UKC

Our new bedroom has some fairly naff melamine fitted cupboards in it.

I've taken out the (poorly designed) shelfs and left the carcass, with the plan of putting in some new shelves in better, more useful positions.

For the final finish we want to paint the doors (and ideally the carcass) which appear to be melamine.

Anyone with any experience/tips on this - 2 options seem to be 'Difficult surface primer' or a Ronseal 'one coat melamine paint'

Difficult surface primer seems the best way to go so all the different woods/melamine/wall top coats will match. Primers seem t come at cheap (B&Q own), mid (Valspar) or pricier (Dulux) - any experience of using these?

cheers for any advice!

Reckon one-coat paint is for people who are tarting up a house to sell it quickly before the paints starts coming off. 

I've found some of the Zinsser primers to be good on other awkward surfaces (but personally never painted melamine). Maybe another option at the pricier end.

In the far distant past i'v used plasti kote enamel paint direct onto melamine kitchen units. Worked well and lasted without fading, chipping or peeling off. It's expensive stuff, per volume / coverage. 

I suspect that the one coat melam paint is very similar in makeup.

We did our kitchen doors last year - took the melamine coating off (it came away quite easily), gave the MDF a light sand to remove any imperfections, painted with standard acrylic primer and topcoat - bit of work but cheap and really happy with the results, looks like a brand new kitchen.

Chipboard carcasses I left alone.

I've done similar using Little Green oil based flat/eggshell. One litre goes a long way! Rub down the surfaces with fine grade sandpaper and clean with degreasing wipes. No need for undercoat. Apply two coats.

Zinsser sticks to owt and owt sticks to Zinsser. 

Give it a key with some 120 grit sandpaper and prime with Zinsser BIN. 

Another vote for Zinsser products - https://www.zinsseruk.com/product/

Dave

I'd avoid Valspar at all costs, there was an  issue fairly recently with some of their paints smelling of cat pee!

You can use Frenchic paint on melamine but personally .... I'd probably go with Zinsser.

https://frenchicpaint.co.uk/

Cheers for all the tips - big tin of Zinsser B.I.N purchased - anything left can be used to patch up the hack job the previous owners did painting the brown PVC window frames a pretty patchy white!

Sticky back plastic

Don't you have to use that stuff earlier?

Having used it once, I wouldn't touch Valspar ever again!