Painted Melamine Cabinets

Painted melamine cabinets look very attractive and if your old melamine cabinets are in need of a facelift, you will do well to find out how you too can paint your melamine cabinets. Painting melamine cabinets can however prove to be a challenge, especially if you wish to change colors. Melamine cabinets are often made from boards which consists thin paper layered which are put together and soaked in a melamine resin. This surface which is very slick repels certain kinds of paint which is why it pays to prepare your cabinet and in addition you also need to pick a suitable color. This will ensure that results are not blotchy and that the paint will not peel off.

What you need

Before proceeding further with the painting of your melamine cabinets you will do well to find out more about what you need in order to accomplish your objective. The following are required:

• Polyurethane spray (clear)
• Enamel paint (oil-based)
• 80 grit sandpaper
• 220 grit sandpaper
• White vinegar
• Water
• Tack cloths
• Proper towel

1. Remove hardware and doors

After gathering the above, you will want to start the process of painting your melamine cabinet. Remove the hardware and doors and store them together in a safe place for use later on. Start off by sanding the melamine cabinet. Be sure to sand firmly with 80 grit sandpaper as this will help you to roughen up the surface and prepare it to receive the paint with a smooth texture. A small sized orbital sander will help you to complete the sanding work faster.

2. Clean the cabinet

Next, take equal amount of white vinegar and water and mix it up and then use the mixture to clean your cabinet. Be sure to ensure that no trace of dirt or grease is left as they will make the work of making the paint adhere that much more difficult.

Let the melamine cabinet dry before proceeding further. If necessary, use a clean towel to clean up the melamine cabinet. Use a tack cloth to wipe the cabinet to remove the dust and dirt from the melamine cabinet’s surface.

3. Apply a single coat of oil-based enamel paint

Once the cabinet surface is properly dry, you can then start applying a single coat of oil-based enamel paint. You should choose a desired color and then after application of the coat, you must wait patiently for the paint to dry. After the paint has dried up you can then think about applying a second coat of paint and then you should again wait patiently for the paint to dry before proceeding further.

Once the second coat has dried up you will need to give the surface a light sanding over with 220 grit sandpaper. This helps in removing all imperfections and it helps to give the surface some shine. Clean the surface and then apply a single coat of polyurethane spray. This will ensure that the paint is properly protected against chipping and flaking. Depending on the paint that you want to apply, you have to apply one or two coats of melamine paint.

This is basically all that you need to do to make your painted melamine cabinets look new and fresh. Finally, reinstall the hardware and cabinet doors and you are left with a freshly painted melamine cabinet.

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