Formica counters-possible to paint with enamel-quick fix ? (granite, laminate, countertops)
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Just a question regarding formica counters(ugh) . I had backsplash which looks ok when painted with expensive enamel paint....has anyone used the Rust-Oleum or other paint to refinish formica and make it look newer? I have seen some demos at Lowe's it looks like a nice quick fix...thanks for any ideas....
Just a question regarding formica counters(ugh) . I had backsplash which looks ok when painted with expensive enamel paint....has anyone used the Rust-Oleum or other paint to refinish formica and make it look newer? I have seen some demos at Lowe's it looks like a nice quick fix...thanks for any ideas....
First off, it is not Formica. Formica is a brand, not a product. Everyone calls it Formica but that is not correct, it's called Laminate.
As for painting Laminate, I say you can not do it. Of course people do it all the time but people also paint glass, roof shingles, carpeting and even paint the grass on their lawn green. But that don't make it right. I know there are scams on the shelf to paint Laminate with. But you can also go to the auto parts store and buy instant tuneup in a can or instant valve job in a bottle. I have also seen instant engine rebuild which comes in a bottle of powder you add to your radiator. And I sell snake oil which will make you young again.
Large apartment complexes have a company who comes in and bonds this paint like surface on Laminate. It sorta works for a short time. But you can forget about cutting on it again or be poisoned.
You can buy preformed Lam tops very cheap, probably barely more costly then that scam paint you want to buy. And they are not really that bad either. If your kitchen is L shaped they even sell them pre mitered.
Come on, paint won't hide the texture of either standard "pebble grain" laminate NOR is any non-machine painting system capable of getting as uniform smoothness of "slick" laminates.
I have seen folks try to "spray over" everything from plastic tile in a low end shower to 18th century hand carved ceiling medallions, so if you try you certainly won't be the first to go down a path of odd adventurers, but really even if you have the paint already paid for the time you "invest" in this sort of project would be far better spent in other ways. I would go so far to suggest that the cost of a can of Rustoleum (which actually does a nice job on rough patio furniture or mailboxes) and a few practice games of blackjack could be parlayed into paying for new countertops & backslashes with greater ease than trying to actually get good results in this application...
I saw that paint you are talking about. Its expensive as hell. Its a 3 step process I believe. I kind of laughed when I looked at it because it was over a hundred bucks and didnt cover a large area. You would need a couple of the kits and well after all that you could replace the counters with something else. I am a painter. I have painted furniture and kitchen cabinets (yes, I hear desert sun vomiting off in the distance ). Laminate is just too slick for anything to adhere to it. Even roughing it up, will not work. Somethings are simply not meant to take paint.
My mother whom I live dearly is probably the most stubborn person I have ever met. She has a horrible kitchen. Previous owner was some DIY laminate fanatic. Her whole kitchen is laminate even the window trim . She insisted the cabinets could be painted. I told her no, she went to a speciality paint shop and they sold her some sort of paint that is used on cars. Promised her the moon and stars so she bought it. She went ahead and painted, then called me up to tell me how wrong I was. Okay. :roll eyes: A month later I drove home to visit and saw her kitchen. Pretty much anywhere you grab on the cabinet doors, around the handles, where the doors meet the cabinet...all the painted was chipped off. It is now a real mess.
If you replace the counters, try to have them special order. The counters will be made to fit your kitchen layout exactly with no seams. Not a huge expense just takes about 4-6 weeks. I understand that Lowes and Home Depot have the counters in stock and some are already cut on an angle for L shaped counters but you will have a seam. Seams in Laminate IMO are not a good idea. Eventually liquid makes it way into the seam and then you have the laminate bubble up, split and crack. If you have a galley style kitchen and the counters will be all one piece then that is a different story. Stock should be fine.
Thanks fallingwater. I have seen the beveled counter pieces, at Lowe's- nice marbled design, you remove the old counter, and put it on top of cabinet. Its not paint. Its also not the whole new kitchen deal they usually try to push at Lowes kitchen dept.
Can you believe they had no dishwashers under 600.00 there? i need a new one of those too and the kid was like-"this is all we have"....I bought a portable one for 200.00 last year. lowes sales kids really think customers are stupid, lol.
Anyone know any good sites for dishwashers? Im looking for budget since house is getting sold in a year or so...thanks
Thanks fallingwater. I have seen the beveled counter pieces, at Lowe's- nice marbled design, you remove the old counter, and put it on top of cabinet. Its not paint. Its also not the whole new kitchen deal they usually try to push at Lowes kitchen dept.
Can you believe they had no dishwashers under 600.00 there? i need a new one of those too and the kid was like-"this is all we have"....I bought a portable one for 200.00 last year. lowes sales kids really think customers are stupid, lol.
Anyone know any good sites for dishwashers? Im looking for budget since house is getting sold in a year or so...thanks
Im looking for stainless or black- ok thanx I will ck that site. It pays I guess to do it online instead of going to the store.
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great to know esp. in a small kitchen.
). Laminate is just too slick for anything to adhere to it. Even roughing it up, will not work. Somethings are simply not meant to take paint. 
. She insisted the cabinets could be painted. I told her no, she went to a speciality paint shop and they sold her some sort of paint that is used on cars. 
Promised her the moon and stars so she bought it. She went ahead and painted, then called me up to tell me how wrong I was. Okay. :roll eyes: A month later I drove home to visit and saw her kitchen. Pretty much anywhere you grab on the cabinet doors, around the handles, where the doors meet the cabinet...all the painted was chipped off. It is now a real mess. 
