Why is chalk paint better

If you have a rough or chipped finish, you need to prep. But overall, yes, in most cases, chalk paint is pretty user-friendly in that it really does require little prep. It will stick really well to your stuff. This old coffee bar dresser I painted years ago. It was the coffee bar before I created the newest one I have now. Drying time. Yes, it really does dry pretty quickly. Which I love.

It goes further. Well, hmm, I do think it can. But that all depends on the color and the coverage you are getting. Which I will say, is usually pretty good with chalk paint. Using it in a paint sprayer. I absolutely love that it can also be used in a paint sprayer. That is a game-changer when it comes to painting. Because, if you have used chalk paint or any chalk style paint, you know it can leave brush marks.

There are several ways to combat that…. There are many ways around it. You will hear people complain about this being an issue with any type of chalk paint, but it really is a non-issue. Blends easier. Blending 2 or more shades together to create variations, ombre or other designs. Chalk paint and chalk style paint for the win here, for sure. Speaking of blending colors. The chalk style paints just do this so effortlessly. It distresses really well as if time had worn it down.

Exactly the look you are going for. You can distress it before you seal or after. And you can even distress with a wet rag or paper towel. I love the options! Sure, it works sometimes. But most times it sort of rolls off, or peels off, instead of looking like it was smoothly sanded off or worn away naturally. Easy cleanup. For sure. They just do. I can let chalk paint dry on a brush and soak it, and voila, good as new.

Spill it on something, it will come off. Let me share another one of my favorite chalk painted furniture pieces before we continue. As I already mentioned above, no, chalk paint is not always no prep. And not all situations furniture are the same.

Some are rougher than others. Some have issues, some need prep. Brush marks. Stains and bleed through. Some stains will bleed through the paint. Not only that reddish wood but just your everyday stains and such. It does however always need to be sealed. Well, unless you are using it outside, then you can leave it unsealed.

Typically though, it needs sealing. It can be costly. Yes, chalk paint is pricey. Most chalk style paints are as such. They have about colors now and it is much more reasonably priced. I do wish they had more colors though. This is another oldie and one I still have in my home. I created this fun graphic to paint onto the front. Where to buy? Chalk paint can be tough to find to purchase. In short, if you want to give any wall, ceiling, object, or piece of furniture a more chalky appearance and porous finish — then chalk paint is your way to go.

Regular paint refers to all those paints that instead of delivering a porous surface, offer a smooth finish. Most regular paints you find on the market comply with this description. Latex chalked paints, for example, are usually a no-brainer. Still, adding a few drops of water can always make it thinner and easier to apply. Regular paint is also self-leveling and provides decent consistency. However, some versions may not be easy to apply either too thick or too thin , and may eventually create a huge mess.

They usually destabilize and lose their color. So yes — chalk paints are usually easier to apply. Chalk paint is certainly thick most of the time. In contrast, regular paints can cover tons of space with a single coat. This not only means they can cover large areas but that you can make a single container last longer.

One of the main advantages of chalk paint vs normal paint is the ability to withstand all kinds of environments. Happy Painting. How to Use Chalk Mountain Paint. Are all of those lust-worthy before and after chalk paint pictures on Pinterest getting you in the mood to do some serious DIY makeovers to your decor?

Using Chalk Mountain paint is trending big time right now and for good reason. We all go through different phases and want to switch things up. If you want to give Chalk Mountain paint a go but you have no clue what it is or where to start, then consider this your go-to guide for all things Chalk Mountain paint related. For square mirrors, avoid getting any chalk paint on the mirror by taking a piece of paper and sliding it between the glass and the frame.

For round mirrors, you should cut the paper so it has rounded edges. It will be easier to maneuver the paper around the mirror that way. Cut the paper in a half-circle and tuck it underneath the mirror. Not just another paint With Chalk Mountain Paint we are more than just a layer of color. Unique brushes and waxes will enhance your project and give it the look and feel you dream about.

Premium Quality. We pride ourselves in producing quality products and we back it up with our promise of best practices and fast customer service. We strive to get your purchase to you as soon as possible, this is why we ship the same day your order is placed. We would love to answer any questions or concerns you might have, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We offer 4 styles of Quality Chalk furniture paint and wax brushes ranging from small, medium and large. We designed the palm brush in , as my father in law has severe arthritis and cannot stop painting. The Ergonomic palm handle fits in your palm; which allows you to have more control and NOT have those aches and pains after painting or waxing your completed project. All brushes are Natural Boar Hair Bristles and wooden handles.

Warranty included for Manufacturer defects. Most of the time, they ask how to cover or remove chalk paint on wood furniture. Many argue chalk paint has fantastic coverage without the hassle of sanding and priming.

I certainly did. About 6 years ago, my daughter had a rare autoimmune disease and we were overloaded with medical bills. My emotional outlet was redoing decor in our home. I started refinished old furniture but was discouraged by chalk paint because of the dent it was making in our already-stretched budget.

As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure HERE. Affiliate links are only used for products I use and love. There are many different brands of chalk paint on the market with different formulations, but what they all have in common is a matte finish and thick, chalky consistency that adheres well to furniture and crafts.

Chalk paint varies from brand to brand. But most chalk-based paint is water-based. Chalky paint is made out of a binder that helps it adhere to the surface and then an aggregate that gives it the gritty, sometimes powdery texture. When painting with homemade chalk paint, plaster of paris , baking soda, or unsanded grout is often used as the aggregate. It of course has coloring that gives it the specific shade and usually pretty low on VOCs volatile organic compounds.

Chalk painting furniture has been one of the most popular ways to paint furniture, small projects and crafts. It helps you to achieve a farmhouse style with painted furniture and shabby chic home decor and can be applied with several techniques like dry brushing, blending or antiquing furniture. Chalk paint adheres well to surfaces if there is no possibility of a stain bleeding through, if the surface of the paint does not have a lot of sheen and if you plan on using a protectant coat on top of the chalk paint.

The grit or chalkiness is what helps it adhere to surfaces like raw wooden furniture. Unfortunately, although it adheres well, it does not protect well or provide a smooth, flawless finish on your family heirloom.

In March, a reader named Whitney shared her experience with me on Instagram. Here is her comment:. On the third try with the oil-based blocker primer and latex you recommended, I finally had success!

My alternative process to chalk paint does include a primer. But when you use this simple step and a couple of other time-saving tips, you will see how this process will bypass the extra time and effort that Whitney had to invest. Also, my process does not require a sealant step like chalk paint requires a coat of clear wax! The only way to know for sure if you need a primer is to see how the piece turns out. You now have to strip the entire piece to the original wood or sand and repeat the process.

Ask me how I know! Many have asked me about the best paint for furniture without sanding. However, the reason you should sand a piece of furniture is so you can create enough grit or tooth on the surface for the paint to stick. When you chalk paint furniture, sanding can sometimes be avoided, because chalk paint is more porous allowing it to have some glue-like properties.

However, I have yet to find an old piece of furniture that did not require at least some prep work like sanding, priming wood knobs or filling in nicks, deep scratches, or small areas of general wear and tear with wood filler. When most people visualize sanding, they see themselves slaving over a large piece of furniture for hours with a small piece of sandpaper.

When sanding furniture, the goal is not to sand off the entire surface of the paint. You are simply going over the surface lightly to give it some roughness so the paint adheres.

With an electric sander , sanding consists of flipping a switch and running the sander over the surface of the piece. Then you wipe it down with a clean cloth and warm water. Click here for how to sand furniture in less than 5 minutes. If you are using chalk paint on wood furniture that is stained, I would sand to make the surface more porous so the paint adheres. When it comes to using chalk paint for wood furniture, most furniture pieces have to be sanded, regardless.

If you want to get an electric sander a try, here are some budget-friendly options: Best Electric Sanders for Furniture. As I mentioned in my post, The Best Type of Paint for Furniture , there is a learning curve to waxing and it can be very time-consuming.

Also, you might have a layer of dark or white wax for decorative purposes after your layer of clear wax dries. Also, a thin coat of wax takes a full month to cure before a piece is protected enough to use or sell.

My favorite clear coat will be dry in a couple of hours or a little longer if you are working in high humidity. Even when chalk painting furniture, there are times when you have to use a primer because many dark stains will bleed through chalk paint.

Also, a primer is helpful to provide coverage. For example, if you were to paint Old White chalk paint on black furniture, it will take several coats of chalk paint to cover, but a primer will minimize the number of coats including your time, energy, and the extra cost of chalk paint. When you chalk paint furniture, you always have to use a soft wax or protective finish to protect the surface.

Every painted furniture piece needs to be covered in a substance that will stick to the surface and also protect the piece long-term. No one product does both things really well — at least none that are cost-effective. Chalk paint sometimes has the adhesion properties but not the protection you want. Latex paint has the protection, but not the adhesion. Do you know what happens to an unwaxed piece of furniture that has a cold drink left on it? The chalk paint actually re-liquifies.

You can imagine having family over and your sister puts her cold glass of sweet tea right on the entry table you refinished last year. When you clean up that night, there is now a round soggy stain on your beautiful furniture piece. You have to also be careful to apply wax very evenly. But a thin layer of wax could allow water to penetrate so be sure to use coasters on pieces that get a lot of use. In terms of maintenance, chalk painted furniture has to be re-waxed every 3 years, and more often if it is a heavy-use furniture piece.

This is because the wax finish will break down over time. Once a piece is painted with latex paint, it will never need ongoing maintenance — just an occasional wipe with a clean soft cloth. But using an oil-based primer will prevent this from happening while also helping the paint to adhere. My favorite water-based primer is Zinnser Bullseye click here for the current price and my favorite oil-based primer is Zinnser Cover Stain click here for the current price.

A lot of people use two coats of paint on a piece, especially if it is a darker color. My process below entails one coat of tinted primer and one coat of paint as the tinting helps to provide better coverage. Although you have to sand with this process, you are not having to go through the time-consuming process of waxing your piece.

And remember, you are not sanding off the old finish. You are simply spending a couple of minutes roughing up the old paint or stain. Good latex paint will not need a wax or topcoat because it will have its own protective finish for years to come.

Recently a reader asked me where to buy chalk paint and I could only think of specialty stores, which makes using latex more convenient. There is always a big box store close-by that sells good latex paint. Some hardware stores sell Rustoleum chalk paint but as with homemade chalk paint, the more calcium carbonate or other additives in paint, the more it degrades the product. Higher-end latex paints are known to be the ones with fewer of these additives, which makes them less durable in the long-term.

See my post here to see my better alternative process to chalk painting furniture using latex paint. Also, I recently came to realize that chalk paint brushes can provide really good coverage. I can get really good coverage and no brush marks with these brushes: Zibra Brushes Click here for the current price. You actually want the opposite — a longer dry time and a short cure time. Your drying time is the time it takes a piece of furniture before you can touch it with light use, but the cure time is when your furniture paint has reached its maximum durability and hardness.

For chalk paint, the cure time is a month or longer in dry conditions, but for Behr latex, it is only 2 weeks. God never leaves a project half-done…He continually works on each one of us, as a lavish expression of His amazing love and grace.

So many of my DIY projects remind me of how God renovates our hearts. Click here to get a weekly reminder of new posts by email. Chalk paint can be removed from clothing and hands with soapy water as it is water-based.

But do you really want to use paint on furniture that can be removed with just soap and water? I have found that if I wash latex out of my clothing within about 30 minutes of application, I can still get it out.

If you want the flat sheen of chalk paint, simply ask for a matte sheen of latex at your paint counter. If you want a protective finish for maximum durability, you can achieve the same matte texture by brushing General Finishes High Performance Top Coat in Flat click here for the current price on with a foam brush. Just brush it over your piece and throw away the brush when you are done as they are super cheap click here for foam brushes!

Most of the time I just use latex paint with a satin finish as it is not very glossy at all. To get a beautiful finish, with very little time, effort or hassle, sign up for my weekly newsletter and get my best tips for painting furniture by filling out the form at the bottom of this post.

To read about other wax alternatives, check out the cold glass experiment I did here: Best Clear Coats for Furniture. Chalk paint can be streaky if it is not mixed well but so can latex paint. Be sure to stir your paint enough before applying it to a surface. Also, chalk paint is known for showing brush strokes.

This can be a good thing if you like more of a rustic look or a bad thing if you want a more professional finish. I have a friend who researched the best chalk paints for kitchen cabinets and painted them in chalk paint all over the course of a week.

After six months, she found herself repainting all of the cabinets in latex because the surface of the wax attracted dirt making her entire kitchen look dingy — and not in a farmhouse shabby chic sort of way.

Chalk paint is not meant for kitchen cabinets because it is not durable enough. It would need to be waxed which is very time-consuming or a topcoat should be applied. Also, it would take a lot of chalk paint to cover so many cabinet doors so it would be cost-prohibitive.

Chalk paint will last a long time if the right primer is used and a protective top-coat is applied. If the topcoat is wax, it will need to be rewaxed every 3 years or more depending on how much the piece is used. If you do want to use chalk paint on your dining room table, be sure to use a couple coats of wax or brush on a great poly finish a clear liquid oil like this one: Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane.

Regular latex paint is very durable on its own but for pieces of furniture that will have LOTS exposure to water from wiping or constant drink condensation, I recommend using THIS which also gives the furniture piece an amazing matte finish.

One quart is enough for dozens of furniture pieces. Here is a break-down of the cost and process for chalk painting furniture and also my process…. In most cases, you will not need to buy a new can of primer for each process as one quart will last you for several pieces of furniture. For lighter color paint projects, I keep white on hand. For black or gray projects, I keep tinted gray primer on hand.

This roller will give you a flawless finish every time: Best Roller for Furniture. T his is great when you are indecisive like I am and choose a different color at the last minute. Also, these shades come in a variety of finishes by my favorite is a satin sheen. You can see just a few of the Behr paint colors here. What colors does chalk paint come in? Chalk paint comes in multiple different colors and paints can be mixed to try to match specific shades. If you want to stick with chalk paint but want to save time on protecting your finish, you can add a protective topcoat with a brush instead of going to the trouble of waxing.

Just brush on your flat topcoat in the direction of the wood grain and your project is protected with a beautiful matte finish. You can see my favorite clear coat for chalk paint here: Varathane Water-based Topcoat.

But what about the fun look of dark wax over a chalk-painted piece of furniture for an aged look? You can find my detailed process of how to paint furniture here AND I include details on how to get the same look of dark wax.

You can also get the white-washed look of soft wax with the same process for antiquing furniture. Get the password for the library with the free furniture painting checklist — everything you need to know to get a smooth, durable finish every time!

Fill out the form below! All of my furniture projects are painted with latex. Check out how to do a faux stain with regular latex paint by clicking here.

There are six shades to choose from! You are just lightly sanding to take the shine off the furniture so the paint or primer adheres. Sanding is always a good insurance policy and you can read how to do it quickly here: How to Sand Furniture in Less Than 5 Minutes. If you are wondering about the best paint for unfinished furniture, latex paint is your best option hands down! The nice thing about unfinished furniture is that in most cases you can skip the sanding AND priming.

With unfinished wood, the pores of the wood will provide a great finish for the latex paint to grip onto.