Painting Melamine Cabinets: For Professionals Only

Painting Melamine Cabinets: For Professionals Only

Painting melamine cabinets is a cost-effective and practical solution for modernizing a kitchen or bathroom without replacing the cabinets. However, this material, while robust and popular, presents specific challenges when it comes to repainting. Here’s a guide to the essential steps for successfully transforming melamine cabinets.

Cleaning and Sanding

Melamine is a smooth and non-porous surface, which can make paint adhesion difficult. The first step is to meticulously clean the cabinets to remove any grease or dirt (a fundamental step for any cabinet painting project that cannot be skipped). Next, a light sanding with 150-220 grit sandpaper will create an ideal texture for product adhesion (this step is equally essential).

From our experience, even using coarser sandpaper like 100-120 grit on melamine is acceptable and does not leave visible scratches once all finishing layers are applied. This process is crucial for ensuring proper adhesion of both primer and paint. Ultimately, painting melamine cabinets is similar to painting thermoplastic surfaces.

Applying the Right Primer

Using a high-quality primer specifically designed for melamine surfaces is essential. This primer acts as a bridge between the smooth or semi-smooth surface of the melamine and the paint. The goal is to create a solid and uniform base ready to receive the finishing coats.

Opt for an alkyd-based primer if you have time (note that drying will take longer, and the odor can be strong) or a lacquer-based primer for faster drying, depending on your preferences, circumstances, and equipment.

Choosing the Right Paint

The choice of paint is equally critical. Acrylic copolymer paints are highly recommended for their durability, resistance to impacts, and ease of maintenance. Avoid generic paints that may chip or peel over time. Please refer to our article on finishing products for further guidance.

Spray Application

For flawless results, use a spray gun to apply the paint, ensuring a smooth and uniform finish. Several thin coats are preferable to one thick coat for a more durable and aesthetic result. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. If you are a professional, it goes without saying that you’ll use a spray gun for your finishing products, whether it’s Airless, HVLP, or air-assisted systems.

If you plan to use a finishing roller, we STRONGLY recommend contacting an expert company that can spray the paint for you before making a critical mistake and ruining your client’s kitchen.

Delivering Exceptional Results

If you’ve followed the preparation steps carefully, used the right primer (if in doubt, consult your rep or call us at 514-240-7488), and applied a high-quality finishing product, you will deliver a fantastic, like-new finish to your clients. Properly sprayed finishes will not only look stunning but will also last for years to come.