Ideas on Painting Formica

Formica gets old, but sometimes the desire to replace the Formica with something new and the available budget for doing it don't always coincide. Fortunately, it's possible to paint your Formica counters, making them look entirely new. With some elbow grease and perseverance, your desire for new, updated counters can be done at a fraction of the cost of replacing them.

Prepare the Surface

Formica is smooth. Even over time it may become a little scored with use, but the surface is smooth overall. This is a problem it you wish to paint it. In order for any paint to stick at all, it needs to be able to adhere. This will not happen with a smooth surface. By using 200-grit sandpaper, you can gently roughen the surface of the Formica, thus preparing it for paint. Just by roughening the surface, you give the paint something to which it can adhere. However, before you apply the paint, scrub the Formica to remove any dust so the paint won't flake off.

The paint your choose is an important consideration when painting your Formica. A base paint is a good idea, for it provides a nice cover for the roughened Formica as well as a good base for the finish paint. This you can apply with a roller. Once you have your base layer of paint, then you can have fun. Do you want patterns? Paint them. Did you always want granite counters but couldn't afford them? Paint them using a sponge and different shapes of paint to get a granite-like counter. Soon that Formica will be but a distant memory. One important idea to consider when painting Formica is protecting that paint: you need to apply polyurethane that has a water base. This helps to seal in the paint as well as provide a protective shell of sorts to your painted Formica counter.

Painting a Formica counter is one thing, preserving it is another. In order to help ensure your painted Formica counter lasts, you need to take care with it. Do not put hot things directly on the counter, as that can damage the paint. Get into the habit of using pot holders or trivets. Clean the counter directly if you spill anything on it. Above all, when you clean it, use soft sponges and gentle cleaners. A copper scrub pad and harsh, abrasive cleaners is a sure-fire way to flake that paint right off the Formica.