<p>My experience is with the commercial brands (my wife uses and sells them).  The two main advantages that I see are:</p>

<ul>
<li>that they allow a very smooth finish with a brush.  If you were to paint furniture with latex paint, you'd get a lot more brush strokes than with chalk paint.</li>
<li>it's easy to do the shabby chic thing (distressing, ageing, etc) with chalk paint.</li>
</ul>

<p>Disadvantages:</p>

<ul>
<li>It's damned expensive, compared to regular latex paint.</li>
<li>You can't color match like you can with regular paint (where the paint guy scans a color sample and the computer matches it)</li>
<li>It's not a durable surface at all. For furniture and such it has to be sealed or waxed, which is another step.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-03T23:28:02.930Z
2016-08-03T23:28:02.930Z
ScottP
<p>The whole appeal of Chalk Paint is the matte/flat result achieved on a variety of surfaces, requiring little to no prep, fast dry time, opacity control &amp; finishing options. </p>

<p>To achieve a textured surface, additional products/tools, techniques and/or a different recipe is needed. The better quality of latex paint &amp; type of finish (flat is recommended), produces slightly different &amp; better results.</p>

<p>I'm not sure why you chose that particular recipe. Or why the first step says to paint the first layer w/o any drywall compound mixed in... The 3 well tested, popular recipes, use different ingredients, have flexible mix measurements, and instruct to apply directly to the object. I always do TONS of research beforehand when it comes to diy.</p>

<p>Pros:</p>

<ul>
<li>Minimal to no prep required</li>
<li>Ability to adhere to a variety of surfaces</li>
<li>Finishing options</li>
<li>Muted colors</li>
<li>Matte/Flat finish</li>
<li>Quick dry time</li>
<li>Variety of Chalk Paint Brands, now available in store.</li>
</ul>

<p>Cons:</p>

<ul>
<li>Finishing work</li>
<li>Cost</li>
<li>Trend (resulting in large quantities of ruined pieces)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-24T03:15:53.810Z
2016-08-24T15:43:53.970Z
2016-08-24T15:43:53.970Z
MandaMEss
<p>Last summer I made a pallet style table for a friend. I made my own custom chalk paint using drywall compound and one litre of white latex paint. I followed the instructions <a href="https://www.homehardware.ca/en/index/home-experts/bev-bell/all-projects/fall-projects/chalk-it-up.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Mix 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup drywall compound into the paint. The amount of drywall compound depends on how thick you want the paint. <strong>Do not exceed 1/2 cup</strong>. The first coat is normally straight paint with no drywall compound added.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I put emphasis on the portion that I paid attention to. I didn't add too much as I figured it would be too thick or clumpy so it would not apply well. I stirred it well enough that the drywall compound was mixed into the paint. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/viaoC.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/viaoC.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I thought the end result would be textured but it painted fairly flat. I then distressed it and it did turn out well but I feel the effort in making the paint didn't yield any results. </p>

<p>What is it about chalk paint that makes it popular? Is there something I might have done wrong with my paint mixture that cause less than ideal results?</p>

<paint>
What are the strengths of chalk paint?
Matt
# What are the strengths of chalk paint?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-23)

Last summer I made a pallet style table for a friend. I made my own custom chalk paint using drywall compound and one litre of white latex paint. I followed the instructions [here](https://www.homehardware.ca/en/index/home-experts/bev-bell/all-projects/fall-projects/chalk-it-up.htm):

> Mix 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup drywall compound into the paint. The amount of drywall compound depends on how thick you want the paint. **Do not exceed 1/2 cup**. The first coat is normally straight paint with no drywall compound added.

I put emphasis on the portion that I paid attention to. I didn't add too much as I figured it would be too thick or clumpy so it would not apply well. I stirred it well enough that the drywall compound was mixed into the paint.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/viaoC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/viaoC.jpg)

I thought the end result would be textured but it painted fairly flat. I then distressed it and it did turn out well but I feel the effort in making the paint didn't yield any results.

What is it about chalk paint that makes it popular? Is there something I might have done wrong with my paint mixture that cause less than ideal results?

**Tags:** paint


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-03. Score: 6

My experience is with the commercial brands (my wife uses and sells them). The two main advantages that I see are:

* that they allow a very smooth finish with a brush. If you were to paint furniture with latex paint, you'd get a lot more brush strokes than with chalk paint.
* it's easy to do the shabby chic thing (distressing, ageing, etc) with chalk paint.

Disadvantages:

* It's damned expensive, compared to regular latex paint.
* You can't color match like you can with regular paint (where the paint guy scans a color sample and the computer matches it)
* It's not a durable surface at all. For furniture and such it has to be sealed or waxed, which is another step.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-24. Score: 2

The whole appeal of Chalk Paint is the matte/flat result achieved on a variety of surfaces, requiring little to no prep, fast dry time, opacity control & finishing options.

To achieve a textured surface, additional products/tools, techniques and/or a different recipe is needed. The better quality of latex paint & type of finish (flat is recommended), produces slightly different & better results.

I'm not sure why you chose that particular recipe. Or why the first step says to paint the first layer w/o any drywall compound mixed in... The 3 well tested, popular recipes, use different ingredients, have flexible mix measurements, and instruct to apply directly to the object. I always do TONS of research beforehand when it comes to diy.

Pros:

* Minimal to no prep required
* Ability to adhere to a variety of surfaces
* Finishing options
* Muted colors
* username_0e/Flat finish
* Quick dry time
* Variety of Chalk Paint Brands, now available in store.

Cons:

* Finishing work
* Cost
* Trend (resulting in large quantities of ruined pieces)


---

