One of the fastest ways to brighten up the most used room in the home is by painting the kitchen area. For years, home buyers and remodelers have remodeled cabinets on the fly by applying a fresh coat of paint. When done correctly, this can be a great way to improve the look of things.
You may want to consider replacing your existing flat doors with raised panels. I would recommend that you find a cabinet maker in your area to order these from. It would be a good idea to consider having the new ones installed because there are some tricky things involved in the process.
Tools and materials needed
-Spatula
-Drop Cloths
-Industrial airless paint sprayer (sourced from a complete rental business)
-Paint designed to adhere to Formica surfaces (primer and topcoat)
-220 grit sandpaper
-Wood filler
-Scotch tape
-Brushes and Roller
-Phillips screwdriver
-Lots of rags
-Painted Respirator Mask
Be sure to set aside enough time to complete the project without rushing. The more time you spend in the prep process, the better your Formica kitchen cabinets will look when you’re done painting the cabinets.
Steps to Refinish Formica Kitchen Cabinets and Doors
- Put the tarps in place. Remove all hardware (handles or knobs) from the cabinet doors.
- Remove cabinet doors. If you have European hinges, you may NOT need the Phillips screwdriver for this step. Check for a release tab on the back of the hinge. If so, pull on the tab and the hinge should release from the mounting plate.
- Remove the door hinges.
- Clean all surfaces to be painted with a mild solution of soap and water. Completely dry all areas that you have washed.
- Fill any holes you want to remove and any chipped areas with the wood filler. Allow filler to dry completely before sanding.
- Lightly sand all cabinet and closet door surfaces with 220 sandpaper to be painted. Clean all dust from cabinets and doors.
- Set up an area where you can spray the primer on the back of cabinet doors, preferably on the outside. Give them a light coat of primer.
- While the back of the doors dries, prime the Formica cabinets with the roller and brush. When you’re done, the doors should be ready for a second coat of primer.
- Repeat the process of painting the cabinets and kitchen doors with the primer until two coats have been applied to all areas. Once the primer is completely dry, you can lightly sand all areas where needed.
- Paint two coats of finish on cabinets and doors.
- Hang the doors on the cabinets and insert the drawers back into their correct places.
- Install old or new handles/knobs on cabinet doors.
It is advisable not to clean the kitchen cabinets for at least four days in order for the paint to fully cure.
Our company has used a product called Cabinet Rescue to paint plastic laminate cabinets on many occasions. As mentioned above, simply check with the professionals at your local hardware store to find a product designed to restore Formica cabinet surfaces.
