sanding process. It is very important that you have the patience to buy the right painting products so that you do not have to return to the market any time soon.
- Clean the cabinet
Considering that Formica cabinets can hold all kinds of dirt in place and prevent any paint from sticking, I recommend that you clean them thoroughly.
Wipe drawer fronts, doors, and other surfaces, including oil stains, with soap and water. For the most part, cleaning ants are fairly straightforward because powerful cleaning chemicals don’t act.
How Can I Make Formica Cabinets Look Better?
Formica cabinets can withstand years of heavy use. But while the integrity of Formica’s materials has stood the test of time, a style upgrade is imperative.
You just need a gradual plan and add some structural changes that match your preferences. Here are some changes to tweak your kitchen and make your Formica cabinets even better.
You can give your Formica cabinets a wood-like finish. Try painting wood finishes on doors, drawers, and cabinet bottoms.
If you decide to use a faux wood grain, paint the Formica cabinets a standout color based on your preferred wood grain. Then brush on a finish that covers the texture color. Your Formica cabinets will have a rustic new look.
- Modern metal
In case you didn’t know, hardware can give Formica cabinets a new and fresh look. You will need to replace the entire knob, handle, pull and hinge. Replace these items with sleeker fixtures for an improved look.
However, if your old Formica cabinets are in good condition, they can be remodeled with spray paint. Doing so gives the piece a modern feel.
- Custom creation
Customizing Formica cabinets to your liking is common among most homeowners. You can achieve this in a number of ways. You may need to add a sheet of contact paper to the interior back wall of your Formica cabinets.
This paper can be used as a decorative background for wine glasses, plates and other valuables.
What could be better? You can remove the doors of premium Formica cabinets to create space to view the attractive essentials inside.
Next, fill in the opening left after the door was removed with wood putty. Don’t forget to sand the surface before you paint.
Another option you can choose from is to replace the cabinet doors with any glass version. Choose glass that provides additional protection against dust and other impurities, but still adds attractiveness.
In addition to these innovative alternatives, focus on adding some wood slats to the door. When the wood slats are attached to the front of the door, it makes the cabinet extra attractive. Ideally, this is not an option, but a must.
Note: These are the cheapest ways to change the look of your kitchen. Try these options and enjoy the same visual appeal as buying a new set of Formica cabinets.
Can You Put New Formica Over Old Formica?
Yes, it is possible to add a new formica to the old formica. However, this can only be achieved by thoroughly cleaning and drying the surface.
Before adding the new Formica, rebuild any dead pixels in the old Formica and fix them in a suitable patch. If you’re confused about how to achieve this, check out the steps below:
- First roughen the surface with sandpaper. Then clean the surface thoroughly, remembering to let it dry well.
- Next, measure the cabinet surface to get the actual depth and length. Transfer the measurements to the new laminate in the cabinet. It’s a good idea to mark the range you want to cut on the back.
- Use a carbide blade to cut a piece of laminate. If the cut is imprecise, consider using a linear assist to guide the blade.
- This step requires you to cut strips that match the height of the edge of the cabinet. You can do this with a carbide tipped knife.
- Then remove any buildup that may have formed on the surface.
- Apply adhesive to the edges of the Formica cabinets and glue the edge strips in place. Align them with your fingers. Once done, apply the adhesive to the upper side of the counter and place the paper in place.
- Finally, you’ll need a rubber roller to rub the top of the laminate, pressing down hard to peel off the air bubbles.
Final Thoughts
Can you paint Formica cabinets?Yes, you can paint Formica cabinets. Painting Formica cabinets remains one of the surest ways to enhance the look of your kitchen. In this case, painting gives you a lot of financial respite because it costs less than other alternatives like replacing the entire structure.
