Websters has created a product that can be added to any paint & eliminates the need for most sanding and priming. They wanted a paint that STUCK beautifully yet sanded smooth. They made a healthy, natural alternative to homemade chalk paint recipes.
Below is a fantastic explanation by the creator of Websters chalk paint powder.
Websters Chalk Paint Powder™ was created to answer our need for affordable chalk paint. Months and months of research went into creating a product that could be added to regular latex paint ~any brand, any color. We were trying to create a product that would eliminate the need for most sanding and priming. We wanted a paint that STUCK beautifully yet sanded smooth. We wanted a durable surface that was also “soft”. We wanted a healthy, all natural alternative to the home made recipes for chalk paint we were reading about. We developed Websters Chalk Paint Powder™!
What’s the big deal about chalk paint?
Chalk paint works so much better than ordinary paint on furniture. We love that it’s so versatile and forgiving. We love that it eliminates the need for sanding and priming most of the time. We love that you can use it as a chalkboard or use it to create a time worn look on furniture.
What can you paint with chalk paint?
You can paint all sorts of things! You can paint furniture, true, but did you know you can also paint walls, frames, signs, lamps, message boards, brass chandeliers, silver plated platters and even glass. Laminate can also be painted but requires the few extra steps of sanding & priming.
You can mix Websters Chalk Paint Powder with latex paint ~any brand, any color! Please keep in mind that the term “latex paint” is a generic industry term. Latex is not used in paint any more….now its all acrylic. Flat, semi-gloss, satin & eggshell all work great. High gloss not recommended. The goal is to make the paint as matte and flat as possible…starting with a high gloss paint is counter productive. Sample sizes are about 1 cup and just right for most projects. (We love using sample paint sizes from lots of different companies – they’re usually around $3.00!)
What if it’s too thick or thin?
The type of paint you use may affect the thickness of the chalk paint. If you prefer it thinner, add a tiny bit of water. Do not use less powder – you’ll lose the “chalkiness”. Add lots of water if you want a “wash”. If it’s too thin, you can add a little more powder (another teaspoon or two is fine).
Does the powder alter the color of the paint?
No. The powder is white, but the original color of the paint doesn’t change.
Do you need to prep the piece before you paint it?
The piece you are about to paint should always be cleaned. If it has grease, oil or furniture polish on it, you may even want to use a heavy duty de-greaser. Chalk paint makers often boast that no sanding is needed, but if it’s a slick surface like a laminate, you would be advised to sand. Some really difficult surfaces may need to be primed.
How many coats of paint will you need?
Many colors will cover fine with just one coat. Light colors may require two coats. Every now and then you run across wood that bleeds through mysteriously (no matter what paint you are using). A good oil-based primer is recommended for those. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen often.
Which is best – thick coats or thin?
If you apply the paint too thickly, it will crack. Some people do this intentionally to produce a crackle effect. You can even use a hairdryer to encourage more cracking. Thin coats are just fine. You may need more than one coat. Medium coats are recommended.
What can you paint with 1 cup of paint?
Chalk paint goes further than regular paint. One cup is enough for 1-2 average pieces of furniture. You may even have some left over.
What if you want a distressed, shabby look?
Sanding here and there produces a great distressed look. How much do you sand? The first step in giving your piece a time worn look is to take off some of the paint by sanding. Take a look at the distressing on different pieces of furniture. Find the pieces you like and note how much they distressed (sanded) and where. This is totally a matter of preference. You may only want some edges sanded off. You may want lots of paint sanded off, even on the flat areas. The good news is, if you sand off too much, you can repaint the area. Can you use more than one color of paint? It’s fun to put a layer of one color on top of a layer of another color. Then when you sand, you reveal bits of the first color underneath.
Once your piece is completed to your liking, you’ll need to seal it (unless you are using it for a chalk board). Websters recommends Fiddes & Sons soft paste wax. There are many other products out there, such as polyurethane & verathane, that work beautifully, too.
~Nicole Goodwin
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