HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN LAMINATE CABINETS

Painting the old, dated kitchen laminate is an easy way to renovate the kitchen without breaking the bank. As long as the laminate surface is well adhered and is in a good condition, it can be repainted. First you need to properly prep the surface and then apply an appropriate primer to make sure that the new paint sticks to the laminate’s smooth and silk surface. Read below the instructions on how to paint laminate cabinets.

1. You will need to remove all the visible hardware from the cabinets, including knobs and pulls. You may also remove the doors of the cabinet if the hinges are visible or easily removable. This will allow you to paint the cabinet face and shelving thoroughly and separately.
2. Cover un-removable hardware with painter’s tape.
3. Clean all laminate surfaces with a degreaser such as tri-sodium phosphate. Apply the chemical carefully as per the instructions. Once clean, rinse all the surfaces with water and allow the kitchen laminate to dry completely.
4. To create a rough surface for the paint to stick to, sand all the laminate surfaces with 120-grit sandpaper. After finishing this, first clean all the dust away and then allow the laminate to dry.
5. Apply an appropriate primer and allow to dry it completely.
6. Apply oil based paints as they are a better choice for kitchen and bathroom and are easier to clean. Use a roller to apply the paint to avoid brush strokes on the laminate surface.
7. After the paint gets fully dried, replace all the hardware and the cabinet doors.

You need to very carefully take care of the laminates. Maintaining the painted laminates properly can make them look new for years. Make sure yo use the correct products for cleaning them. You need to keep cleaning the dust and touch up the paint as needed.

LAMINATES AND WOOD VENEER

What are Laminates?

Laminate is a blend of paper and plastic. It is a thin hard decorative sheet whose thickness usually ranges from 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm.Sheets of paper are soaked in phenolic resin and melamine resins are pressed together under high temperature and pressure to make decorative laminate sheets.

These decorative laminates are used as an overlay over wooden furniture. These sheets are fixed to a plywood base with adhesives.

What is Wood Veneer?

While laminates are engineered products made using synthetic materials such as resins, wood veneers are more natural substances.

Similarities between Laminates and Veneers:

The main similarity is the way these two materials are used. Both laminates and veneer can be glued over plywood or any other wood.When wood veneers such as teak veneer is attached to the base wood, it gives a teak wood look to the furniture, though inside wood of lower cost can be used.

The other similarity between the two is that decorative laminates being artificially created can have a variety of designs and patterns on them. The most popular laminate designs are those that look like wood. You can have a laminate that has a teak wood design.

Differences between Laminates and Wood Veneer:

The main difference is the material. Laminate is a blend of paper and plastic, while wood veneer is a thin sheet or a slice of wood.

Another most important difference is in the availability of designs. Laminates being artificially created are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns and texture. Wood veneer will always have wood grain designs and a wood appearance.

Table tops and other furniture with a laminated on top are not easily affected by water. The surface is quite resistant to scratches and other wear and tear. Wood veneer on the other hand has to be taken care off.

Many people these days prefer more natural look and feel of veneers compared to artificial looking laminates.

Veneers vs Laminates

Veneers and laminates are two of the most commonly used materials for decorating plywood or any other wooden furniture.

Let’s see what veneers and laminates are, and how they are made.

What is a Veneer?

Veneer is basically a very thin slice of would, usually thinner than 3mm that are glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, panels and tops for cabinets and parts of furniture. They are also know as wood veneers.

How are veneers made?

The tree logs are mounted horizontally on a machine and rotated against a knife which peels off layers from the log. This process produces veneer sheets. Such type of veneers are called rotary-cut veneers. In sliced veneers the logs are sliced instead of being rotated and peeled.

What is a laminate?

Laminates - decorative laminates or designer laminates are produced artificially from paper and plastic resins. These are also used as an overlay over wooden surfaces.

How are laminates made?

Laminates are made of three layers. The bottom layer is a brown paper which is coated with phenolic resin. The second layer is a decorative layer which has some design pattern printed. This decorative paper is soaked in transparent melamine resin. The topmost layer is a clear translucent paper.  Resins are used to make the paper had and brittle. All the papers are hard pressed under high temperature and pressure to manufacture the laminate sheet.

Veneers vs Laminates:

The question of whether to choose veneers or laminates arises when we are redecorating our furniture. Another question that often arises is whether to go for Laminated Plywood or Veneered MDF for kitchen cabinets or other such furniture.

1. Which looks better?

Both veneers and laminates are meant to increase the beauty of underlying wood. Both are decorative overlay materials. If you prefer a natural look, veneer is a good choice as its a wooden material. There are many good looking wood veneers obtained from different trees. e.g. cherry, oak, maple, teak etc.

There is a wide variety of decorative laminates available in the market. They are made from designs printed on paper. There are also laminates available that resemble wood patterns and look exactly like wood, though they are not.

Veneers are natural and laminates are artificial materials.

2. Which is costlier?

High-quality veneers are costlier than laminates. The cost of laminates depends on quality and brand.

3. Which are easier to maintain?

Laminates are scratch-resistant, waterproof and usually, retain their look for years. Hence, laminates are easier to maintain. On the other hand, veneers require more maintenance. They need to get polished time to time.

4. Which one is better. Laminated plywood or Veneered MDF?

Good quality waterproof plywood which is made from phenolic resin is considered better and stronger than MDF.

In kitchen cabinets, veneered MDF is generally used in making doors and plywood is used in making the box frame.

Veneered MDF looks better than laminated plywood. But laminates have a wide range of designs and colors. 

5 Alternatives for your Kitchen Countertop

The choice of kitchen work tops seems to be overwhelming, but it's worth taking some time to get the right surface for your kitchen. Here are some pros and cons of the main materials available in market.

Laminate: A laminate worktop is probably the cheapest option available, but unfortunately there can be reasons for that. Though laminates for kitchen surfaces come in an array of designs, the quality can also vary greatly. Some laminates are heat resistant and completely waterproof, while the cheaper ones will mark easily and can look cheap within months. Always choose a laminate carefully and get it professionally fitted to make it last longer and look better.

Wood: Wood is easy to cut and fit. It can be damaged by heat and can be vulnerable to moisture problems. However, wood can be rubbed down if burnt and repaired if damaged. Wood is an excellent choice for kitchen worktop and is not difficult to maintain.

Glass: Glass being heat resistant and impervious to water is a great choice for kitchen surface. It can add a lot of style to your kitchen, but it requires a great deal of cleaning to remove all the finger marks and can look very bad if scratched. There is a great variety of colors and finishes available to suit most color schemes and tastes.

Natural Stone: Marble, slate and granite are the mostly used natural stones. Slate and granite are hard wearing and highly water resistant, while marble requires regular treating to prolong its life. Marble needs to be protected from thinks like alcohol and lemon juice. Natural stones are expensive and should be fitted by professionals.

Composite: Composites are more expensive than marble. There is a great selection of colors to choose from and are highly resistant to heat and water. They are as hard wearing as the stone mixed with resin, but can still be scratched and damaged depending on the base material.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is a really good option for kitchen surfaces. It is resistant to heat and water. Satin and matte finished stainless are easy options to keep clean, but you will have to be careful about the scratches that can build up over time. If you are looking something that is not too expensive and can last for a longer time, stainless steel is the best choice.

I personally prefer using lamintes for kitchen. There is a wide range of designer and decorative laminates available in the market.