Thursday, November 18, 2010

Make a Chalkboard Paint Surface

If you have three very busy sons like mine then you need to tap their creativity with a chalkboard. You can do this by using a chalkboard paint. It is Applied to metal, wood, masonry, drywall, plaster, glass, concrete, steel plated board with a coat of porcelain or on a hardboard. It Erases cleanly with soap and water, though its for indoor use only. Today white boards, also referred to as dry erase boards have replaced chalkboards, though its preference has not gone away.

Chalkboard paint is a dark, easily cleaned paint that is water based that will adhere to many surfaces, that is it is a versatile substance that will help you create a chalkboard surface anywhere! I had to paint my whole wall with this paint so that my son could scribble and keep numbers on the wall without him getting into trouble with the mother.

You can also use it in the classroom, in the office boardroom, and also in the home to create a central message center for all the family members, or in a restaurant to issue the daily changes on the menu. It's also great in kids' rooms as an outlet for all of their artistic energy.

Once you are set with the painting process, determine where the chalkboard will be set up. You can even use your kitchen door. Sand the surface to a fine finish. Then, use a marker to mark the borders of the area to be painted. Clean this area with clean and wet cotton rags and let it dry. Make sure it is completely dry before you move the next process.

Mix together latex paint and unsanded tile grout and make sure it blend well until no clumps at all. Apply your paint with a regular paint brush and allow each coat of paint to dry completely, before applying the next.After each coat of paint, gently sand the paint with a 400 grit or higher grit sandpaper and wipe away any dust by using cotton rag. This is very important step to ensure your your painted surface nicely clean and smooth. Let it dry for at least one day.

I hope this gets you started on your chalkboard paint project. Your kids are going to love it!