What primer really is the best for painting laminate furniture, and if you can actually get away without sanding before priming.
Laminate furniture is often coated with a layer of melamine, which is a type of plastic. This coating makes the furniture more durable and resistant to damage. However, it also makes the surface very smooth. As a result, sanding laminate furniture is not effective because you will not be able to create enough traction to rough up the surface.
If you want to paint laminate furniture without sanding, you’ll need to use a special type of paint. This type of primer creates a strong bond between the paint and the laminate surface, a paintbrush with synthetic bristles, natural bristle brushes can leave behind bits of hair that will eventually show through the paint. Laminate is a smooth, shiny surface, and regular paint won’t adhere to it very well. You’ll need to use a paint specifically designed for laminate surfaces in order to get good results.
Steps to paint laminate furniture
Clean
Start by cleaning the surface of your furniture with a damp cloth. Be sure to remove all dust and dirt before you start painting.
Use Krud Kutter to clean surface furniture if necessary. That is a cleaning solution that is designed to remove tough stains and dirt. It is often used on surfaces that are difficult to clean, such as laminate furniture.
To use Krud Kutter, mix one part of the solution with four parts water. Then, apply the mixture to the surface of your furniture and scrub with a brush.
Rinse the surface with clean water and allow it to dry completely before you start painting.
Sand
Even though you won’t be sanding the furniture, you’ll still need to roughen up the surface a bit in order to give the primer something to grip onto. You can do this by using a piece of 3M 220 grit sandpaper or a sanding block. Just run it over the surface of the furniture lightly, being careful not to sand too hard or you could damage the laminate.
Wipe away any dust that’s left behind with a damp cloth.
Apply primer
Now it’s time to apply the primer. Be sure to use a primer that’s specifically designed for laminate surfaces. Apply the primer with a paintbrush, using long, even strokes. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Let the primer dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Recommend primer paint
STIX: a water-borne primer designed to grip into the laminate surface and form a solid bond for paint to adhere to.
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3: another great choice for painting laminate furniture. It’s a water-based primer that’s specifically designed to grip onto slick surfaces like laminate.
KILZ Adhesion: It’s an oil-based primer, which means it has a strong odor, so be sure to open windows and doors when you’re using it.
BIN: a shellac-based primer that’s designed to grip onto almost any surface. It’s perfect for painting laminate furniture because it will grip onto the slick surface and provide a solid foundation for the paint to adhere to.
Dixie Belle Slick Stick. It’s a water-based primer that’s specifically designed to grip onto slick surfaces like laminate.
Fusion Mineral Paint. It has a built-in primer, so you don’t need to use a separate primer. Just apply the paint directly to the surface of your furniture and you’re good to go!
Dry
Once the primer is dry, you can start painting.
How long to wait for primer paint dry?
It depends on the type of primer you use. Water-based primers usually take about 30 minutes to dry, while oil-based primers can take up to 24 hours.
Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the label of your primer to find out how long you’ll need to wait before painting.
- Dixie Belle Slick Stick, Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3, STIX are water-based primers, so it should take about 30 minutes to dry.
- KILZ Adhesion is an oil-based primer, so it will take up to 24 hours to dry.
- BIN is a shellac-based primer, so it will dry very quickly. In most cases, it will be dry to the touch within 15 minutes.
Paint
Now it’s time to paint! Be sure to use a paint that’s specifically designed for laminate surfaces. Apply the paint with a paintbrush or roller, using long, even strokes. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
There are a few different types of paint that you can use on laminate furniture, but the best choices are usually either chalk paint or latex paint.
Latex paint is a type of paint that’s made with acrylics. It’s specifically designed to adhere to surfaces like laminate without peeling or chipping.
Chalk paint is another great choice because it doesn’t require any prep work (sanding or priming) before you start painting. It has a similar consistency to latex paint, but it dries to a matte finish.
Milk paint is a type of paint that’s made with natural ingredients like milk protein and lime. It’s specifically designed to grip onto slick surfaces like laminate.
You can paint your laminate furniture any color you like! Just be sure to use a light color if you want the grain of the wood to show through. Dark colors will obscure the grain and give the piece a more uniform look.
Latex and chalk paints usually take about 30 minutes to dry, while oil-based paints can take up to 24 hours.
Topcoat
Once the paint is dry, you can apply a topcoat to protect the finish. A topcoat also helps to make the paint color more vibrant and gives it a nice sheen. You can use a clear polyurethane topcoat or a wax topcoat.
If you’re using a wax topcoat, be sure to buff it out with a soft cloth after it dries to give the surface a nice shine.
A clear polyurethane topcoat is a type of finish that’s applied over paint to protect it from scratches, scuffs, and stains. It also makes the paint color more vibrant and gives it a nice sheen.
Wax topcoats usually take about 30 minutes to dry, while polyurethane topcoats can take up to 24 hours.
Now your laminate furniture is ready to use! Enjoy your newly painted piece!
For more information: How to paint old wood furniture?
