How does chalk paint hold up?

Question

There has been an explosion of chalk painting on HT. I want someone to replay as to how it holds up. I am not interested in Grandmother's table in the dining room that is used twice a year. What about kitchen cabinets in a family of 6-8 people where dinner is cooked every night and the kids knock around in there? I have furniture that is rarely touched and it always looks great...the den, not so good! I was just wondering before I do or don't decide to try it!

Cynthia - Clockworkinteriors · Answer

Chalk paint is very durable..it will require a topcoat though. Pieces that I've painted years ago, look just as good today. Good luck!

Jeannie Andrews · Answer

I was also wondering about cabinets. I have one I want to put in my kitchen and it is fresh from the building supply. Where do I start. What supplies do I need. which blog should I turn to?

Cynthia - Clockworkinteriors · Answer

I have two coffee tables, which get very high traffic--no problem--they both just have wax topcoats..there are many different brands out there, and I would top with whatever that manufacturer recommends...Annie Sloan, Maison Blanche, General Finishes, are just a few..General Finishes is my new favorite :D....and they all have websites.

Sherrie · Answer

Preparation, and sealers would be important if your painting cabinets.  I have seen some beautiful cabinets that make you swoon and then cabinet nightmares,  I wouldn't use a wax as a sealer probably a water base polyurethane.   I don't use waxes to seal my furniture I always use a water base poly on the too's of them.  Wax can take 30 to 90 days to cure depending in the kind you use and it needs to be reapplied.  You can only clean it with a little bit of water.  I would want durable if it's in a high traffic area.

Lance Price · Answer

Can't seal it if you're actually going to use it as a chalkboard. I painted a square directly on the wall next to the fridge and attached a frame to the wall around it. I finished it off by using a white paint pen to write 'Needful Things' across the top. Use a softer chalk and it will last decades, mine has!

Pam · Answer

I have an entertainment center with two side hutches in my living room that I am thinking of painting but am afraid to pick a color. How do you start?

Fran H · Answer

I used DIY chalk paint to do my kitchen island last year.  Black latex with plaster of paris. I sealed with two coats of polyacrylic sanding between coats. They are holding up beautifully.  Granted there are no little ones in our home but we are pretty rough on things.

Melanie Hinman · Answer

'Needful Things' - I like that! I painted a cast iron bistro set (white) that sits on my covered porch - not full out in the elements. I topped it with two coats of poly. Loved the result, but after a year and a half, orange-y rust is coming through...wish I would've just sprayed Rustoleum. :( Still a fan of chalk paint - just a bad choice there...

Bridget Kik · Answer

I painted my stairs with it....lasted about 2 months and looked like hell...even through the wax. Definatley needs something more.

Sherry · Answer

Hi @Jeanette S , I'm currently using chalk paint on several projects and I love it. When I decided I wanted to give that type of paint a try, I went online and found a blog: http://inmyownstyle.com/diy-chalk-paint-recipes written by Diane. She has 2 different recipes and explains the difference between them and how they should be used. It's a great blog article and very helpful! Read the comments if you can because the comments have lots of helpful info too. Since your wanting to paint a dinning room table I suggest you try her recipe that uses a mix Calcium Carbonate Powder with Plaster of Paris. Hope that helps and good luck! :)

Yvonne Sanders · Answer

I have been using chalk paint for a little while now, and does need a top coat of wax. I like to use ASCP light wad then a little dark wax. It holds up very well, the wax will harden in a few days. If doing cabinets or dining room tables or something that gets a lot of wear, I always use poly acrylic for a top coat. Usually about 3 light coats.

Debbie · Answer

I painted my maple cabinets with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and I love it! Its is very important to use the wax and let it cure. My cabinets look great and they are so easy to wipe off!! IT WAS A LOT OF WORK!!! but so worth it and it saved me a lot of money in the end.

Providence Hill · Answer

I painted our couch and it is holding up very well. Little rear-ends go up and down on it about 50 times every day- this isn't including the grimy hands either!

GR · Answer

I've been painting/refinishing furniture and doing commissions for people (including kitchens) for nearly 20 years now. Obviously when I started no one used chalk paint, it was all latex or eggshell and usually you sanded and primed before applying. When I first heard about Annie Sloan chalk paint I was intrigued, especially by the no sanding or priming necessary part! While I'm maybe not as enthusiastic as some of the people posting here I think it definitely has it's advantages for certain projects and I've been quite successful at making my own using calcium carbonate (literally chalk powder) added to latex. It is great for the rustic and distressed look and is quick to work with but I still find other paints work better for a flat finish. I've used Annie Sloan on kitchen cabinets (sealing them with several coats of varnish) at the request of clients and they have held up well but I used primer and eggshell paint on my own kitchen cabinets and I think that tells you all you need to know about which I think is most durable!

Annie Doherty · Answer

I like the look of chalk paints but prefer to use eggshell as personally I find that the finish is much more durablem always looks great and can any marks can be washed easily. I use this for all my projects particularly as now I can buy water based eggshell which is even easier to clean brushes, tools etc.

Jeanette S · Answer

I don't paint furniture...to old to bother, but just wondered about this paint because I see so many using it!

Dianne Shelton · Answer

Chalk paint holds up well.   I have done several pieces and I am getting ready to do my kitchen Cabinet doors.   The beauty of it is that it covers so well.  and covers just about anything.  Dianne B Dallas, Texas

Lisa · Answer

Hello...  if you  go on Pinterest and search for chalk painted kitchen cabinets… There's loads of information… Also you can Google kitchen cabinet makeover and lots of Pinterest bloggers  will come up ... I hope this helps ladies 😀

Betty · Answer

can you use on cooking pans ?

How does chalk paint hold up?

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