I’d like to refinish my plastic laminate countertop with countertop paint. My laminate has a textured surface, will the texture cause problems when refinishing? -Craig

Hi Craig,
There are several products made specifically for refinishing plastic laminate countertops which work well, including Giani Granite Countertop Paint and Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating. With both products you should:

• Clean Countertop: Clean the laminate thoroughly first to remove any grease or grime.
• Fill Defects: Apply auto body filler with a putty knife to fill any dings or defects, and allow the filler to set.
• Sand Countertop: Lightly sand the countertop with fine grit sandpaper (220 grit or higher) to remove any gloss. An orbital sander works well for this.
• Dust Countertop: Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away any sanding dust. Follow with a clean, dry cloth; and allow the countertop to dry thoroughly before applying the countertop paint.
• Paint Countertop: Apply the countertop paint following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Countertop paint should work fine on textured laminate, though the texture will tend to show through. You may be able to remove some or all of the textured look by applying several coats of countertop primer or paint, sanding lightly with fine sandpaper between each coat to fill in the textured surface.

Be sure to allow the each coat of the primer/paint to dry and harden completely before sanding and applying another coat.

Good luck with your project,

Further Information

• Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating for Plastic Laminate (video)
• DIY Faux Granite Finish for Kitchen Countertops (article/video)
• How to Redo Giani Faux Granite Countertop Finish (article)

Tags: , countertop, how to paint plastic laminate, kitchen countertop, paint, Painting, plastic laminate, Rust-Oleum, Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating