Da Vinci’s Distressed Chalk Finish © is  a Only Green eco brand

Chalk Paint Techniques

Paint Quality

The old saying applies “you get what you pay for” extra costs of frequent repainting cancel the "savings" you enjoy by buying the cheap paint.

Good quality paints cost more because they have a higher percentage of titanium dioxide (TO2), which imp[roves coverage, and other additives that increase durability. The heavier bodies of high-end paints help them go on smoother, splatter less, and resist fading.

Only Green paints are formulated to these guides.

Paint Brushes

Your brush options these days are either natural bristle and synthetic bristle. If you are using water-based paint, choose synthetic bristle brushes. Or synthetic or natural bristle brushes can be used with oil based paint.

Paint brushes also come in many shapes and sizes. Wall brushes are 75mm-100mm wide and are good for painting large, flat areas. Sash (or cutting in) brushes are angled and about 25-50mm wide -- they're useful for detailed areas. 50-63mm wide, straight-edge trim brush is recommended for painting window frames and doors.

Paint Rollers

For paint rollers, follow the same rule as for brushes: Use only synthetic (eg polyester) rollers for waterb based paints and either synthetic or natural rollers (all paints, Mohair etc) for oil-based paint.

Also generally- The rougher the surface you're painting, the longer the roller nap should be. To test a roller's quality, squeeze it around the middle with your hand. It should return to its original shape quickly. If it doesn't, invest in a better roller sleeve.

Surface Prep

“The better the preparation the better the job” Prepare the surfaces you are going to paint so your paint job will look blemish-free.

Examine all surfaces for any dents, holes, and cracks. Fill nail holes with a filler and smooth any dried ridges or lumps with 80-grit sandpaper. Use a gap filler on any gaps between trim and walls, smoothing the gap filler with a wet finger or damp sponge.

Time management

Before you start painting , plan how long each section of the project will to take so you know what to expect.

For big paint projects such as a whole room, expect to spend one to two hours on prep work and another hour on cleanup after the job is complete.

Safe Paint Disposal

When it comes to safe paint disposal, it is critical that it is done in a way that won’t cause pollution to drinking water or soil. Paint can become an environmental hazard if incorrectly disposed of.

It is thus recommended that anyone working with paint develops a cleaning system and are mindful of the environment when disposing of paint.

Often, after a paint project, there is left over paint; too little to re-use and most of the times the container is thrown in with normal waste.

When dealing with water-based paint, one should solidify the paint before disposing of it. Pour onto sand into the paint and stir. Let the paint stand outside for all solvents to evaporate. Once the paint is dry, peel the paint out with your hand and throw away with normal waste. The container can be kept for other purposes.

Solvent-based paints are the most harmful to our environment and when left in containers on landfills it can eventually poison groundwater. Left over solvent-based paint can be returned to designated disposal sites check with the council.