Laminate cabinets are a popular cabinetry option for many homeowners due to their affordable cost and durability. However, over time laminate cabinets can start to show wear and tear. Painting laminate cabinets is an easy and budget-friendly way to update the look of your kitchen or bathroom. But before you break out the paint brushes, it’s important to properly prepare the laminate surfaces for painting. One of the key preparation steps is sanding, but do you really need to sand laminate before painting? Here is a detailed look at whether sanding is necessary and how to properly sand laminate cabinets prior to painting.
What Is Laminate?
Before we dive into sanding, it helps to understand exactly what laminate is. Laminate refers to a type of synthetic material made by fusing or laminating layers of materials together. For laminate cabinets, a decorative paper layer is fused to particleboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) using heat and pressure. This paper layer has a printed design that mimics wood grain, granite, or other materials.
A clear plastic resin is then applied on top of the decorative paper to create a durable, scratch-resistant surface. Unlike real wood, laminate cabinets do not have an exposed grain. The laminate creates a seamless printed design.
Benefits of Sanding Laminate Before Painting
Sanding laminate prior to painting provides several important benefits:
1. Removes Glossy Finish
Laminate has a smooth, glossy finish that can cause painting problems. Paint adheres best to surfaces with some texture that allows the paint to grip. The glossy laminate surface can cause the paint to chip or peel. Lightly sanding provides texture so the paint can properly bond.
2. Removes Grease and Dirt
Kitchen cabinets are prone to grease buildup and dirt over time. Any residuals on the surface can prevent proper paint adhesion and cause issues like peeling or bubbling. Sanding cleans and removes built-up grime.
3. Levels Surface Irregularities
Even though laminate has a smooth finish, there may be some areas with slight dents, scratches, or uneven surfaces. Sanding smooths the laminate for a more even finish.
4. Opens Pores for Primer
Sanding opens the pores of the laminate so primer can penetrate deeper into the surface. This allows the primer coat to bond tightly.
Potential Downsides of Skipping Sanding
Deciding whether to sand laminate cabinets is ultimately your choice. But skipping this step does come with some potential problems:
- Poor paint adhesion: The paint may easily chip, peel, crack, or scratch without proper prep. This can expose unfinished patches.
- Visible defects: Minor scratches and dents may show through the paint if not smoothed out beforehand.
- Bubbling or peeling: Grease residue that is not removed can react poorly with paint, causing bubbles in the finish or peeling.
- Shortened durability: Paint adheres best to sanded and primed surfaces, so skipping sanding shortens the long-lasting effects.
What Level of Sanding Is Needed?
Laminate does not need aggressive sanding like you would do with wood. The goal is to lightly scuff and degloss the surface, not remove material. Here are some tips on the level of sanding required:
- Use fine sandpaper around 150 grit to 220 grit. Avoid coarse sandpaper that can damage the laminate.
- Only scuff the surface enough to degloss and create minor texture. Do not sand deeply into the material.
- Focus on sanding down any visible flaws, but overall light sanding is sufficient for prep.
- Hand sanding with a sanding block is easiest for controlled sanding. Be careful not to round over any edges.
- Take care on curved details and edges. Those areas are more prone to showing sanding marks.
Sanding Technique for Laminate Cabinets
Follow these steps to properly sand laminate cabinets before painting:
Clean the Cabinets
Use a degreasing cleaner to remove built-up dirt and oils before sanding. Tack cloth can help remove any final dust or debris that could scratch the laminate.
Sand Flat Areas
Use 150-220 grit sandpaper wrapped around a hand block. Gently sand all flat, smooth areas using straight back-and-forth motions along the grain direction. Avoid over-sanding any one area.
Sand Details
Use a fine grit sanding sponge to lightly sand curved details, edges, and trims. Apply even pressure and avoid rounding over edges.
Remove Dust
Wipe sanded surfaces with a dry tack cloth to remove all dust particles, which could affect paint bonding.
Spot Sand Flaws
If there are any scratches, chips, or dents, do spot sanding just on those areas to smooth them out.
Clean Again
Give cabinets a final wipe down with a deglossing cleaner and clean microfiber cloth after sanding. Allow to fully dry.
Priming After Sanding
Once laminate cabinets are properly sanded, it is crucial to apply a high-quality primer before painting. The primer creates an extra bonding layer between the laminate and paint. Priming also helps the paint go on smoothly. Make sure to use primers recommended for laminates. Oil-based primers generally work best for maximum adhesion and block-resistance.
Painting Tips
When the primed laminate is ready for painting, follow these tips:
- Use a high-quality cabinet paint line like Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams ProClassic. Avoid generic wall paints.
- Apply with a high-density foam roller and angled brush for the best finish on cabinets.
- Use thin, even coats and avoid over-brushing, which can cause brush marks.
- Let each coat fully dry as recommended before adding another coat.
- Lightly sand between coats if needed to smooth the finish.
- Add two to three coats for a durable, quality finish.
Paint Without Sanding
If you want to skip the sanding step, there are a few options to prep and paint laminate cabinets without sanding:
- Use adhesion promoters – Products like Stix or XIM promote better paint bonding to slick surfaces.
- Degloss – Wipe cabinets with ammonia or liquid deglosser instead of sanding.
- Scuff gently – Use a red Scotch-Brite pad to lightly scuff instead of sandpaper.
However, sanding still provides superior results. The aforementioned options may still increase chances of paint failure.
Signs Paint Is Not Bonding Properly
Watch for these warning signs if you suspect skipping sanding caused poor paint bonding:
- Paint easily chips, scratches or rubs off with minimal contact.
- Finish feels sticky when dry.
- Bubbling or blistering on the surface.
- Edges, corners and details show cracking or peeling.
- Sheen appears inconsistent and spotty.
If you notice these issues, the paint may need to be removed and the cabinets properly sanded and repainted.
Can You Sand Prefinished Laminate?
Many laminate cabinets come with a prefinished, factory-applied melamine resin surface coating. This is sprayed on for extra protection and sheen. While you can sand this type of laminate, it requires caution.
The melamine resin top layer is very thin. Aggressive sanding can breakthrough this layer and expose the raw laminate underneath. When sanding prefinished laminate:
- Use extra fine (220+ grit) sandpaper.
- Sand by hand only using light pressure.
- Sand just enough to degloss and not remove the finish.
- Avoid electric sanders which can over-sand.
- Spot sand only where needed.
Hiring a Professional
Painting laminate cabinets is fairly straightforward. But if you are uncomfortable with the prep work, consider hiring a painting pro. Experienced cabinet painters are skilled at properly sanding and prepping laminate surfaces prior to painting. They also have the right tools and expertise to achieve a flawless painted finish on your cabinets.
Tips for Sanding Laminate Cabinets:
- Use 150-220 grit sandpaper for light scuff sanding
- Hand sanding with a block gives the most control
- Clean thoroughly before and after sanding
- Sand just enough to degloss and create texture
- Focus on sanding down any dents, scratches or flaws
- Use primer made for laminates after sanding
- Hire a pro if uncomfortable with sanding laminate yourself
FAQ About Sanding Laminate Cabinets
Do you need to sand laminate cabinets before painting?
Lightly sanding laminate before painting is highly recommended. It helps the paint better adhere by removing the glossy surface and providing texture. Sanding also eliminates any residue and smoothes flaws.
What grit sandpaper should be used on laminate cabinets?
Use fine sandpaper in the range of 150 to 220 grit. Coarser paper can damage the laminate surface. Fine sandpaper gives the ideal scuff for paint prep.
How much sanding does laminate need before painting?
Laminate only needs very light scuff sanding to degloss and smooth the surface. Do not try to remove material. Quickly sanding all areas with minimal pressure is sufficient.
Is hand or machine sanding better for laminate?
Hand sanding allows you to control the pressure and focus on specific areas. Machine sanding with an orbital sander risks over-sanding or creating uneven spots.
Can you use liquid sandpaper instead?
A liquid deglosser or ammonia can help prep laminate for painting but may not provide as much adhesion as a light sanding. Liquid sandpaper is best for small touch ups.
Should laminate edges be sanded before painting?
Yes, use fine grit sandpaper to lightly scuff all the edges. But take care not to round over any sharp corners and edges with aggressive sanding.
How soon can you paint after sanding laminate cabinets?
You’ll want to clean, prime, and paint the sanded laminate cabinets as soon as possible. Leaving the raw laminate exposed for too long can allow moisture to penetrate and cause swelling.
Conclusion
Sanding laminate cabinets before painting is a simple but critical step. A quick scuff sand removes gloss, residue, and flaws so paint can properly bond to the slick laminate surface. While optional, skipping the sanding risks poor paint adhesion and a lower quality, less durable finish. To achieve beautiful, long-lasting results, invest the small amount of time needed to properly sand and prep your laminate cabinets prior to painting. With the right sanding techniques and quality paint, you can give worn laminate a brand new, freshly painted look.