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Creative decorating has been gaining popularity in the last few years. As a larger variety of paint products are being developed, we have had an increasing variety to choose from for wall coverings. Where wallpaper used to be popular for creative souls, paints and textures are now the rage. One of the newest paint products offered on the market today is chalkboard paint. This paint can be used to create a surface identical to a chalkboard that can be decorated with chalk and wiped clean. This has created a world of possibilities that have not existed before.
There are many uses for this type of paint in the home. In a child’s room, it can be painted on a portion of a wall or the entire wall to give the child an acceptable area to decorate for their self. With a variety of colors of chalk, your child can create large murals, messages, or whimsical decorations to enjoy and then change the scenery whenever they wish.
In the kitchen, an area of any size painted with chalkboard paint will provide the family a central place to leave messages, write greetings, or create a family calendar of events. The painted chalkboard can cover the area of just one cupboard, a partial wall, or even on a wooden board hung like a calendar. Be sure to build a nice wooden frame around the area and build a shelf for chalk and eraser.
For a business owner, chalkboard paint can create an area for messages to be written designed for customers to see. The soup of the day, special sales events, or business hours can be posted easily and changed quickly. It can be applied to a door or a wall, or painted on a board set on an easel. It is much more inexpensive than purchasing permanent signage and will create a friendly and casual environment for your clients and customers.
Chalkboard paint is easy to apply. The wall must be made smooth first and the area to be painted needs to be taped off for clean lines when finished. It is simple to apply with a roller and two coats of paint may obtain the best finish. Once it has dried for three days, it needs to be prepared by using the broad side of a chalk to coat the entire area. Once that layer of chalk is erased, the board is ready to use. The paint surface is washable and resistant to wear.
In addition to the slate black of a traditional chalkboard, it is common to see this paint offered in chalkboard green. Some manufacturers are introducing other colors of chalkboard paint to their product lines as well, including blues, pink, purple, orange, and other colors. Another new paint product is a magnetic primer that can be painted under the chalkboard paint so that refrigerator type magnets are attracted to the wall. Imagine the fun your child would have if their chalkboard wall were magnetized.
Many major paint manufacturers now make chalkboard paint including Benjamin Moore Studio Finish brand. RustOleum produces Specialty Chalkboard paint in green or black that can be painted on almost any surface, including drywall, metal, glass, and wood. RustOleum also offers spray chalkboard paint. Plaid FolkArt paint offers it in a wide variety of colors so that you can choose a different color to enhance your decor.
This specialized paint is not any more expensive than other interior paints and is such fun to use. It is made to be durable and stand up against wear. Whether you use it in your home or in your business, chalkboard paint offers endless creative decorating possibilities.
Filed under Chalkboard Paint
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There are two main advantages of making a DIY chalkboard. The first advantage is that you can make the chalkboard as large as you’d like and in whatever shape you need it to be. The second advantage is that doing it yourself typically saves money. Although in some cases (depending on size) it may depend on if you already have some of the basic tools needed. Obviously if you have to buy a saw or most household tools you need to build your own, it may not be cheaper. But you still have the advantage of size and shape customization.
Materials Needed:
- Plywood
- Thin molding or trim board
- Primer or other paint
- Chalkboard paint
- Sand paper
- Paint brush
- Wood glue
- Saw
Cut plywood to desired size. (For an easier project, use “project ready” pine board that doesn’t require sanding.) Sand and paint the board with primer or paint. A foam or soft bristle brush works best. Let dry. Re-sand slightly, wiping off excess dust.
Paint with the board with chalkboard paint, following the instructions on the can. Cut trim board or molding to fit around the board. Paint or stain the trim or molding, as desired.
Attach the trim board with wood glue. Go one step further by securing it with finishing nails or wood screws.
As an alternative, you can also create a chalkboard out of almost any flat surface. This includes a wall, a tabletop, a mirror, a desk, a cabinet, or a closet door, just to name a few. As you will notice, it is somewhat similar to building a chalkboard from scratch.
Sand the surface of the object you’re going to paint until it’s smooth. There is nothing worse than a bumpy chalkboard. Wipe away any dust with a clean cloth.
Next, paint the surface with primer or other paint and allow it to dry completely. (This is a good way to use up leftover paint from a previous project.) Using aerosol chalkboard paint, spray the surface with three coats of paint. To avoid drips, always hold the can 8 to 10 inches away from the surface. Allow paint to dry between each coat.
There are different types of chalkboard paint. In addition to spray paint, there is also brush-on, colored, and magnetic varieties. Brush-on paint is typically used by schools and institutions. Colored paint is self-explanatory. Popular color choices include pink, blue, and white. Magnetic paint is ideal for children’s boards because not only can you write on it, but magnets stick to the paint, as well.
If you are painting a wall, it is recommended that you use painter’s tape to outline the area you will be painting. This helps to ensure that you paint only that spot that you intend to. Wash the wall with mild dish detergent prior to painting. Doing so thoroughly removes dirt and oil from the surface.
You can also make the board into a calendar or a chore chart simply by making boxes or columns with the painters tape and then spraying paint between them.
Prior to using your homemade chalkboard, first rub a piece of chalk (held lengthwise against the board) over the entire area. This acts as a dry lubricant that helps to prevent future scratches. Wipe with a damp cloth and let dry completely.
For best results, always wash your DIY chalkboard using a circular motion and never use chalk that has a shiny exterior.
Filed under Chalkboard