I cannot see paint lasting on a plastic laminate.

Lightly scuff sand & coat with a good bonding primer like INSL-X Stix and you'll be fine. Cabinet tops & bottoms aren't wear surfaces to start with anyway.

I have a bit of Breakthrough paint (no primer) that is stuck real good to the porcelain enamel lid on my washing machine--going on three years.

Not sure what you mean by the top and bottom are laminate? The interior has a finish coat, is that what you mean?

Home Depot has at least 3 manufacturers for their in stock unfinished cabinets, depending on where you are geographically. IMO, the ones that are in the most northeasterly area are the best constructed. They are oak and do look nice if you are staining. The texture will show if you are painting. They are out of Canada and that unfinished line is called Stratford. However, that factory has been closed for quite a bit of COVID and availability is extremely limited.

I don’t know much about the quality of unfinished product in the Florida market. The rest of the country is manufactured by RSI, and is not of a very high quality. I think both of those are beech now and my understanding is they don’t take stain well. Paint fine, though.

Hi Mainenell,

These are the specific cabinets I'm referring to, and although the description doesn't say so the tops and bottoms of the cabinet are laminate. The cabinets are going above the washer and dryer, which I can't reach anyway. So, mostly the cabinet will be used to hold items that I access maybe once a year. These cabinets will not go in the kitchen. Sounds like you know about cabinets. Do you think these cabinets are okay for what I intend? If not, I can buy better constructed cabinets from Barker but they are more expensive. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Hampton-Unfinished-Assembled-12x30x12-in-Wall-Kitchen-Cabinet-in-Beech-KW1230-UFDF/306575832

I think those are manufactured by RSI. Note that you will need to add an end panel on any exposed side to cover the particleboard for a good finish.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Hampton-0-125x30x11-25-in-Wall-Cabinet-End-Panel-in-Unfinished-Beech-KASKW30M-UFDF/307611188

A painter painted the laminate shelves in our closet, and they've been fine. I don't know what product he used. It may well have been PPG Breakthrough. But yes, laminate can be painted.

I always tell people when using BT to wipe up splatters and spills immediately because once it dries, it's not coming off. Pretty much have to take a blade to it and settle for results.

Definitely consult with the PPG store. They know the product and application better than anyone.

"The hesitation in getting the Hampton Bay unfinished cabinets from HD is that the tops and bottoms of the cabinets are laminated."

• You're not going to see the top of the cabinet's exterior. Why would you want to paint it?
• The top of the interior of the cabinet is pre-finished.
• You're not going to see the bottom of the cabinet's exterior. Why would you want to paint it?
• The bottom of the interior of the cabinet is pre-finished.