What is Chalk Paint?

A frequently asked question is to define chalk paint, and Best of Machinery aims to answer this for you. Chalk paint is widely used as a protective coating for furniture and assists with specific aesthetic appearances. With chalk paint, the distressed, aged or vintage look can be created very easily, simply and cost-effectively without requiring a great deal of effort.

If you are a regular refurbisher of older furniture pieces then chalk paint will be of great use to use during your projects. If you are looking for an impressively versatile paint that does not require you to spend lots of time priming and sanding down surfaces before applying it, then chalk paint is the best paint for you to use.

Chalk it up to Experience

Chalk paint has been around since 1990, when there was not an available paint on the market that worked specifically for refurbishing, revitalizing and reinvigorating furniture in a safe and easy way. Before chalk paint, furniture had to be painstakingly primed and sanded back to reveal what was lurking underneath and to remove any coats previously applied. When the furniture is inherited from unknown locations, there is often no way of knowing what has been applied to it.

Chalk paint solves this issue because it can be applied directly over anything without requiring you to spend the time removing it, sanding or priming your desired surface. It is incredibly versatile and is able to adhere itself successfully to basically anything. Chalk paint is a quick-drying technique used by many DIY enthusiasts because there are so many different effects that can be created through its use.

Chalk paint gets its name from its specific finish type which is a sturdy ultra matt finish with a velvet texture. It is available in a wide range of colors, so not only is it versatile in its use, but it is also versatile in the places you are able to use it while still enhancing vibrancy should you choose.

How Distressing!

Chalk paint is created through the use of latex which is great for regular DIY projects because it allows you to clean up easily when you have been using it. This latex base means that you only need to use soapy water to remove the chalk paint from your tools or to wipe it off anything it perhaps should not have dripped on to in your hurry to complete your latest exciting project. However, there is a big difference between general latex paint and chalk paint.

When chalk paint is dry, it is very easy and effective to use it to create a distressed looked, which is often why it is used on older pieces of furniture, because it will naturally gain the distressed look over time without you having to step in. This is quite the opposite to solely latex paint which requires a great deal of sanding for the effects to even begin to look slightly worn, while you also have to be very careful not to ruin your hard work by breaking or tearing the finish as you sand.

Many people looking for a distressed, aged or vintage look choose chalk paint because it is so easy to use and as paint brush marks are often visible, this adds to the natural look sought after by the painter.

Watching Paint Dry

Chalk paint is very fast in its drying time – another reason it is so often favored. Giving a very specific type of look, the chosen chalk paint dries to give a matte finish, is not shiny and feels soft and velvety to the touch. Though commonly referred to as furniture paint, chalk paint can actually be used on any surface type and cleverly can withstand being used internally and externally, too.

It is not particularly thick paint, so it is ideal for getting into detailed pieces of furniture without clogging or dripping everywhere. It doesn’t crack either, so it is ideal for areas where extreme temperatures are encountered. Chalk paint is great for beginners of furniture recycling or people who want a quick but good looking project because you don’t need a huge amount of skill to get a fabulous end result.

No new skills are required before you undertake chalk painting and there are no safety lessons that you need to be aware of. It means that literally, anyone can do a project if they are set to use chalk paint.

Finish as Easily as you Started

So many different looks can be created through the use of chalk paint that you would be amazed. Chalk paint can be layered easily and effectively when it is dry. You can use sandpaper or steel wool to speed up the aged look so that you can distress it to the perfect degree to please you. You can also use a different colored base and top coats, use stencils or fine paint your own details to add a greater sense of personalization to your finish project. Chalk paint is thin enough to add details but thick enough so that it does not bleed, run or drip.

Chalk Paint

Chalk paint is favored by many because of its ease of use, fast drying, and thorough coverage but there are many other reasons to love it which you will soon discover for yourself. Here at Best of Machinery, we are also very fond of chalk paint because it can be applied via brush, paint roller or paint sprayer depending on your furniture and can be sealed with wax to increase its protection and give a different look entirely if you so desired. Increase the colors with wax and keep your furniture in good shape for long periods of time to come.