What is Chalk Paint? A "Primer"...
What is Chalk-Based Paint? A "Primer"...
If you’re interested in
painting furniture and you’ve done any research at all on the process, you’ve
probably heard of chalk paint.
Maybe you’re not quite sure what chalk paint is and why it’s a great
paint to use for decorative furniture painting.
Maybe you are confused by the name…is it like chalk for chalkboards? Will it rub off onto my clothes? Is it durable? All understandable and good questions which this introductory "primer" aims to answer.
Chalk paint is a
type of paint that is highly versatile and can be manipulated to create
beautiful finishes on furniture and home decor.
It has a chalky appearance and feel, and can be layered and easily
distressed to create an aged appearance.
It will not rub off once it is sealed and cured.
Chalk paint is usually a
water-based paint typically made from calcium carbonate—the same mineral
substance you find in antacids like Tums or Rolaids. Different brands have varying levels of
calcium carbonate and other binding ingredients. Chalk paint is usually non-toxic with a low level
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), though check your specific brands for its ingredients, toxicity and VOC levels.
Chalk paint is essentially
self-priming and adheres well to most surfaces with minimal prep. You usually do not have to strip the furniture
piece before painting it with chalk paint. Chalk paint dries to a matte finish and requires
a finish coat (such as wax or a polyacrylic top coat) to protect it against staining and damage.
Is chalk painted furniture
durable? This is a somewhat loaded
question, I think. Is your stained
furniture durable? Do you have cats and
dogs that scratch your stained furniture?
How about kids (like mine) that have pressed a bit too hard while doing
homework on your stained kitchen table top leaving an indelible script? Has your spouse left behind a permanent water
mark from a coffee cup? Do you ding up
your stained furniture legs when you vacuum? I think you get the point. Both painted and stained furniture are subject the same
risks of damage—but the difference is that you can easily fix damage on painted
furniture by repainting just the damaged area.
Stained furniture usually requires fully stripping and re-staining
to obscure the damage and the fix. Chalk
paint that is properly applied and sealed is as durable as latex or acrylic
paints.
Are there chalk paint
brands that don’t need to be sealed? In short, yes. There are some brands of chalk or “mineral”
paint that have the sealer built in.
However, these paints are harder to manipulate/distress. Some chalk-based furniture paint brands, like
Autentico Paints, have both a chalk paint line with a sealer, and also one
without.
What brand is the best? I’ve tried quite a few chalk- and
mineral-based paints and have my favorite (hint, it’s Autentico Vintage!) But many brands on the
market can meet your needs. Each brand
is different in its composition. Some
are thicker than others; some adhere better than others; some cover better with
fewer coats; some self-level well; some go on smoother; some are grittier and
leave more brush strokes; some need more sanding/elbow grease to get a soft and
smooth chalky finish. It’s up to
personal preference based on the look and feel that you want. Along with the paint, you must also consider
the wax sealer (the most commonly used sealer for chalk paint). Some waxes are thick, some thin; some have a
higher or lower petroleum content; and others are made with more beeswax/carnauba
wax.
Should I go for a premium
brand or an inexpensive brand? There are
many different price points for chalk paint and some of the seemingly
inexpensive brands do just fine. I say seemingly
inexpensive because you must consider the per ounce (or ml) cost. An 8 oz. jar of paint from the craft store that
seems less expensive than a liter/quart of premium paint, might add up to nearly
the same cost when multiplied by four.
You also should remember the old adage, ‘you get what you pay for’. This is no different with chalk paint. Some lesser expensive brands do not adhere or
cover as well.
Where do I buy chalk paint? Some paints you can buy at your local craft
store, big box hardware store, or discount store. Others (the premium brands) must be purchased
from official “stockists” at specialty stores, painting studios, or online. Autentico Vintage Chalk can be found online
or in a growing number of boutique stores in the United States.
Can I make my own chalk
paint? Yes, you can make your
own chalk paint; however, you risk consistency if you don’t make enough to
cover your whole piece and must make more.
Also, durability is not assured because you cannot control the other
binders in the formula which vary between latex paint brands. A good recipe for DIY chalk paint is:
·
Mix 1/3 cup of Calcium Carbonate (can buy on Amazon) or Plaster of Paris
and 1/3 cup of cool water; stir until completely smooth. Mix that with 1 cup of
latex paint and stir thoroughly. This will make
enough chalk-finish paint for one coat on a six-drawer
dresser.
Enjoy!
