Saturday, June 7, 2014

Chalk Board Paint


I’ve always wanted to do a chalkboard wall for Spike; I finally decided to do it. Chalkboard paint is somewhat expensive and has limited colors. So I went to the internet to find a DIY option for chalkboard paint, one that was both easy and less expensive than buying ready-made chalkboard paint. The number of tutorials you can find online for doing chalkboard paint is daunting.  I ended up combining multiple tutorials to reach my finished product.

 You will need:

1.       Unsanded grout

2.       Flat paint

3.       Water

4.       bucket

5.       Paint stirring drill attachment (optional but so much faster and more efficient than a stick)

6.     Paint brush and/or paint roller

Ratio 1 tablespoon unsanded grout to ½ cup of paint

 

I did a quart of paint at a time.

I started with 8 tablespoons of unsanded grout in a bucket. Here is where the instructions are a little fuzzy. I found nowhere that told you how much water to add to the grout. I added a little bit at a time until it was the consistency of pancake batter, I should have taken pictures of all the steps.

After it was well mixed I added the paint and used the stirring attachment to blend it well.

I only did a quart at a time. This was enough to do two coats on one wall. I did have to wait in between the two coats of paint. After I finished the first coat I poured the remainder back into quart can. Before starting the 2nd coat of paint I mixed the paint again just to be on the safe side, I didn’t want to risk the grout separating and settling in the paint can.


I had no problems applying the paint. I used a brush to “cut in” around the door and moldings, and used a standard roller for the major parts of the wall.


After the paint is dry, I waited 4 hours and “slated” the wall. This is an important step, and the bigger the chalk board the longer it is going to take. To slate the area you take a piece of chalk (or in my case many pieces of chalk) and turn it on its side and rub it on the wall. You then erase it in a circular motion, either with a dry rag or a felt eraser.  After you have that done you can draw on the wall however you like and it will erase easily.  Some tutorials say to let the paint cure for longer. The longest I have seen is 3 days, before slating.  I might try this next time.  So far the wall is doing great, it’s been just over a week and it’s been used almost every day.

 

 

**** DO NOT USE SIDE WALK CHALK ON A CHALKBOARD WALL, SIDE WALK CHALK HAS OILS AND WAXES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT IMPOSSIBLE TO ERASE ****

 

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