How To Make Chalk Paint Waterproof!

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The popularity of the different types of chalk paint have been constantly increasing with each passing month over the last few years as more and more people workout just how versatile chalk paint actually is. Due to people discovering new ways that they are able to use their chalk paint on different surfaces, we have noticed more and more people reaching out to ask how to make chalk paint waterproof on different surfaces.

Due to so many people reaching out about making their chalk paint waterproof as well as more and more people starting to use chalk paint for outdoor furniture, we have decided to publish this dedicated article on the process. Thankfully, there are three main ways that people tend to use to make their chalk paint waterproof with one usually performing considerably better than the other two.

As we work our way through the article, we will be going over the various ways that you are able to make your chalk paint waterproof with the advantages and disadvantages of each method. On top of this, we will also be going over the actual application processes for each of the methods as so many people, especially beginners seem to make mistakes in the application of their waterproof layer leading to issues with water damage later down the line.

Is Chalk Paint Waterproof?

Although different brands do use different formulas for their chalk paint, the Rustoleum chalk paint, Annie Sloan, and Waverly chalk paint all tend to be water-resistant but NOT waterproof. The effectiveness of this water-resistant protection will depend on where you live with it being fine for some of our readers but totally unsuitable for others.

For example, if you live in a warm area that only gets light rain for a few weeks of the year, you should be fine with the chalk paint directly on your outdoor surface without any further protection being required. If you do live in a colder area that sees consistent rain year round or you get a few months of rain each year then you will need to add an additional layer on top of your chalk paint to actually waterproof it from the elements.

Due to the nature of chalk paint, it is very difficult for the manufacturers to actually add anything to the paint to make sure that it is natively waterproof as it tend to change the consistency for application as well as the texture once dry. Although some brands have tried a few fully waterproof formulas, they have never made it to mainstream, commercially available products that anyone is able to buy due to these issues.

How To Make Chalk Paint Waterproof!

Thankfully, there are three easy ways that you are able to add a protective waterproof layer to your outdoor furniture or any other surface that you want to use your chalk paint on. All three of them have advantages and disadvantages with the acrylic coating method usually offering the best levels of waterproofing by far while also being cheaper and easier to apply.

That said though, we will go into the advantages and disadvantages of all three method below as well as how you actually apply the protective waterproof layer to your chalk paint too. So many people seem to make mistakes with the initial application of the paint that are easy to avoid but these mistakes can prevent the sealant from working and result in issues with water in the future.

Please also note, many of our readers will be able to use one of these three methods to protect their chalk paint from water but depending on your specific situation and needs, you may actually be better off by not going with any option. Some people do choose to just sand down their chalk paint off their furniture each year and re-apply it with this being a valid option for a small number of people.

Waterproofing Your Chalk Paint With Acrylic Coating!

In our opinion, the quickest, easiest, and cheapest method to waterproof your chalk paint is to use an acrylic sealing on top of your chalk paint once it had dried onto the surface that you are painting. Although these products do tend to offer outstanding waterproof protection to your chalk paint, it is essentially forming a barrier above the chalk paint so that unique, chalk paint feel does go.

This can work to your advantage though depending on the type of chalk paint that you use as it can be common for chalk paint to transfer to your clothing when you sit on chairs that you have chalk painted for example. You are usually able to apply a single coat of these sealants above your chalk paint but some brands do require two coats so always read the label for the exact application process and requirements.

The majority of the acrylic coating products are available in a brush applied and spray applied product. In our opinion, the spray application acrylics are much easier to use, especially on furniture that has a bunch of different angles that will require protection. To apply the waterproof layer, you simply wait until your chalk paint is dry, hold the canister around 30cm away from the surface and spray an even coat over it.

Waterproofing Your Chalk Paint With Wax!

Although there are a number of people online who do report that they used a wax top coat on top of their chalk paint, they do tend to live in areas with minimal rainfall as these wax coats are for general protection and not specifically for waterproofing chalk paint. That said though if you do purchase your chalk paint in your local arts and crafts or DIY store then you can often get the wax very cheap if you purchase it with your chalk paint as a part of a bulk buy offer.

If you do live in an area with heavy rainfall that last for at least a few months of the year we would recommend that you go with an acrylic sealing product instead though due to them offering better protection. The advantage of the wax top coat products is that they offer better all-round protection including some heat protection with better UV protection that the acrylic sealings don’t always offer.

This is why a number of the people you see saying that their wax topcoats protected their chalk paint from water are in warmer areas with high amounts of direct sunlight year-round. Although some wax topcoats can be applied using a brush, we tend to recommend that our readers go with a spray based product as they are easier and quicker to use with you holding the canister around 30cm away from your dry chalk paint and spraying an even coat over it.

Waterproofing Your Chalk Paint With Polyurethane!

Although some people do use a polyurethane sealant on their chalk paint, we usually don’t recommend it as it is the worst method of waterproofing your chalk paint in our opinion with either of the options above usually being a better option for most people. Although there are reports online of people who say that their polyurethane sealant has offered their chalk paint some waterproof protection, it is difficult to know if this is actually due to the sealant or if it is the natural water-resistant properties of the chalk paint as they usually live in areas with low rainfall.

The polyurethane products form a barrier similar to the acrylic sealant products on top of the chalk paint that stops the flakey chalk paint from transferring to clothing when touching the surface offering that advantage. We are still skeptical about the actual level of waterproof protection that these products offer though as most are water-based so heavy rain will usually just wash them off so they are not a suitable option if you live in an area with heavy rain.

Although there are spray polyurethane products on the market, they tend to perform poorly so we would recommend that our readers go with a product that is applied via a brush as they tend to perform better even though they are slightly harder and more time consuming to apply. Simply wait until your chalk paint is dry and then apply the product on top of your chalk paint with a brush in a relatively thin layer and then leave it to dry as required.

Concluaion

That brings our article going over how you can make chalk paint waterproof to an end. We hope that you have found it helpful, as we mentioned back at the start of the article, the acrylic sealants tend to offer you the best waterproof protection for your chalk paint but they do have their downsides two. The wax and polyurethane tend not to be suitable for areas with heavy or constant rainfall and should only be used in areas that have a few weeks of rain maximum per year.