painting formica - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Alkyd · 06-24-2006, 08:14 PM

What is the best method for painting a bathroom counter top w/ formica. Can I use XIM then paint with semi-gloss? Should I use some type of clear coat? Thanks Robert

AAPaint · 06-24-2006, 09:17 PM

I wouldn't recommend painting formica period. Some of the other guys might know something I don't but I'm doubting it........

**slickshift** · 06-24-2006, 09:26 PM

I wouldn't recommend it
Really if it's in good enough shape to paint it, it's in good enough shape to glue on some new Formica

MinConst · 06-24-2006, 10:26 PM

I once heard of a product sold in Canada for this purpose but have never been able to find reference to it in the states. Maybe one of the Canadian painters will jump in.

**ProWallGuy** · 06-24-2006, 10:37 PM

I owuldn't do it, but if I had too.........
Sand the crap out of it, tack off, and prime with solvent-based XIM.
Then a couple coats of enamel, sanded in between.
This won't be FDA approved. Make the customer sign off on it that it isn't safe for a food surface.

I just noticed its a bathroom.....

George Z · 06-24-2006, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinConst

I once heard of a product sold in Canada for this purpose but have never been able to find reference to it in the states. Maybe one of the Canadian painters will jump in.

Never heard of such thing

**Teetorbilt** · 06-24-2006, 10:54 PM

Wet sand with 600#, wipe with denatured alcohol and use AwlGrip, Imron or Sunfire. H&K Research also makes a killer product, IMHO better than the aforementioned.

jensenconstruction · 06-24-2006, 11:39 PM

I think your only asking for a failure especialy around water and you know that counter top isn't going to stay dry

DeanV · 06-25-2006, 11:43 AM

My house has a bathroom counter top that is painted formica. It was already painted when I bought the house, but it was done with XIM, Graham's Ceramic Satin and then topped off with a clear poly. It is not peeling at all. There has been some discoloration of the surface, but the coating seems to still be sound.

copusbuilder · 06-26-2006, 05:42 PM

We used to remodel some stores and we used an epoxy to paint the cash wrap. it was potent stuff but grip[ped real well. It was 15 years or so ago so I can't remember much beyond that. This can also happen after a week

AAPaint · 06-26-2006, 07:13 PM

I was thinking of epoxy as the one possible solution when I first replied, and now that you mention it, in one of the local paint stores they re-surfaced a formica counter with an epoxy....it seemed to hold up pretty well from what I remember. This is still not something I would willingly take on, or provide any guarantees for.

**Teetorbilt** · 06-26-2006, 07:33 PM

The paints that I mentioned are all epoxies. The stuff by H&K is the hardest but also applies the thickest. They all are used to paint boats.

FCPWLLC · 06-27-2006, 06:29 AM

I'm not a painter. I saw this post yesterday and then did a quick Pressure cleaning for a Painter friend of mine and he takes me in his house to show off all is work in his own home. Low and behold he shows me his painted Laminate counters. He says he used some sort of "hammered" look paint. I've seen it in Spray cans but he says he gets it in quarts.

Just thought I'd share that.