Annie Sloan FAQs
Q. Does Chalk Paint™ decorative paint REALLY stick to almost any surface?
A. Yes, Yes, Yes! This is the most amazing product we have tried and it adheres to almost any surface without sanding, priming or prep work. It is easy, saves time and money; is so creative and flexible and gives you almost immediate gratification. You can achieve amazing results on wood, metal, plastic, iron and so much more.
Q. Is it worth the price?
A. Absolutely. One can of paint is $49.95 and covers 150 square feet. Using Chalk Paint™ means there is no extra expenses or time spent on stripping agents, primer or sanding supplies. Chalk Paint™ decorative paint dries very quickly allowing you to finish your project in record time. The time it saves alone is worth every penny! Most colours are one coat coverage. It is safe for you and the environment, with extremely low VOC’s and virtually no odour. You can create the most beautiful finishes with a soft patina. You will be truly impressed by how far this paint will go!
Q. Is using the wax difficult?
A. The most common mistake people make is to use too much wax. Brush or wipe your clear wax on, working it into the paint. The paint will absorb the wax, similar to rubbing lotion into your skin. Then go back and wipe off the excess (most people skip this critical step). This is done immediately after working the wax into the paint. Wax on, wipe off. A lint free rag is best for the wiping process. We suggest working in small sections and once all the wiping on and wiping off is done, you can go back with a lint free rag or buffing brush to buff to desired sheen. REMEMBER when it comes to applying the wax, less is more! Once you have finished waxing, your project should not feel sticky or tacky.
Q: What is the benefit of using clear wax before dark wax? If I want an antiqued look shouldn't I just use the dark wax?
A. Clear wax seals your paint colour and it allows you to control how much dark wax you want on your project. If you use dark wax first, it will permanently stain/change your original paint colour. Also, if you have applied your clear wax first, and applied too much dark wax, you can actually use your clear wax as an "eraser." Simply dip a clean rag into clear wax and use it to lift the excess dark wax.
Q. How long does the paint and wax take to cure?
A. There are a lot of conditions that will effect how long it takes to dry. Temperature, humidity and how much wax was used. Like regular latex paints there is a curing process however unlike latex paints Annie Sloan finishes are durable and safe to use right away in your daily life. Once fully cured (about 28 days) the wax provides an extremely tough and durable surface and is deemed food safe.
Q. What should I do if I have a project that is bleeding through?
A. Sometimes you will come across a piece that will have a stubborn bleed through problem but not to fret. The first thing we would do is wax over the bleeding spots and then re-paint and re-wax. If the whole piece is bleeding then primer or shellac is best, followed by Chalk paint and wax. We suggest that you use a primer to block stains and bleed-through just on the areas that need it and then continue with applying your Chalk Paint™ decorative paint.
Q. Once I have painted and waxed my piece can I change my mind on colour?
A. YES. Another wonderful advantage of using Chalk Paint™ decorative paint is that if you change your mind on colour you can just paint right over the wax!
Q. What if I do not want to see brush stokes in my paint?
A. Although we love the vintage look of texture and brush stokes, if your vision is one of more a smooth finish you can use a sprayer or if using a brush add a bit of water to your second coat. Another way is to give your project a light sanding before you wax. Brush strokes, runs, and imperfects will sand out easily with a 220 or finer grit paper. Annie has some amazing brushes good for both smooth and textured painting…you should try one!
Q. Can I paint fabric with Chalk Paint™?
A. YES and with amazing results! You are not actually painting the fabric but more like dying it. You will want to wet your fabric first with water, then follow with a dilution of paint and water mixed well. The paint needs to soak into the “top” of the chair, rather than all the way through. Let your first coat dry thoroughly and follow with another coat if necessary. Once dry, you can choose whether to follow with a coat of wax or not.
Q. Can I paint my brick or rock fireplace with Chalk Paint™?
A. Yes, it’s true, you can! Bring in your inspiration photo into the store and we will step you through whether to mix the paint with water or just paint it on!
Never fear - there really is NOTHING you can do wrong with Chalk Paint™ decorative paint. If you have any questions along your creative journey, please call us any time, we would love to hear about your project and help your vision become reality.
A. Yes, Yes, Yes! This is the most amazing product we have tried and it adheres to almost any surface without sanding, priming or prep work. It is easy, saves time and money; is so creative and flexible and gives you almost immediate gratification. You can achieve amazing results on wood, metal, plastic, iron and so much more.
Q. Is it worth the price?
A. Absolutely. One can of paint is $49.95 and covers 150 square feet. Using Chalk Paint™ means there is no extra expenses or time spent on stripping agents, primer or sanding supplies. Chalk Paint™ decorative paint dries very quickly allowing you to finish your project in record time. The time it saves alone is worth every penny! Most colours are one coat coverage. It is safe for you and the environment, with extremely low VOC’s and virtually no odour. You can create the most beautiful finishes with a soft patina. You will be truly impressed by how far this paint will go!
Q. Is using the wax difficult?
A. The most common mistake people make is to use too much wax. Brush or wipe your clear wax on, working it into the paint. The paint will absorb the wax, similar to rubbing lotion into your skin. Then go back and wipe off the excess (most people skip this critical step). This is done immediately after working the wax into the paint. Wax on, wipe off. A lint free rag is best for the wiping process. We suggest working in small sections and once all the wiping on and wiping off is done, you can go back with a lint free rag or buffing brush to buff to desired sheen. REMEMBER when it comes to applying the wax, less is more! Once you have finished waxing, your project should not feel sticky or tacky.
Q: What is the benefit of using clear wax before dark wax? If I want an antiqued look shouldn't I just use the dark wax?
A. Clear wax seals your paint colour and it allows you to control how much dark wax you want on your project. If you use dark wax first, it will permanently stain/change your original paint colour. Also, if you have applied your clear wax first, and applied too much dark wax, you can actually use your clear wax as an "eraser." Simply dip a clean rag into clear wax and use it to lift the excess dark wax.
Q. How long does the paint and wax take to cure?
A. There are a lot of conditions that will effect how long it takes to dry. Temperature, humidity and how much wax was used. Like regular latex paints there is a curing process however unlike latex paints Annie Sloan finishes are durable and safe to use right away in your daily life. Once fully cured (about 28 days) the wax provides an extremely tough and durable surface and is deemed food safe.
Q. What should I do if I have a project that is bleeding through?
A. Sometimes you will come across a piece that will have a stubborn bleed through problem but not to fret. The first thing we would do is wax over the bleeding spots and then re-paint and re-wax. If the whole piece is bleeding then primer or shellac is best, followed by Chalk paint and wax. We suggest that you use a primer to block stains and bleed-through just on the areas that need it and then continue with applying your Chalk Paint™ decorative paint.
Q. Once I have painted and waxed my piece can I change my mind on colour?
A. YES. Another wonderful advantage of using Chalk Paint™ decorative paint is that if you change your mind on colour you can just paint right over the wax!
Q. What if I do not want to see brush stokes in my paint?
A. Although we love the vintage look of texture and brush stokes, if your vision is one of more a smooth finish you can use a sprayer or if using a brush add a bit of water to your second coat. Another way is to give your project a light sanding before you wax. Brush strokes, runs, and imperfects will sand out easily with a 220 or finer grit paper. Annie has some amazing brushes good for both smooth and textured painting…you should try one!
Q. Can I paint fabric with Chalk Paint™?
A. YES and with amazing results! You are not actually painting the fabric but more like dying it. You will want to wet your fabric first with water, then follow with a dilution of paint and water mixed well. The paint needs to soak into the “top” of the chair, rather than all the way through. Let your first coat dry thoroughly and follow with another coat if necessary. Once dry, you can choose whether to follow with a coat of wax or not.
Q. Can I paint my brick or rock fireplace with Chalk Paint™?
A. Yes, it’s true, you can! Bring in your inspiration photo into the store and we will step you through whether to mix the paint with water or just paint it on!
Never fear - there really is NOTHING you can do wrong with Chalk Paint™ decorative paint. If you have any questions along your creative journey, please call us any time, we would love to hear about your project and help your vision become reality.