Can laminate be removed from kitchen cabinets so you can then paint t?

Hi Marilyn,

Yes you can remove the the laminate from kitchen cabinets and expect to find underneath MDF (medium density fiberboard) which is a good candidate for painting.

To remove it:

The best way to do it is to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive and pull the laminate off in sections, starting with the edging. Some MDF cabinets have a plastic coating, and removing a plastic coating from kitchen cabinets is usually easier than removing a wood laminate.

ref:

https://askinglot.com/whats-under-laminate-cabinets

you will likely just see particle board underneath. I would try and paint the laminate itself.

It would be a pain trying to remove the laminate. You can accidentally remove the MDF or particle board in patches making for more work. You can paint the laminate. Whether they're cabinets, bookcase, or countertops.

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/cabinets/yes-you-can-paint-laminate--20005205

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/how-to-paint-laminate-cabinets-everything-you-need-to-know-44418535

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/cabinets/how-to-paint-laminate-4968867

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/cabinets/how-to-paint-laminate-4968867

First, remove the hardware from your cabinets. It may also be easier for you to remove the laminate if you take off the doors and drawer fronts. You can heat the edges of the laminate using rudimentary equipment, such as a hair dryer, until you’re able to easily get your fingers underneath. From here, you can start peeling the laminate off. To help you along, you can utilize a wood chisel. Just be sure to keep it flat to prevent gouging the wood or MDF.

Before applying a new finish or laminate, you’ll need to address the residual adhesive on your cabinetry. Use a solvent and then sand the cabinets to a smooth finish. If you’re planning to paint the delaminated cabinetry, you’ll likely want to prepare the surface for painting with an undercoat.

You can remove it, but you run the risk of damaging the mdf under it. An easier solution is paint the laminate.

here is info on how to paint them if you remove the laminate you will have a mess to clean up because it is just paper and glue

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/painting-laminate-cabinets/#:~:text=Laminate%20doesn't%20play%20well,after%20the%20primer%20has%20cured.

Yes, you can use heat to remove them and then clean with tsp to prep for painting.

Removing laminate is difficult and you don't know the condition of the wood under it. Most paints can be painted right over the top of the laminate unless it is damaged. If it is damaged maybe you can fill the spots with wood filler and sand first.

We painted right over the laminate and it held up great. We used Kilz primer first and then painted over it with a roller and two coats.

Yes, but unless they are pealing themselves it would be a time consuming sticky job. You would need to use an iron to soften the glue.

Hi Marilyn, yes you can but I would advise against it. It's a yucky process and depending on the glue used it can remove some of the underlying particle board leaving a horrible mess. Perhaps you can consider relaminating over the existing laminated surface? Here's a tutorial that will show you how - https://extremehowto.com/re-laminate-over-existing-laminate-countertops/

You can paint the laminate just lightly sand the surface so the paint sticks

You could take it off BUT the glue and residue will still be there then you would have to sand them down

The base under laminate isn’t a great surface to work with. You’d be better off painting the laminate with something like Rustoleum’s cabinet kit.

Yes, you can remove it however there is a risk of damaging the mdf under it. What you can do is to paint the laminate.