Painting Countertops - Give your Kitchen a Face Lift
Painting over your laminate countertop
All laminate countertops can be painted over, with varying degrees of success. It can be the cheapest and easiest way to give your entire kitchen a much-needed facelift. However, neither the makers of Formica or other popular laminate surfaces such as Wilsonart recommend painting over their surfaces. The reasons for this include the fact that you may get flakes of paint in your food if you cut directly on an improperly painted laminate surface.
However, if you wish to go ahead and paint over your laminate countertop, these are the steps you would take. First, carefully sand the laminate surface with 80 to 120 grit sandpaper, being sure to remove all the gloss. Then wash the surface with a special detergent like TSP, which is excellent at removing gloss and grease. Then rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
Select the shade of Melamine paint you want to use. Apply three thin coats of Melamine paint using a high-density foam roller, which will ensure a smooth finish and no air bubbles. For a special “marbled” look to your countertops, you can apply several different colors on top of the base color with a sea sponge.
Melamine takes 5-6 days to completely cure, so it is important not to touch the surface or place any objects on it during this time. After this time your countertop is yours to enjoy. Some people report that laminate countertops painted in this fashion last several years without needing replacing. And for approximately $50 worth of materials and a little time spent, you could enjoy a fresh look for your kitchen countertops too.