Formica over painted countertop?

[Kharn]

I want to put Formica laminate on the top surface and front edge of my galley countertop, but the plywood manufacturer says to primer and paint the wood to seal it. Will Formica adhesive stick to semigloss exterior paint? I assume I'd need to scuff it?

[halfdome, Danny]

Your going to have a mess on your hands putting contact cement on paint.
It will get lumpy and you will end up with a less than desirable bond.
I recommend starting with new plywood, it doesn't need a primer since the contact cement does the priming.
If that's not an option think about skinning your painted countertop with 1/4" plywood and put your plam (plastic laminate) on that.
Danny

[Dale M.]

NO primer, no paint.... Just "clean" plywood, and contact cement and formica....

Dale

[David S]

^^^^^^^^What Dale said,,there is no reason to seal the plywood before you put the laminate on.

[Kharn]

Sounds like there is agreement.
All of my galley pieces are just screwed together, so I can replace or move them if any of my equipment sizes change, guess I'll just keep an eye on the countertop and make a new one if anything happens.