Comments on: Homemade Chalkboard Paint- Tutorial

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:09:36 +0000

You are very welcome, Felicia. One additional suggestion. Let the primer dry at least 24 hours before putting on the chalkboard paint so that the primer has time to cure. One thin coat of primer should be sufficient.

By: Felica Workman

Felica Workman — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:33:20 +0000

thanks carol! I actually have primer so I am just going to try again. only one of 4 doors did it and only in one small spot — weird! thanks so much !

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:05:54 +0000

If the paint is coming off, it has obviously not adhered properly to the undersurface. This is not likely to be due to the paint itself, but rather the condition of the undersurface. There are two possibilities I can think of. The finish on the doors should have been sanded to give it enough tooth for the blackboard paint to “grab” onto. If not sanded enough, the paint cannot hold to the slick surface. If sanded too much (the finish completely sanded off to bare wood), a primer would need to be applied prior to the blackboard paint to seal the wood and provide the tooth.

By: Felica Workman

Felica Workman — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:38:20 +0000

thanks… i guess i am just going to go buy chalk board paint /

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:31:01 +0000

I’m sorry I’m not going to be much help as we didn’t experience anything like this.

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the paint you used isn’t compatible with the paint your painting over. Not sure why else it would peal??

Maybe someone else has a better suggestion…

By: Felica Workman

Felica Workman — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:26:58 +0000

HELLPPPPP my daughter gets the “unveil” of her new room tonight ,, well I followed the instructions. But when I went to write on the door the paint is coming off with the chalk! What can I do to fix this? There are 4 doors done with this afraid to try the others ones due to time.

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:45:27 +0000

I’m not sure, but I know that one of my readers used sanded rather than unsanded grout and it really messed up her wall, so I would be hesitant to try.

The unsanded grout that my hubby bought came in a 1 lb. bag and only cost a couple of dollars.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:24:57 +0000

I am just curious if you think that tile mortar would work the same way as the non-sanded grout? I already have a bag of tile mortar and I’m only wanting to do a small chalkboard so I really don’t want to go out and buy a big bag of grout just for 4 T. of grout. Especially if I could use what I already have lying around. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:52:12 +0000

So sorry! I read most of the responses, but I guess I missed that one! Well, thank you for taking the time to answer the same question again. My husband still had the receipt for the sanded grout, so he just exchanged it for the one I needed. Can’t wait to mix it up! Thank you for you wonderful site! It really helps us feel connected with other big, happy families!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:23:31 +0000

Hi Roxanne.

Claire (in the comments above yours) said her chalkboard paint did not turn out well (the chalk won’t erase). She used sanded grout. I’m not sure if that was the problem, but I don’t think I’d risk it.

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:09:09 +0000

Thanks so much for posting this! Do you know if you can use sanded grout instead? I failed to specify when hubby went to the hardware store….I’d sure hate to waste it.

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:53:40 +0000

Hi Kimberley,

Thanks for your reply. I will ask in the DIY shop then. Good to hear that unsanded is uncommon for you too, I was just wondering. I’ll let you know if that is what it was!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:17:49 +0000

Hi Claire.

I’m sorry that this didn’t work out for you. My guess would be that you used SANDED grout rather than the un-sanded. Nearly all of the grout that I saw was sanded and they only carried one type of un-sanded grout. I’m not sure why un-sanded is so important, but it is.

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:11:22 +0000

I gave this chalkboard paint a try too. MY daughter wanted a purple wall. I used acrylic paint (non glossy) and tile grout (no specification if it is sanded or not on the boxes in Belgium, only 1 kind). It does not work… My daughter cured with white chalk. I can’t wash the chalk off anymore, it leaves a very white residue all over. What went wrong? I hope you can help me!

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:41:04 +0000

Hi Katherine Grace,

Yes, you read that right, just grout and regular paint.

Thank you for your words of encouragement.

By: Katherine Grace

Katherine Grace — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:31:33 +0000

Am I reading this right? You don’t use the “real” chalk board paint, but just the grout and a colored paint? I’d love to do my whole wall in this, but the real stuff is so expensive! Thanks Kimberly! I LOVE your site!! You have been a hugh blessing in helping to organize our large family! Blessings!!

By: Allie

Allie — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:35:23 +0000

That is amazing!!! I have been seriously considering painting my son’s sliding closet doors with chalkboard paint, but I always balk because of the cost and the fact that it has to be black. This is the perfect alternative.

By: Seed Beaded Bobby Pins – tutorial | Raising Olives

Seed Beaded Bobby Pins – tutorial | Raising Olives — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:01:54 +0000

[...] more ideas including how to make your own chalkboard paint check out my Create category or look through my other categories located just above my [...]

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:59:51 +0000

I’d love to hear how this compares with the “real” stuff.

By: Brandi @ Frugal Farmhouse

Brandi @ Frugal Farmhouse — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:10:05 +0000

this is perfect for my new obsession with chalkboard paint. that stuff is EXPENSIVE!! thank you thank you

By: Kimberly @ Raising Olives

Kimberly @ Raising Olives — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:26:19 +0000

That is the way that I write a capital F.

By: CJ

CJ — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:05:07 +0000

Great idea. Please take a different picture as your show and tell photo of the chalkboard wall. The present one has a small f to start the word Friday.

By: Renee

Renee — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:17:11 +0000

2T is 2 Tablespoons

By: fergus brown

fergus brown — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:13:50 +0000

This is so cool. Do you mind telling me what “2T” is?I think I have the grout in the attic!!
Ferg

By: the inadvertent farmer

the inadvertent farmer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:31:54 +0000

I will have to try this on some jars!!! Thanks, Kim