Why is chalk paint used for other things?
by
Nancy Martin
I just joined so please bring me up to speed....and I'm barely a DIY! I know about chalk paint to use when you want to create a chalkboard surface but I keep reading about projects that use chalk paint for projects that obviously won't be written on with chalk. What's the deal?
3 answers
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People often confuse chalkboard paint and chalk paint. They are actually two completely different things. Chalkboard paint is used to turn a surface into a chalkboard to write on with chalk. Chalk paint is a type of matte paint that can be used to paint any surface. It is very popular because no sanding or priming is required, but it should be sealed with a wax to protect it. Waxing also deepens the color and adds some luster. There are several brands of commercial chalk paint available (Annie Sloan and CeCe Caldwell are two), or there are DIY "recipes" to make your own chalk paint using latex paint mixed with things like Plaster of Paris or non-sanded grout or calcium carbonate.
Shari
on Jul 14, 2013
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where do I even find chalk paint? and what do you mean by waxing? what is the wax?
Gloria Zuendel
on Jul 14, 2013
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Commercially made chalk paint is sold by "stockists," i.e., dealers who have been chosen by the company to sell their products. (Similiar to Avon representatives.) You can go to the websites (I've provided a couple links below), put in your zip code and find where the stockists are located. If there are none near you, stockists will ship to you, or I believe you can order directly from the Annie Sloan or Cece Caldwell websites. Be warned, chalk paint is expensive. (That's one of the reasons so many people are mixing their own using the Plaster of Paris, non-sanded grout etc. A QUART of Annie Sloan's runs about $35, but I understand it goes a long way. Chalk paint is the "in" thing right now in furniture painting so it seems new companies are popping up all the time to cash in on the demand. Here are the websites for the two companies I have heard the most about: http://www.anniesloan.com/ http://cececaldwells.com/ Each company has formulated their own wax to use with their chalk paints. Usually they sell a clear wax, which is used when you want your paint color to remain basically the same. There is also a dark wax which will darken the paint color and give it an "antiqued" look. Again, the waxes can be pricey. I have also heard of people using any kind of furniture paste wax like Minwax over the chalk paints. Many bloggers have done tutorials on using chalk paint (commercially produced and homemade), as well as comparisons between the commercially produced and homemade formulas. You can google "chalk paint tutorial" if you'd like to read more. I know there are also Home Talk members who have posted lots of chalk paint info on here. Just use the search bar at the top left of the page. Edited to add: The "stockists" have websites and they generally have a Frequently Asked Questions section with tips on using the paints and waxes, so that is another good source to learn the ins and outs of using chalk paint. YouTube would be a good source for video tutorials on chalk paint.
Shari
on Jul 14, 2013
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