5 Tips For Painting A Melamine Cabinet in Oldham County, KY

One common binder for your home or furniture paint is melamine, which is a synthetic resin created by combining melamine and formaldehyde. 

It is a type of plastic material that is hardwearing, so it is commonly used to coat laminate surfaces such as your cabinets. 

If you have no idea where to start with your melamine cabinet painting job, these tips will surely be useful to you.

Here are 5 tips for painting a melamine cabinet in Oldham County, KY.

1. Use The Right Supplies

Using the right paint and paintbrushes can help you achieve better results when painting melamine cabinets. 

There are many different types of paint that work well on melamine surfaces, these include chalk, acrylic, and high-quality latex paint.

However, most of these paints require priming your melamine cabinet’s surface.

Here are some supplies that you’ll need for this DIY project: drop cloths, painter’s tape, rough grit sandpaper, and some tools.

Drop cloths are used to cover your floor, while painter’s tape is used to block off certain areas that you don’t want to get caught up in your painting job.

2. Repair Any Damage

If your melamine cabinets have damage, you should fix them first before you proceed to paint them.

You can start by wiping down the damaged area with trisodium phosphate (or any reliable cleaner), then allow it to dry completely. 

Then, smooth out any scratches with the use of a paintable putty or wood filler.

You can use a putty knife to spread your paintable putty or wood filler and make it as smooth as possible.

Once you’re done smoothing out the repaired area, wipe it with the use of a lint-free cloth.

3. Remove Your Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Painting melamine cabinets can be more difficult when there are obstacles in the way.

For this reason, you can spend some time removing all of your kitchen cabinet hardware before you begin painting. 

If it’s inconvenient for you to take the hinges off your kitchen cabinets, make sure to protect them by covering them with painter’s tape. 

You should also consider using a small tape to cover the holes of your kitchen cabinet hardware.

In case you’re wondering what’s the purpose of it, it is so that the paint won’t drip into those holes and cause trouble for you when you reinstall it.

4. Roughen Melamine Surface

Paint sticks best to wood after sanding it first since pulling up the wood grain can add some tooth (tooth allows your paint to bind to the surface).

However, melamine doesn’t have wood grain to pull up, this is why it’s quite different compared to when you were dealing with wood.

In addition, sanding helps repair minor chipping damage for you to get better results.

Instead of having a deep sanding, use 120-grit sandpaper to lightly dust the melamine surface because it’s thinner and more fragile compared to wood.

When you’re done sanding, wipe down the surface using a clean, damp cloth so that you can get rid of all the dirt, dust, or grime.

5. Finish The Job Properly

Once you’re done adding the first coat of your new paint, allow it to dry completely before using a paint roller to apply your second coat. 

By letting the melamine surfaces dry, you can determine how much coverage you still need to get the appearance that you desire for your kitchen cabinets.

Usually, it only requires 2 coats of paint color to achieve the best coverage.

You should also consider adding a sealer that is compatible with your chosen paint as well.

Don’t forget that the cabinets that you paint and seal can take up to 30 days to be cured 

Hire a Professional Painting Contractor

Having said that, if you don’t have the time, skill, or tools to repaint your home interior Serious Business Painting can help.

We are currently serving the areas of Louisville, Shelby County, Oldham County, Anchorage, Prospect, and Jefferson Town, Kentucky.

Book a FREE estimate below or call us 502-641-7969 if you need any more information.

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