Has anyone successfully painted their laminate countertops with a plain black color using the sanding, priming, painting, and sealing method?
Asked by Lawrence Vasquez 
2 months ago
Last Updated: November 2, 2024
Hey there! Has anyone tried painting their laminate countertops? I was thinking about using a kit, but there are so many negative reviews out there. After watching tons of videos, it seems like the consensus is to sand with a 220 grit sandpaper, apply two coats of bonding primer, sand again, then two coats of oil-based paint. Let it dry completely, and finish off with a polyurethane coating for sealing. I just want to go for a simple plain black look, no fancy marble or anything. My countertop is old and stained, so I’m hoping this will freshen it up. Thanks for any tips!
I’ve never heard of successfully painting laminate countertops.
You know, I was considering using black concrete instead of painting lam..
Oh, , I see your point. She’s trying to work with what she has instead of starting from scratch. Personally, I’d go with concrete without a second thought.
Hey , I’ll definitely look into that! We tore out the whole kitchen. The previous tenants left a serious cockroach problem, so I had to get Orthene poison shipped from a friend in Kansas since it’s not sold here in Indiana and neighboring states! We had to get rid of all the cabinets. We had to replace the appliances too. Managed to find a stainless steel stove, fridge, and dishwasher for a total of $305 lol. I’m doing my best to make this remodel as affordable as possible, but the time and cost are crazy!
Man, it was really bad. Can you believe my dad didn’t bother with a proper inspection before moving out and just gave back the security deposit? 🫠
Achieved success
You should check out countertopepoxy.com. It’s an affordable option that will give your countertops a great look. I actually used to do professional work with them.
Oh, thanks for the heads up! I’ve had some experience with resin before, but I had a little mishap on my last pyramid layer project where a chemical reaction caused bubbling and it never set properly, so I’m a bit hesitant to try it in a larger space!
Rach Stan I’ve heard they offer a great product that’s actually made in the US, and they even have real people in the office to assist with questions and support.
You have the option to put a new layer of laminate over the current countertop
Could you tell me the name to search for that sheet? Is it just a regular sheet? Actually, it’s not a bad idea at all, thanks for the suggestion!
Rach Stan found this laminate sheet on Home Depot’s website, it’s in black with a matte finish.
I really like this. It’s pretty easy to do if there are no curves. I’ve done a few and they last longer than paint and don’t yellow like epoxy does.
I’ve tried this twice already. Home depot has the laminate sheets. Just redid a whole countertop in a house I sold for around 100 bucks
Rach Stan oh yeah! I got a laminate sheet from Lowe’s, cut it to size, & put it on a table & 2 benches for my breakfast nook. You use contact cement to stick it on (with a dowel rod trick), you can watch how to videos
I wouldn’t recommend it due to health concerns, the high VOC levels, and the fact that it shouldn’t come into direct contact with food. Sorry about that!🙁
You’re right, I’ve seen posts about that 🙁
Vinyl wrap for countertops
I used a ginai paint kit and finished it over the weekend. Check out the before picture in the reply.
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Coles, my countertops looked similar to yours before. Which kit did you end up using? And how did you prepare your counter?
Hey Cappadonia, no need to prep much apart from ensuring it’s clean and free of dust. I applied the white paint provided, added the vein, and then applied the clear top coat included. I opted for the $200 kit because I also worked on a peninsula.
These are the options for their formula… I went with white marble. Follow this link for detailed instructions on each step: https://gianigranite.com/pages/detailed-written-instructions
Coles thanks so much! By the way, what’s that thing on top of your sink? That grate looking thing?
Cappadonia you can easily get a drying rack at any home goods store. They even come in roll-up versions!
Cappadonia this is perfect for air-drying freshly washed dishes.
Oh wow, thanks! My family has a habit of stacking dishes in the sink and having this rack seems like a great solution!! 😂😂
Cappadonia here’s a clearer view. I really love this sink.
Coles great work, it looks fantastic. I haven’t seen this product being used before, but yours looks really good. 👍
Coles I like how that’s set up! Do you happen to know the size of that sink?
Cappadonia It measures 33×22 and is about 9 and a quarter deep. It’s what’s referred to as a 70/30 sink, as opposed to a 50/50.
Giani has a kit with black marble, but if you prefer a solid color, you can skip the marble and move straight to pouring the epoxy top coat.
I could offer some advice on what to do, but I think I’ll pass this time. Let me just say that painting countertops is generally not a great idea, especially if you intend to use them regularly. Black is a tricky color to get right. Opt for a urethane acrylic paint instead of oil-based. Plus, if the counter isn’t properly installed, it’s unlikely to look good no matter what you do.
That’s the linen weave you see in this picture. Oh, I almost forgot, I applied a coat of Kilz primer first.
I decided to paint our bathroom laminate countertop white. It’s been a year and it’s holding up well. It’s not permanent, but it suits my needs.
Hey, could you show me a picture and tell me what exactly you used? That’s our plan! Meanwhile, while replacing with something nice, we had to do a demo from the walls outwards, including new appliances 🫠 Disaster tenants!
Hey Stan, sorry I don’t have the paint anymore, but I recently used a high sheen white trim paint. I sanded the laminate to rough it up, cleaned it well, applied two layers of Kilz primer, and then did 2-3 coats of paint. I previously tried an epoxy coating on a painted bathroom counter, but the epoxy ended up yellowing over time. I wouldn’t recommend it over white, but it might work well on black surfaces.
Definitely possible. The first time I did it, I didn’t even use a countertop kit. I went with acrylic and sealed it with polycrylic. It only cost me $50 and lasted over 4 years before chipping became a problem. Just remember to lightly sand it and thoroughly clean it
By any chance do you recall the specific products you used? Or the steps you took? Can I reach out to you?? Feeling optimistic now!!! I think I’ve seen progress but nobody discloses products other than countertop kits
Rach Stan hey there! It’s been some time but I’ll share what I can recall 🙂
My polycrylic turned yellow on me 😭
Coles that makes so much sense! I went with a dark shade on mine to hide it, but it would really stand out on lighter colors
You won’t believe it 😭 I ended up doing it on my 🤍 baseboards in a 10×20 living room. I’ll have to sand and paint them this winter.
Hey , just messaged you!
Hey , could you send me a message with the products and steps or write it in the comments? Pretty please, that’s the next project I’m excited to work on.
Hey
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Oh my goodness! , I can’t thank you enough. I have this 80’s pink countertop that I really need to work on. Your post is a lifesaver!
I’ve come across instances where people have tried painting countertops. After a few years, the results were disappointing as the paint couldn’t withstand daily use. It might be worth reconsidering your plan. There are companies like Stone Coat Countertops that offer all the necessary supplies for epoxy countertops. Although I haven’t personally used their products, I’ve seen their instructional videos. If I decide to pursue this project, I would either replace the countertops entirely or opt for epoxy. Regular paint just doesn’t last.
The thing with epoxy countertops looking terrible after 2 years is usually due to not following the instructions. It’s important for the epoxy to fully cure. Be prepared to follow the instructions carefully until the curing time is completed. Temperature control is also crucial as per the instructions.
I went with matte black for mine and I absolutely regret it. It highlights every tiny speck of dust and flaw. Whenever there’s a water spill, the top protective coat (polyurethane) changes to a milky hue until it dries. It might seem good at first glance right now, but I’ll invest the extra money to get them replaced before selling. Just my two cents in reply.
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I ran a glass quickly under the sink to wet the bottom, then left it on the counter for a little while. And guess what? It remains that way for around 15 minutes.
Mine started bubbling up after around a year.
Our countertops from 1965 were painted for 10 years, then sanded and repainted with polyurethane. Lasted us 3 years until we could afford Quarts. Used coasters to prevent water marks. Just removed the old ones, new ones are on the way. A great way to extend their lifespan.
I updated my outdated beige/almond 90’s kitchen by painting the laminate. It’s been a few months and it’s holding up well so far, as long as we’re careful. Primed with Kilz, then painted for a linen look, followed by clear coats. Wanted it to match the cabinets. Still deciding on colors and design for a Star Wars droid transformation.
Laminate is really affordable, so there’s no point in spending money to try to change it.
At Home Depot, you can find affordable black laminate countertops known as oiled soapstone that look really nice.
That’s exactly what I did! I applied black paint, marble spray paint, and epoxy. The renovation is still in progress, but everyone who has seen it has been amazed that it’s not a real slab. We’re sticking to a budget and really happy with how it turned out!
This is what we’re starting with. We’re planning to do the same thing in the kitchen with the laminate counters.
I used to think I was a fan of black countertops, but I quickly realized they highlight every water stain and are a pain to clean without some streaks left behind. It’s really annoying, so I wanted to mention it. The cabinet color in the inspiration photo is lovely.
I redid the counter in my bathroom and it turned out amazing. I went with countertop paint from Rustoleum.
Check out the soapstone counter in All-In-One Paint by Heirloom Traditions Group
My recommendation would be to try out stone coat epoxy countertops
We have here. Have you checked out Pinterest and other communities for additional information?