Melamine disaster

Back in July we hired some "painters" to paint our house who were absolutely atrocious. I cannot convey clearly enough my disdain for these cowboys who weren't painters at all but that's another story.

So the problem is that they painted over some new melamine cabinets with dulux 101 (supposedly). I asked why they weren't priming with Knight King laminate paint and he said he put some "special stuff" in the mix to make it bond. Turns out that was a crock of BS. So now I have 2 walls of floor to ceiling cabinets/bookcases with this flat paint that scratches off with a fingernail.

I would do anything not to have to sand back and start all over again so is there anything I can do to get away without going down the sanding path in order to repaint?

paint stripper will make short work of fresh acrylic paint. Ask for the best one for your situation at a paint shop. Judicious use of a heat gun would also work. I would prime with Zinsser BIN primer.

cheers
Michael

My first try would be methylated spirits especially as it is on a melamine surface - I have cleaned up around a kitchen before following some "enthusiastic painters". Make the rag into a ball and thoroughly soak it - the metho will soften the paint and remove it without affecting the melamine - may take some rubbing if it has been on there a while. As it is not fingernail proof a plastic scraper may be helpful in removing the bulk of it - try it first in an area which is not obvious.

Regards,
Bob

I bought some Zinsser BIN yesterday hoping that a saviour would waltz in and tell me that I could just apply it over the dodgey job and all would be hunky dorey. I like to live in hope but alas it seems not to be the case here. Methinks that which ever way I do it will involve more hard work than I had hoped for.

You could try Windex of all things. :shrug: If its just not bonded to the melamine I reckon Windex will make it bubble off completely and you'll be able to peel it off just about in one big sheet. :cool: Its a fun job then and you can have competition to see how big a bit you can get.:D

I agree with TeaLady.
Try the cheap and easy first.
Maybe gently score it at the top with a plastic scraper and give it a good soak and let the window cleaner work it's magic, then start peeling.

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Originally Posted by tea lady

You could try Windex of all things. :shrug: If its just not bonded to the melamine I reckon Windex will make it bubble off completely and you'll be able to peel it off just about in one big sheet. :cool: Its a fun job then and you can have competition to see how big a bit you can get.:D

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I used to do that with sunburn.

Windex is a cure-all (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) so it's worth a try. Lucky I have enough cabinets to give any and every method a go to see which one works best. I'm still praying for my fairy godmother to say it's ok to paint over with Zinsser BIN.

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Originally Posted by aldebaran3003

I'm still praying for my fairy godmother to say it's ok to paint over with Zinsser BIN.

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You want prayign AND fairy godmothers to be true. :rolleyes: That's a bet each way if ever I saw one.:doh:

I'm sorry. I don't think painting over something that hasn't stuck properly with something else will make the unstuck bit stick better. :console: Now come on! Deep breath, ..........Now go and try the Windex. I wanna know if it works. :D

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Originally Posted by tea lady

You want prayign AND fairy godmothers to be true. :rolleyes: That's a bet each way if ever I saw one.:doh:

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Well I've tried staring at the cabinets for 8 months hoping the offending paint would vapourise with no success so hedging my bets on intangibles isn't much of a stretch.

The Zinsser website has a product called Peel Stop which looks interesting but it's bedtime for big kids so I'm done with study for now.

I'll pour on some windex before bed and hope for new cabinets in the morning.

I dont think you will ever get normal paint to bond to melamine that wont scratch off with a finger nail, unless the surface has been keyed properly and then coated with a high bond/strength primer like automotive epoxy primer... probably be cheaper and easier to replace the melamine with the colour melamine you want.
Check out some of the flat pack kitchen places for prices, they dont much dearer than $120 a door(thats a 2m high door!)

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Originally Posted by Harry72

I dont think you will ever get normal paint to bond to melamine that wont scratch off with a finger nail, unless the surface has been keyed properly and then coated with a high bond/strength primer like automotive epoxy primer... probably be cheaper and easier to replace the melamine with the colour melamine you want.
Check out some of the flat pack kitchen places for prices, they dont much dearer than $120 a door(thats a 2m high door!)

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:C But its prolly not just doors. It would be sides and bottoms and everything. ("Peel stop" eh! Does sound interesting. :think: )

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Originally Posted by aldebaran3003

Well I've tried staring at the cabinets for 8 months hoping the offending paint would vapourise with no success

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8 months? :doh: Prolly the paint is too old for the windex to work. I thought It was only just done. :rolleyes: Ya never know though! :shrug: It works better if you are there to scrape as the paint bubbles. Like paint stripper works anyway. Heat guns are fun too actually. 'specially on acrilic paint. :cool:

I'm keen to hear how the windex would work - could be interesting. I wouldn't use a heat gun though. If you get a little keen, you'll be replacing the melamine too as it burns/scorches very easily.

Some fairly gentle paint stripper would probably make short work of it. There are several primers out there as well that should make it stick ok - I have one at home that worked a treat when I had to paint perspex (can't think of the name of it right now...will look tonight)

Cheers,
Dave

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Originally Posted by Ozkaban

I'm keen to hear how the windex would work - could be interesting. I wouldn't use a heat gun though. If you get a little keen, you'll be replacing the melamine too as it burns/scorches very easily.

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:hmm: and I guess the iron on edges might be a bit wayward too. :doh:

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Originally Posted by Ozkaban

There are several primers out there as well that should make it stick ok - I have one at home that worked a treat when I had to paint perspex (can't think of the name of it right now...will look tonight)

Cheers,
Dave

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Was it Zinsser BIN?

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Originally Posted by aldebaran3003

Was it Zinsser BIN?

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Nope - it was something like 'etch prime 720' or something odd like that. Sorry - forgot to check last night :no:

Well there you go! I tried the windex method and it works. It's not coming off in sheets like peeling sunburn but a bit of a scrape and it's real easy. I think that's marvelous as I won't have to go with the paint stripper option with a toddler and infant in the house. Not sure how it'll go on the vertical surfaces but will let you all know.:2tsup:

:rofl:

Windex. Is there anything it can't do :2tsup:

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Originally Posted by Ozkaban

:rofl:

Windex. Is there anything it can't do :2tsup:

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:2tsup:Well there you go! Tea Lady know something.:cool::D