Laminate and melamine take paint over a bonding primer whose maker names laminate: Zinsser, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams each make one, and Rust-Oleum’s Cabinet Transformations names laminate and melamine. Several Zinsser data sheets say full adhesion takes 7 days; we’d go gently until then. We didn’t read IKEA’s own guidance.
Primers and paints that name laminate
| Product | Laminate line | Sanding | Recoat | Full adhesion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 | “paneling, laminates, and ceramic tile” | “without sanding or deglossing” | Topcoat in 1 hour | 7 days |
| Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus | “laminates and ceramics” | “without sanding or de-glossing” | Data sheet 1 hour; page 2 hours | 7 days |
| Zinsser Cover Stain | “paneling, laminates, and ceramic tile” | “without the need for sanding or de-glossing” | Not stated here | 7 days |
| Zinsser BONDZ | “laminated Formica® cabinets” | “Always test a small area for acceptable adhesion.” | Data sheet 3 hours (6 hours for epoxies); page 1 hour | 7 days |
| Zinsser B-I-N Shellac | Glossy surfaces; cabinets and furniture | “without scuff sanding” | Page: 45 minutes | 1 to 3 days |
| Benjamin Moore STIX | Formica | Formica “should be properly deglossed” | 3 to 4 hours | About 3 to 4 days for its maximum scrape resistance |
| Benjamin Moore Fresh Start 046 (under Advance) | Advance data sheet: “Laminate (Formica)”; plastic veneer: remove it by sanding, then 046 | Advance: cabinetry roughened by sanding, 220 grit or coarser | Not stated here | On hard, non-porous surfaces, “may take 3-4 days” |
| Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond | “Wall Laminates”; Formica | Data sheet: scuff sand or scrub; dresser how-to: 150 grit | 1 hour as a primer | Not stated |
| Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations | “wood, laminate, metal or melamine” | “requires no stripping, sanding or priming”; scuff if its tape test fails | Not stated here | Top coat cures within 7 days |
| KILZ Adhesion | “Laminates”; also names Formica® | “formulated to bond without sanding”; test a small area first | 1 hour | Not stated |
| BEHR Bonding Primer No. 432 | “Formica®” | “formulated to adhere without sanding”; test a small area first | Ready to topcoat in 1 hour; topcoat within 14 days | Not stated |
From each product’s data sheet, label or page. Zinsser’s 2017 comparison chart rates B-I-N, Bulls Eye 1-2-3 and Cover Stain “E” (excellent) on Formica. Zinsser SmartPrime’s data sheet names glossy surfaces, glass and tile but not laminate. Rust-Oleum Chalked says to lightly sand glossy surfaces and names wood, metal, ceramic, glass and canvas, not laminate.
Sand or not? The makers differ
Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3, Cover Stain and B-I-N sheets say no sanding. Benjamin Moore’s STIX sheet says Formica should be deglossed. Sherwin-Williams’ Extreme Bond data sheet says sanding may not be necessary on most clean, paintable surfaces, but that Formica should be scuff sanded or scrubbed with an abrasive cleaner; its laminate dresser how-to says to sand with 150-grit paper, then lightly sand again once the primer has hardened. We’d do a light scuff sand: it is the step the stricter makers ask for.
Test before the whole piece
- Benjamin Moore’s bonding-primer article suggests a crosshatch adhesion test, and says bonding primers are not recommended over peeling paint.
- Zinsser BONDZ says to always test a small area first.
- Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations gives a tape test: if more than 10% of the coating comes off, the surface may have a wax finish and needs scuffing or light sanding.
Plastics these primers won’t grip
Sherwin-Williams says Extreme Bond “Does not adhere to polypropylene, polyethylene, or thermoplastic polyolefins,” and Benjamin Moore says STIX is not recommended over polyethylene or polypropylene. See polypropylene for how to tell them apart.
Zinsser’s B-I-N data sheet says to “Wear NIOSH approved respirator and provide adequate ventilation,” and gives a flash point of 54°F. Sherwin-Williams’ Extreme Bond data sheet also carries a ventilation line.
KILZ Adhesion’s data sheet says “WARNING IRRITANT HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED,” that it may cause eye, nose and throat irritation, and to use it only with adequate ventilation. BEHR’s Bonding Primer No. 432 label says “WARNING! IRRITANT! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED,” and to wear eye protection and protective clothing and use it only with adequate ventilation.