Today, I finally did it! Trying chalk paint has been on my “to do” list for a long time, but the price tag of the Annie Sloan chalk paint and wax has always been a turn off for me. I was at Lowes the other day and saw that they carried a Valspar version of the famous chalky finish paint. It was about $25 for the paint (which goes a very long way) and $15 for the clear wax. I also opted to use a regular paint brush I already had on hand, instead of buying the round bristle brush. There are 40 color options, half of which are very bold and bright. I chose to stick with a more neutral color, woolen stockings.
I have plans to paint multiple pieces of furniture, but for my first project, I wanted to start out small. This project involves an aqua colored side table I bought from target a couple of years ago. The color has never been my favorite, but it was super on sale and the last one left. My house is heavy on the neutrals, I like it that way, and this little burst of color was fun for a while, but I’m ready to make it something new. I think this is a real improvement. 🙂 Just wait until you see the before and after!
Probably the best thing about this project is that there is ZERO prep work (aside from dusting off the furniture if your house is dusty like mine)
Chalk paint
Open the can and go for it. The paint dries very quickly, so I was sure to use a small amount on my brush at a time. The nice thing is you can blend any drips or strange stroke marks pretty easily without it gunking up like regular paint. The paint strokes are part of what makes it pretty. The first coat was quick, about 20 minutes. I let it dry for about an hour and a half. The second coat was even quicker. Let it dry for about an hour before starting to apply the sealing wax. (the can recommends overnight between coats, I’m not that patient)
If you like an ultra matte finish, you could stop after applying your second coat of paint. Beware that the piece will be more susceptible to showing wear than if you apply the sealing wax. Also, I’m not sure how the unsealed piece would hold up to moisture. Since I have a small child in the house, I thought sealing wax was the way to go.
Sealing wax
I used the same brush for the wax that I applied the chalky paint with, cleaned of course. The wax looks just like lotion as you paint it on. Again, work in small areas. The wax gets wiped off with a clean rag after it sits for a couple of minutes. It gets more transparent and tacky the longer it sits, so you have to be quick. Once you wax and wipe the entire piece, let it sit for at least on hour to make sure it is nice and dry. Don’t wash the piece for at least 30 days to let the wax cure completely.
All done!
Overall, this product is very easy to work with and I plan on using it in the future. I give it the thumbs up, great product for the price!
Now for my favorite part, the before and after photos!
(This post represents my own opinions and is not endorsed by Valspar)
Did you notice if the paint was darker after the wax was applied?
Hi Leslie! I don’t think the wax made any difference in the color, I used the clear wax. As I’m sure you’re aware, there is a darker antiquing wax that would affect the color.
How is the sealing wax for durability?
Lydia, it’s held up wonderfully for me! I would say my waxed pieces get mild to moderate use and they have both great after 1-2 years use.
can I use polycrylic over Valspar sealing wax?
That’s a great question that I don’t know the answer to…. I would test it out in a small hidden area first! Obviously I don’t know what you will be using your piece for, it the sealing wax does provide some level of protection 🙂
Bought a beautiful piece that previous owner painted with Valspar chalk paint & sealing wax. Can I paint over it?
If you’re painting over it with more chalk paint, you should be able to do so with no prep! Just paint and wax like you would any other piece. But if you’re wanting to paint it with another type of paint, you would need to prep it according to the specific paint’s instructions. (This would likely involve sanding the surface, so be sure to wear an appropriate mask!) Hope this helps!
I just remembered, I actually have painted over chalky paint and wax with a different color chalky paint and waxed it again and had no issues. It turned out perfect!
That’s a great question that I don’t know the answer to…. I would test it out in a small hidden area first! Obviously I don’t know what your piece will be used for, but the sealing wax does provide some level of protection after it’s fully cured.
I chalk painted brown and then a few days later clear waxed my piece. I returned to look at the piece a few hours later and it is clear and white all mixed up. Why did my wax turn white or is it not done curing? It is not sticky or tacky at all. Just white.
Pam, I’m sorry to hear that happened! It’s so frustrating to put in time with a project and have something like this happen. Without seeing it, it’s difficult to say what could have happened, but when you applied the wax did you apply a thin layer and then wipe the excess off as you you if you were applying stain to wood?