How to paint laminate benchtop with timber edge?

Question

Hi Bunnings team, love to hear your thoughts on my bench top if I can paint them. I believe my benchtop is laminate with a wood edge. Would painting on it works say with the dulux renovation paint. My concern is the wood edge would look bad after painting.

MitchellMc · Answer

Hi @danyopan,

I thought I'd add that you might like to take a look at this helpful step-by-step guide: How to paint a kitchen benchtop with Dulux. It features the Dulux Renovation range of products.

Painting a laminate benchtop can be a great way to refresh your kitchen without the cost of a full replacement. Preparation is key to getting a good result. Start by giving the surface a thorough clean using Sugar Soap to remove any grease, grime or residues that could affect adhesion. Once it’s clean and dry, lightly sand the surface with 240-grit sandpaper to scuff up the glossy finish—this helps the primer stick better.

Make sure to use a primer that’s designed for laminate surfaces, such as the Renovation Range Primer, which is suitable for benchtops. Once primed, apply your chosen topcoat from the same range. When painting, work in manageable sections and avoid going back over areas that have already started to dry, as this can cause dragging and uneven texture. It’s best to let each coat dry fully before deciding if you need to touch up.

Regarding the edging, as my colleague Eric has mentioned, typically you'd need to switch products. You could potentially prime the laminate with the Renovation Rage Primer and then prime the timber with Dulux PRECISION Stain, Smoke & Odour Blocker, which would allow you to also paint it with the Renovation Range topcoat. That way, at least you are using the same topcoat, which will help ensure consistency.

The other thing I'd mention, if you are looking to cover the two substrates seamlessly, is to fill any gaps between the benchtop and timber edging with Builder's Bog. You want the transition sanded very smooth, otherwise you'll see the change of substrate through the top coat. It appears there might be a bit of wear and tear on the edging, so filling any damage with the Builder's Bog would be a good choice. As the laminate is ultra-smooth, it's important to also get the timber edging looking as good as possible.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

EricL · Answer

Hello @danyopan

Thank you for sharing your question about painting your kitchen benchtop. I suggest having a quick look at this discussion - How much sanding do I have to do to paint my ply kitchen cupboards? by @jenny96. The suggested step for timber surfaces is to use Dulux 1L 1Step Prep Primer Sealer & Undercoat and Dulux Aquanamel for the topcoat. Please note that the timber surface (benchtop timber edging) must be sanded back to timber removing all the stains and sealers on it.

The Dulux Renovation Range is designed to go onto ceramic and porcelain tiles, vinyl, laminate and plastic wrapped cabinet doors, drawers and benchtops. It is not designed to go onto bare timber surfaces and stained varnish surfaces.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric