Is chalk paint waterproof?

by Wendy Elias

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I have a manufactured home with cupboard doors made of particleboard. I painted them this summer and they are already wearing around the knobs. :( Will chalk paint and the wax covering be waterproof (under sink cupboards) AND wear-proof? *I am desperate*

10 answers

Sylvia hunt on Jun 23, 2016
I would not recommend this paint for kitchen cupboards. I painted the side panel of the bath with it and it marked very easily. I had to paint over with something else.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Sylvia for the head's up! :)
  
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- Susan Tomenson on Apr 06, 2017
  
  Hi. I used the paints in my new bathroom on all cupboards and bath panel and it's Tough! Once waxed, it has to cure. Before then it might chip. I even have it in my dining room wit out wax, and one year on it is still perfect
  Regards
  Sue
  
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Hunter Hampton on Jun 24, 2016
If you are handy, and have power tools, you can make those doors "hardwood". You will need some beadboard "wainscot" paneling, and door molding and lattice. Picture frame the edge of a door with door stop molding. Then measure the inside and cut the paneling to fit. Then trim the edges with lattice. You will end up with this.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You, Hunter Hampton, that looks amazing! Unfortunately, I am not at all handy with tools. I think those skills are almost magical! :)
  
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Pamela Ashley on Jun 24, 2016
You have to wax or put polyacrylic on chalk paint to make it last. If you put a couple of coats of wax on your chalk paint you should be able to lightly wipe it with water. Don't drown it however.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Pamela Ashley. Can you think of anything else that might work as a waterproof paint?
  
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Dorina Szczepanski on Jun 24, 2016
Chalk paint is what you want. Not chalkboard. I did my cabinets in October they still look great. For a kitchen I used several coats of poly acrylic to seal. Actually I added an optional step: after giving their first coat of paint I gave a coat of satin poly to seal the base coat. Then proceeded to recoat with paint to desired coverage and sealed with 2 more coats of poly. It is very durable. My kitchen gets a lot of use.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You, Dorina Szczepanski! The SECOND I hit the "enter" button, I knew I wrote it wrong. I did, indeed, mean "Chalk paint." And from your description, it sounds like what I will need to do, as well. Also, I figured out TOO LATE, that I could have "edited" it. ;)
  
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Anna Lenehan on Jun 24, 2016
Waxing them with the soft wax, then buffing gives a nice effect. Then top coat it with a poly acrylic. Would do two coast of top coat with a lit sanding in between. Wax is water resistant (in casae you want to stop here) but not water proof.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Anna Lenehan, that is such a good reminder as to the chalk paint being 'water resistant' vs. 'water proof' :)
  
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Jo-Anne Brust on Jun 24, 2016
We used chalkboard paint for a backsplash in our kitchen. It's great! We can write on it to welcome someone to our home, and a quick memo to my hubby. Then we wipe it with a soft cloth or a damp rag. Besides, if it gets yucky, it's only paint. We'll do it again!

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Jo-Anne Brust, great idea!
  
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- Hunter Hampton on Jun 28, 2016
  Chalkboard paint, and chalk paint are two totally different things. Chalkboard paint is like in school, when the teacher wrote on the blackboard. Chalk paint is any and every color and is use to make furniture look antique... and shabby.
  
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Re on Jun 24, 2016
I always cover chalk paint with an acrylic clear coat, at least 2 coats.. I don't mess with the wax.

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- Johnchip on Jun 24, 2016
  Agreed. Do not expect to put a poly over a wax. Just a dumb idea. Use poly over paint.
  
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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Reneeweb & Johnchip, I believe I will be doing JUST THAT! :)
  
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Ilene Paffel Thompson on Jun 24, 2016
I don't think chalkboard paint will hold up if in a wet climate outdoors. I do know that Lowes or Home Depot tutorials have suggested flat base paint for outdoor use and you can still write and erase on it. Hope that helps your decision.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Ilene Paffel Thompson for taking the time to answer. This is actually for my kitchen indoors. I am super-happy about the referrals, though! They ALWAYS help! :)
  
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Rachel Tose on Jun 25, 2016
Instead of paying extra money for chalk paint, just mix grout into regular paint. I did this for my granddaughter's room and it worked fabulously! Using regular paint and adding grout means that you will have the durability of the regular paint.

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- Wendy Elias on Jun 28, 2016
  Thank You Rachel Tose, I have garnered some fantastic ideas! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! :)
  
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- Re on Jun 28, 2016
  There are recipes on line for chalk paint. I haven't done it though. Most of them are 1 1/2 cups latex paint, 1/2 c hot water, 1/2 cup plaster of paris. Mix hot water and plaster together before you add to your paint I intend to try it sometime. Just remember to properly prepare your painting surface. :)
  
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Jennifer Rice Merlino on Apr 29, 2017

Does anyone know how to waterproof previously chalk painted furniture for ooutd use?

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- Amanda Horner on May 29, 2020
  
  i'm looking for best way to water resist or steam resist or water proof chalk painted furniture in a bathroom- so exterior may be what i am looking for too although i'm inside- i think i've researched so far that poly acrylic is best to seal, like Minwax , theres sprays and brush ons- im no pro- so dont quote me lol
  
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