Can you give me advice on chalk painting furniture?
by
Cindy
+3
I see a lot of posts about chalk paint and am about to try my first project. My question is, to sand or not to sand? I thought the object of chalk paint was that you didn’t need to sand but, I see that a lot of people do. Then I see some people use just a heavy duty cleaner(I forget the name of it but, I see more then one person using it). Which way should I go and if you know of a good cleaner, please let me know.
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it really depends on how much traffic the area gets. If its a less traffic area, the chalk paint will do just fine on its own. If it needs more staying power you will need to do more prep
Regardless of what paint I use, I ALWAYS wash with TSP, then let dry thoroughly before priming and painting. The better the prep, the more professional end result will be achieved.
The cleaner is TSP. I always smooth with a light sanding and then clean with denatured alcohol to be on the safe side.
I use Krud Kutter tsp substitute because it doesn't need to be rinsed off. Here's my prep guide for painting furniture! https://thriftednest.com/how-to-prep-wood-furniture-to-paint/
I always clean a piece of furniture before painting, but I don't always use chemical cleaners. It depends on how dirty it is and how much furniture polish it has on it.
As far as sanding, it depends on the piece. I'll even prime it first if it gets a lot of use. It's worth the extra work to make it last longer.