ᐅ How to best roughen a Kallax surface for repainting?

Hello everyone, I’m planning to repaint a Kallax shelf unit because I no longer like the original surface. Since Kallax has a melamine-coated surface, I’m wondering what the best way is to roughen it up so the new paint will adhere well and not just peel off again.

Does anyone have tips for preparing the surface? Is sanding with fine sandpaper enough, or should more aggressive methods be used? Are special primers necessary? I’m aiming for a long-lasting result.

I look forward to your experiences and advice!

Hey, nice topic! 😊
I sanded my Kallax unit once – I used 120-grit sandpaper, which was really good for the first pass. Then I followed up with 220-grit to roughen the surface nicely without sanding it down too much.

Important: Make sure to remove the dust layer thoroughly afterward, preferably with a damp cloth or a tack cloth. And yes, a primer is definitely your friend! 😎

I’m not sure if you plan to apply the paint with a spray method or a roller; that makes a difference when choosing the primer.

I've done this too! 😊 And I can only say: sanding really makes the difference – the more thorough you are, the better the paint will adhere!

My trick was to start with a coarse sanding pad (around 100 grit), then follow up with finer sandpaper. After that, use a primer to ensure the paint has a good grip!

Have fun with your project, it’s going to be great! 👍

Hello effendideo,

I would like to give you a brief guide that might help you:

1. Clean the surface: Remove all grease spots and dust before sanding!
2. Sanding: Melamine-coated surfaces can be sanded well using sandpaper with a grit of 100-120. It is important not to remove too much material, just lightly roughen the surface.
3. Remove dust: After sanding, make sure to thoroughly remove dust or wipe with a damp cloth and let it dry.
4. Primer: For melamine-containing surfaces, I always recommend a special adhesion primer for plastics or chip coatings.
5. Painting: Depending on the type of paint (acrylic, PU, etc.), apply the paint.

Common mistakes are sanding too aggressively or skipping the primer. Without primer, the paint can peel off quickly.

I hope this helps you!

An important aspect that is often overlooked: the surface quality of the Kallax shelf varies. Some have a very smooth, melamine-coated surface, while others have a painted film finish.

I always recommend testing on an inconspicuous spot to see how much sanding roughens the surface.

Additionally, a chemical pretreatment with adhesion promoters or primers can be useful, especially if you are using a plastic-based paint.

If possible, get a primer that is specifically designed for melamine or plastic surfaces.

One more quick tip from my side: If you don’t feel like doing a lot of sanding, try using fine abrasive pads (for example, Scotch-Brite). They are less aggressive but create a nicely textured surface for the paint.

And a small but important note: Keep an eye on the room temperature while painting. Too cold or too humid conditions can ruin the paint! 🙂