Paint chalk can be used to paint almost anything – walls, kitchen cabinets, metal, wood, and even fabric – but the most common use is to give old furniture a new lease on life.
Chalk paint adheres to furniture beautifully without the use of primer and (usually) no sanding.
You do NOT need to sand the entire piece of furniture when you use Chalk Paint. Clean, clean, clean. Even though the furniture may look clean, 9 times out of 10 it is not. Dirt, grime and oily residue need to be cleaned away to insure that your chalk paint will have great adhesion.
–You can use chalk paint on any surface. It adheres to almost anything, and I've painted laminate, particle board, solid wood, leather, old and new furniture alike. It's held up beautifully.
When chalk paint isn't properly protected and sealed it can chip and scratch pretty easily.
Steps for Applying Chalkboard Paint to Wood
If you're coating bare wood, start by applying a primer. Chalk paint has a thinner consistency compared to traditional paint, so, once dry, sand the primer smooth and wipe the surface clean. Open the can of chalkboard paint and thoroughly mix the paint.
To clean your piece of furniture before painting, use a damp cloth and wipe over the surface. For stubborn dirt and grease, use warm soapy water but avoid harsh chemicals. For shiny laminates, use a sanding pad and lightly sand the surface. Wipe away any sanding dust before painting.
Besides its matte finish, chalk paint differs from traditional paint in several other ways. One of the benefits is that it doesn't require any prep work—it can paint right over most clean, dry surfaces (except for metal or shiny laminate), even if they're already painted.
Sanding and priming are two steps that should be taken before painting unfinished furniture. Let the primer dry after applying the first coat. The furniture should now be smooth and sand it again, this time at 150 degrees. Once again, apply primer to the piece and let it dry after you have added your second layer.
You can use Chalk Paint® to repaint the doors on your kitchen cabinets and drawers quickly, easily – and with minimal spend.
Although it isn't necessary to seal chalk paint, it's highly recommended, as it will protect the paint so that it lasts longer, while looking its best. That being said, there are people that prefer not to add a top coat to seal the chalk paint.
Wood furniture can usually be painted with latex paint that you find at local home improvement stores. Furniture painting is usually one of the easiest tasks to do with this paint. Although latex paints are more durable than oil-based paints, they are not as durable as latex paints.
Basic latex paint that you find at local home improvement stores is usually fine to paint wood furniture with. It tends to be one of the easiest paints to work with when it comes to painting furniture. That being said, though, the durability of a latex paint isn't as great as an oil-based paint's.
Chalk Paint Cracking
Chalk paint cracks when the furniture wasn't cleaned well before painting. Dust and furniture polish can stop paint from sticking to the surface. How to Fix It: If the cracks are deep, you may need to sand the piece. Then seal it with shellac, let it dry and then paint another coat of chalk paint.
Unlike other paints, chalk paint does not require sanding or priming, which makes it unique. Paint can be applied to almost any surface, indoors or outdoors: floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, glass, metal, wood, concrete, plaster, and even fabric.
Applying a coat of clear wax over Chalk Paint® will deepen the colour of the paint and create a beautiful, matt finish. It will protect against fingermarks and stains. It's also water-repellent, so you can wipe any marks away with a damp cloth.
For most purposes, one to two coats of paint are enough. Chalk Paint® adheres to almost any surface, and there is rarely any need to sand or prime before painting. See 'Dealing with stains coming through Chalk Paint®' for when to prime or sand before painting.
The most common reasons that your chalk paint will scratch off with your finger nail is due to you having used a low quality chalk paint, not having used a wax sealant, using your chalk paint on an unsuitable surface, and only using a single coat of your chalk paint on the surface.
You have to also be careful to apply wax very evenly. What happens if you don't wax chalk paint evenly is that built-up of too much wax can attract dirt. But a thin layer of wax could allow water to penetrate so be sure to use coasters on pieces that get a lot of use.
It is generally not recommended to paint over varnished wood, but you can paint over it without sanding it. If you want to protect the surface permanently, you can use Chalk paint and seal it with a top coat. Or, you can use a special bonding primer to prepare the surface for painting without sanding it first.
Chalk paint is great to use if you want an aged look. After painting interior doors, you can easily sand parts of the paint away to reveal the original surface, then apply wax to seal everything.
Do I recommend you chalk paint your dining room table? In my opinion, yes! Go for it! As long as you use a durable chalk paint sealer, you should be all set.
Chalk paint is the best way to paint practically anything without sanding. It offers a gorgeous matte finish and no need to prepare the surface. Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint was the cornerstone of the painted furniture industry as we know it.
You can paint over varnished wood as long as you use the right materials and painting process. The best paint to use is a water-based acrylic one. If you're using an oil-based paint only use an oil-based primer, not an acrylic one. “Sweet, this means it can be done!