Hi all, I've got some kitchen cabinets that are starting to get past their best but I don't want to replace the whole lot, or even just the fronts yet, so I'm thinking about painting them.
However, the doors have a surface that has a plastic and look and feel to it. Will paint take to this surface?
MTIA.
IME yes, providing the surface is well rubbed down and the first coat is applied sparingly and "scrubbed" rather than painted on. If the initial stages are skipped the whole thing will be very vulnerable to mechanical damage
there are even special undercoats sold to go on this type of surface - but I've no idea if they work.
Ronseal Melamine Cupboard paint worked really well for us, after careful cleaning (sugar soap & IPA) and a light keying with wet & dry. Bright, smart and durable.
+1 It's been more than ten years, and still looks good. Careful preparation, of course, is essential.
But their website does say: "Compatibility: Bare and previously painted wood." with no mention of plastic coated wood.
My daughter did a great job on some melamine wardrobe doors. She took advice from a proper paint supplier who suggested something called 'difficult surface primer' (I think). She took them off, laid them flat & leveled them, then used a mini roller.
Another option is spray paint from e.g. Halfords
Plastic primers are available, but a wipe over with ultra fine 620 emery should enable standard spray primer to adhere
Except the word melamine on the tin.
I think, from experience, the secret of a good finish on any door, is laying flat and painting/varnishing in a dust free environment (not a garage...)
We just painted the cupboard and drawer fronts in our kitchen. They weren't melamine, so I'm not sure our experience is applicable, but I dismounted them, removed all the hardware, sanded back to bare wood, then gave them
2 coats of undercoat & a coat of F&B. I did all the painting in the dining room, with the doors laid flat on their backs.They look great, and by remarkable co-incidence, we seem to have picked a trendy colour (a sort of silk bluey-green). I then got my tame carpenter to replace the worktops & I retiled. 90% of a new kitchen for 10% of the cost.
Must have worked, 'cos we sold the house yesterday for the asking price.
Thanks for the excellent responses, everybody, I think I'll have to give it a go.
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