Chalkboard Paint

My husband is a manager for Sherwin-Williams and when I asked him about this he said that it is easy to cover up later as far as the color - you would probably want to use a primer and then two coats of paint (the chalkboard paint is a very flat sheen and so soaks up the paint some). If you do see any sort of difference after painting over it would be just a little where there was more layers of paint on the wall which are more noticable with darker colors. But he said you could not paint over it to lighten it up because it would be a different type of paint then.

I tried it years ago - painted a metal auto drip pan to make a magnetic chalkboard - and it worked great!

SAHM of seven

Hi there,
just wanted to let you know I haven't heard of any specific issues with covering up the paint. I have however heard stories about respiratory problems developing in kids who have this paint in there room because the residue from the chalk that they use doesn't ever really settle. Good luck with your decision and be careful if you decide to paint with this!

J.

The chalkboard paint is easy to use. It might take two or three coats to get a nice cover.

Regarding covering it up: Since the paint will make a smooth surface it will be harder to cover it up. The solution would be to 'score' the chalkboard paint surface with sandpaper. This will give the new paint coat something to grab onto. I would use a primer that is tinted with whatever color you are going to paint over it that way you won't need to put on more then a coat of primer (unless you noticed you missed a few spots). The next coat will be the main color paint, need one maybe two coats.

Otherwise, as the mom below suggested, paint on some boards and put those up. It will save you time when you decide to redecorate. That is what I did on my daughters closet door, so when she grows out of it or when we move I can easily take it off.

My mother-in-law recently painted with this and the quailty of the actual using chalkboard is great. She did not do any enhancements to the top the actual paint is a bit textured so I would think it would tolerate other paint. I would make one suggestion...if there is a welding shop in your town or even Menards or a home improvement store would probably carry something like this, but buy a thin sheet of aluminium and paint that so the chalkboard paint won't be on your actual wall and if you need to more the board there isn't alot of damage done to your wall. Good Luck

I use to work at Home Depot and we sold it there. I know it was pretty popular too. I would ask an associate in the paint department about removal. I am guessing it would be a pain in the butt to remove very difficult. I would never put it on a permanent wall.

I used this in my hallway as an information board. I keep organized with it by painting a calendar on the wall with checkers. Simply add white to the black chalkboard paint to create lighter chalkboard color and I simply love the look and it keeps me very organized. My son colors on the bottom half and we write grocery lists on it. Take a digital camera picture of the grocery list and when i'm in the store, grab my camera to view it. Then erase. I haven't painted over it, but it seems very easy to do so with kilz. The texture wasn't bad either as the others have described. I wouldn't be afraid to paint on the wall if I were you, it's just like paint.

The right primer will cover anything-ask at a paint store. However-I would get a piece of plywood/MDF cut to the size you want, paint that with the chalboard paint, secure to the wall and finish the edges with moulding. That allows you to remove it when you want to redecorate (and put it elsewhere-maybe in the garage!), allows the kids to do their artwork on the wall while giving them a more specific space as defined by the moulding. Have Fun-its a GREAT idea!!!!

We used it in our church nursery and we love it. We covered the bottom half of the walls with 1/4" plywood with a chair rail and different wall treatment above.

Roughing up the surface with sandpaper would work to make cover paint stick to it. However, I believe the pigment used for the black or even the green color of the chalkboard paint might still be a real challenge to cover.

"Skin coating" the wall you want to paint with 1/4" plywood is simple and probably more cost effective than the multiple coats of Kilz and paint you would likely have to use to cover it. The work of installing the plywood wouldn't be much more than all the sanding and multiple coats of painting you would have to do otherwise and then you would be SURE that it wouldn't bleed through months later.

(I was responsible for painting a wall on which someone had drawn a cartoon character. It looked great, but was no longer appropriate for the decor. I sanded. I primed, I primed, and I primed. I painted and I painted. It looked good at first, then the marker that had been used to draw the outline slowly reappeared. This entire process was repeated at least three times. It continued to slowly but surely reappear. Last I heard, they were going to replace the sheetrock.)

I've done a lot of painting and redecorating. I've never used chalkboard paint before. But whenever I had a question about something I went to TLC.com and asked questions on the Trading Spaces page. I always got great advise.

We too have used this paint and it works great. As the other Moms have suggested, I too would use another board and paint that and attached it to the wall versus painting the chalkboard paint on that wall. It does take several coats of paint. We used it on a sheet of particle board and we use it out in the garage during the summer months. Kids love it. I'm sure you will be happy with the results and the kids will love it for many years. Good luck!!

I have used chalkboard paint in one of my bedrooms when I was in high school. I used the green color and then the other walls were Case IH red and Case IH yellow (actual tractor paint) and a blue I had mixed up at a paint store. Anyway, the paint worked very well, I kept a bucket of sidewalk chalk in my room and used an area by my bed for last minute thoughts before sleep and what might be fun for a child I had my visiting grandparent "autograph" the wall. Aside from my special signatures I just washed everything off with water! I did not paint over this wall, but see NO reason why it shouldd be a problem.

This is great information! Two of my kids are planning to use this chalkboard paint on their walls! I think I will go with the painted board instead!
I am so glad you asked this question!

I have used the chalkboard spray paint before and it worked GREAT! I had an existing chalkboard from when I was a child and it was very scratched and my sister and I drew on it with marker..oops. I just taped the frame and sprayed it on. I think I had to do it three times but now it looks like new. I was very happy with the product. As far as being able to repaint over it I don't know. I don't know why you couldn't though. Maybe if you were to sand it down first and then use primer that might work. I hope I was of some help. Good luck with the project.

i used this on my daughter's toyroom walls and it works great. it takes a while to apply because it takes 3 or 4 coats and each has to dry completely before the next can be put on but once it's done it works just like a chalkboard. i've never tried to cover it tho so don't know how that would go. it is very dark black and not as smooth as regular paint. maybe just don't apply it to the top part where you want paint so you're not actually covering it. hope this helps.

S. m

Hello,
I have used the chalkboard paint that you are talking about and I really like it. I would recommend though that you don't paint it directly on the wall because it is textured. Unless of course you have textured walls and then it wouldn't matter. But for me, since we don't have textured walls, even if I wanted to paint over it later I would not be able to get rid of the texture that it would leave behind. I decided to get a very thin particle board from Lowe's (they will cut it exactly what size you need)then I just painted it, trimmed it out and then put it on the wall. it looks awesome, people ask me all the time were I got it!! I hope that helps, I know I was very thankful that someone warned me not to paint it right on the wall because of the texture that is in it.

I have used it. I'm not sure what brand though. It worked great... just like a real chalkboard. (I used the sparypaint for a smoother finish) You can't put anything over the top of it, then it would be no different than writing on any other wall in your house. Isntead of putting it on a wall, I put it on a door on just the inside of the room. If you want to know the brand we used, just message me back and I can ask my husband for you when he gets home from work.

Hi - I used this paint, but not on a "real" wall - on several large particle boards and made a "false wall". It's the stuff that would become pegboard, just without the holes yet. Works great but does take a few coats. My answer really only half answers your question, since I haven't tried to cover it yet- will just remove the particle board instead; wall intact. Best wishes!

I work at Lowe's Home Improvement I know we carry an assortment of chalk board paint - call there and ask for the paint department - they should be able to tell you

We used chalkboard paint in our laundry room and the kids had a blast with it. We had it up for 4 years and just painted over it no problem.

My sister used the paint on her sons room. It was wonderful! You can paint on top of it as well. My sister used a baby blue to create a huge checkerboard on the entire wall!