Is laminate worth the time, effort, and cost?

[Doom bucket]

I'm having some seconds thoughts about my plan to cover my cab with black formica laminate. If any of you have used laminate, I'd like to hear whether or not you think it was worth it.

[somunny]

I think it's worth it.  Did my first cab in all black and working on my second with two-tone black/red.  However, I haven't built, or examined in person, a painted cab so take my two cents with a grain of salt.

There's some skilled people around here that I've seen work magic with paint and MDF...

Steve

[DrewKaree]

It's up to you.  Laminate has benefits paint simply can't beat, paint has benefits laminate simply can't beat.  If your only reason to use laminate is to get a nice finish in black, then that's not all that solid a reason, as you can get the same thing from paint.  If your reasons include being far more impervious to water damage and wear and tear, then paint CAN'T beat that.  Cost?  Paint by a long shot.  Ease of application?  Paint by a long shot.  Best results AFTER application?  Laminate by a long shot. 

[97thruhiker]

I've now painted and laminated a cabinet and I can say that both have their advantages/disadvantages.  With that said if an exact color match is not cirtical (i.e. cabinet restoration looking for exact Nintendo Blue, etc) then I would go with laminate every time, especially if I'm building a Mame cabinet.

My biggest reason for liking laminate is in my opinion the ease of it.  If you have the proper tools its really very easy.   Painting was much more difficult for me as well as time consuming.  Sanding, bondo, sanding, primer, sanding, painting, sanding, painting, etc (a good two weeks of work).  You can knock out a laminate job in a couple of hours and be done with it and ready to move on with the project.  Additionally the surface will withstand as much abuse as your kitchen countertops.

[1UP]

Use laminate if you EVER plan to move it--even to another room.  Paint--any kind of paint-- is just so easy to scratch off with the least of mishaps.  I would recommend at least laminating the outer side panels, they will take 99% of the abuse during moving.  It's not that hard either--seriously it's just an hour job to do both sides.  A cheap router and the right bit will do the job.  You'll need a router anyway (rent one for a day at Home Depot if you're cheap) if you're doing any t-molding, which I also highly recommend to protect the finish.

I ended up laminating both sides of the two side panels and doing the rest of the panels with black melamine.  Melamine is notorious for chipping, but just the tmolding and those two laminated side panels have seen it thru two hard moves without a scratch.  (I also edge banded the melamine to minimize the possibility of chipping.)

Color selection is obviously more limited, but between the two major brands (Wilsonart or Formica) you can usually get pretty darn close.

[AMDman13]

My two cents... I'm almost done with my oil based paint job....1 more coat to go.   However, if I had to do it all over again I would have done laminate.. I've personally seen somunny's laminate cab and the perfection of laminate is tuff to match.

As for cost... If you are going for a really smooth finish the cost of painting really adds up. Especially if you use rollers.. After you buy, paint, primer, rollers, tachey clothes, mineral spirits, sand paper in grits 220, 330, and 400. You will be darn close to the cost of laminate or there. I don't want to tell you what I have spent on painting supplies as I am too embarrassed..

If you do decide laminate call around I found a local Wilson Art distributor that carries the Matte 60 black for 19.00 vert and 22.00 for horz grades 4x8 sheets. 4-5 sheets should do most cabs if you are doing both sides.

[DrewKaree]

's funny, the stuff you don't take into account for cost if you normally have it lying around.  Hadn't even considered the cost for paint would be close to equal or perhaps even more.  Meh.

[NightGod]

In retrospect, I think I would have gone laminate if I had to do my cab over again, but I'm kinda digging the metallic texture paint I have, as well-it's really grown on my, even though it was a hell of alot of extra work. I'd definately go laminate if/when I made another cab, however.

[unclet]

If the side of my painted cabient get scratched or chipped I can simply putty it up , sand it and repaint it and it will look like new again.   Not sure whether you can do that with laminate.   Just a thought to keep in mind since most people probably keep these cabinets for many many years after they a rebuilt.....