Chalk paint over latex on laminate

Question

I recently used a latex on a laminate cabinet after lightly sanding all surfaces. I thought it would stick, but it didn't. Even a light touch with a fingernail removes the paint. If I use chalk paint over it, will it stick? Do I need to prep the surface in any way? It used to be a dull white and I do like the richness of the dark slate grey (works with the marble counter). Inexpensive way to upgrade the little powder room.

Nancy · Answer

How is the chalk paint holding up I need to up date kitchen cabinet a lot of them!

Linda Weeks · Answer

dang. I just went through this myself - I believe you could make it work, but perhaps you could additionally add some coating/cover paint once the chalk paint is dry. I just tried painting the bathroom floor and had to go back and remove the paint which did not dry! I used a putty knife, whew. Was the surface of your cabinet a laminate?

Whomping Willow · Answer

I'm no expert, but if you put anything over something that is peeling it will likely peel:(
We have needed closet doors for several years, recently my husband got some boards for free from his job, unfortunately they came with a high gloss finish. We cut them to size and used the scraps for practice, here are the results:
latex only peeled
latex over Zinsser primer stil peel though not as easily
latex over well sanded area held
latex over well sanded then primed area held even better
Good luck

Shari · Answer

If your latex paint is not sticking, the chalk paint won't either. In other words, the chalk paint will probably stick to the latex but wherever the latex peels, chips or flakes off...there goes your chalk paint with with it. Frankly though, the latex should have worked fine as long as your prep work was adequate. I've painted two cheap laminate bathroom vanities with latex paint and had absolutely no problems with the paint chipping or peeling. In fact, one vanity is in a very high traffic bathroom and it looks just as good as it did the day I painted it about 4 years ago. I've attached before and after photos of the 2 laminate vanities I painted with latex.

My procedure is to wipe the cabinet down with 'liquid sandpaper' (also known as deglosser). I do this in place of sanding. Then I use 1 or 2 very thin coats of a good BONDING primer and let that dry well. Then I follow up with 2 thin coats of latex paint. Even if you are using with a paint and primer combo, you still need to use a separate bonding primer first. This is especially important on laminate.

Have you ever used chalk paint? I know I'm in the minority but I, personally, hate the stuff. I would recommend lightly sanding off all the loose latex paint. Wipe clean. Use 1 or 2 THIN coats of bonding primer. After it has dried well, repaint with your latex, again using THIN coats. Latex does take time to harden and cure so even though it is dry to the touch within 20 or 30 minutes, I would wait longer between coats, maybe 24 hours, especially since it has been pretty humid. And then it could take up to 30 days to fully cure and harden.

The Redesign Habit · Answer

Enamel is the best paint to use over something slick like a bathroom or kitchen counter. It is super sticky and will dry with a really hard finish. You can then put a clear count of poly over the top to protect the enamel paint finish. I have done this in several bathrooms and kitchens before. It will stick better if you rough up the surface first.

The Redesign Habit · Answer

Okay, sorry misread it! If you have paint peeling and try to paint over it with any type of paint, it will most likely just continue to peel. What you probably will need to do is sand it down and remove any of the peeling paint and then put a couple coats of good primer and then paint over that. After you get it painted the way you want, you might want to add a clear coat of satin or flat poly over the top to help protect the surface to help prevent any further peeling. Laminate can be tough to paint over for sure!

Claudia Richard · Answer

Ive heard a lot of these same things when trying to cover laminate or melamine cabinets and have learned from others who have tried these things that none of them work. I'm redoing my kitchen and baths on the cheap and have been looking for something that would cover these cabinets without peeling. I found 'Cabinet Rescue' a waterborne acrylic enamel made specifically for Malamine and Laminate finishes. This stuff is awesome! I recommend highly that you use it. It drys in 2 hours, is chip resistant, and self priming. It comes in a Bright White but is tintable so can be converted to other colors. I bought a pint at my local Home Depot for under $20

Sharon Nash Stogner · Answer

OK, nobody seems to be 100% sure on this one, so I'm going to be my own guinea pig. I just ran a fingernail lightly over the back side of one cabinet door and of course, the paint came right off. I am going to apply chalk paint on the back of the other door on top of the latex. Will let it dry well and see if it peels off with similar treatment. Having used chalk paint before, I have a hunch (I am HOPEful!) that the chalk paint will seal and act like a glue on top of the latex. Will report back in a couple of days. Thanks everyone!

Karen · Answer

Try reading up on this product. I had it saved on one of my boards from another site. Supposed to be good stuff for projects like you are speaking of.

Gilly · Answer

I have painted with Annie Sloan chalk paint over laminate. I sanded first just to rough up the surface, done one coat of paint and left it for 48 hours to really dry before adding more coats. It gave a really hard wearing finish. So yes you can paint over laminate with chalk paint! :)

Amy Lauzon · Answer

Krylon Fusion paint works great on laminate and plastics, you will however have to sand off what you already painted.

Becky · Answer

You sure can! I painted the vanities in our bathrooms upstairs in latex. I did everything I was supposed to do, deglazing, light sanding on bad spots and primer. They lasted about 2 months in the kids' bathrooms. Now, they're kids and they're rough, but I was a little disappointed, SO I broke out the home made chalk paint. I put 2 coats of paint and 2 coats of wax with a little bit of distressing and 8 months later, they are still gorgeous! Now I'm just waiting for ours to wear a bit more, and Im hitting those, too!

Karyn Walker · Answer

Eco spec is a sealer available that seals flooring in truck garages. It is a 'green' product and is available online . I found it at DwellSmart in Charleston, SC

Whomping Willow · Answer

Excited to know how it woked out:)

Chas' Crazy Creations · Answer

Here are some ideas that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/re-purpose-up-cycle/furniture/

Chalk paint over latex on laminate

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Chalk paint over latex on laminate

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