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annie sloan chalk paint review roots and wings furniture (3 of 3)

The paint review series continues today… a series for you all about different brands of furniture paint. Many of you know I’ve been a General Finishes fan for years, and that hasn’t changed. But there are so many other fantastic brands out there, I wanted to give them a test and do it with you!

Be sure to check out the other reviews if you missed any of them: Dixie Belle Paint ReviewRustoleum Paint Review, Fusion Mineral Paint ReviewMiss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint , General Finishes Milk Paint 

I wanted to be sure to review Annie Sloan Chalk Paint because they really were one of the first chalk paints on the market, and they were there at the beginning of this DIY furniture painting craze.  Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is expensive, but there are many die-hard fans.  I used to use it myself, but it’s been a while, so it was time to use it again and compare to what’s out there now! 

Here’s the rubric I’ll be using as we search for the best paint for furniture.

ABC’s of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

A – APPLICATION

What is the recommended application of each type of paint – and are there any tips or tricks to give a better finish.

Annie Sloan has their own line of brushes – but they are pricey! – so I just chose to use a synthetic bristle brush (my good old Purdy).  A tip that was given to me is to dampen the brush before (and while) painting if you want a smoother finish with the chalk paint.  Some of the deal with chalk paint though is to have some texture, so you may or may not want a very smooth finish with this paint. 

B – BEFORE YOU START (PREP)

What prep is required before you start painting? Lot’s of paints are boasting “no prep” these days, so I want to see how that actually works. And yes, while I love a good scuff sanding to get the piece ready to paint, perhaps it’s not always necessary.

A good cleaning is recommended, but after that no additional prep is needed.  No sanding, no scuffing, just paint! 

C – CONSISTENCY

What is the consistency of the paint itself? Is it thin and runny or thick and smooth? This matters and affects how you choose to apply the paint.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is thick!  It’s very smooth, but thick.  Again, this is intentional as some people really like the chalk paint to be thick and give some texture to the piece.  The can says you can even leave it open over night if you want to thicken the paint up even more to give it more texture in your finished product.  Also, if the paint gets too thick, you can add water to thin it out.  

annie sloan chalk paint review roots and wings furniture (1 of 3)

C – COVERAGE

How does the paint cover? Do you need multiple thin coats, one thick coat, etc. This is a BIG deal in the painting world. As much fun as painting is, as a refinisher, we really want as much coverage per coat as possible. This makes the refinishing process quicker!

The coverage was good!  It was really close to a one coat coverage.  There were a few spots that could have used a little touch-up but not bad at all!  The Chalk Paint tends to have really good adhesion to lots of different surfaces.  

C – COLORS

The availability of colors matters to us creatives. We want unlimited colors to choose from, am I right?

I chose French Linen as the color I tried, it’s a really pretty neutral color (somewhere between a tan and gray). There is a good variety of very nice, classic colors to the chalk paint.  All of the colors can then be lightened/darkened with the color of wax you apply.  

D – DURABILITY

Durability of a product is one of the most important factors to me, especially when I’m refinishing furniture for clients or to sell – you want your work to last and stand the test of time! I’m going to be honest, and say this is a harder element to test. Durability happens over time and with some use. We can look at durability quickly and see that the paint isn’t chipping, flaking or lifting, but much more than that and we need to take the time to test it.

Chalk Paint does need to be sealed, most people prefer to use a wax, but a topcoat can also be used.  Chalk paint is so porous it needs to be sealed so it doesn’t absorb all the oils from your skin, or moisture from other things.  I find waxing to be a bit tricky, and don’t usually do it anymore preferring instead a clear water based topcoat.  

I hope you enjoyed this paint review! 

Have you used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint? What do you think of it?  It’s not my favorite chalk paint out there, but it’s a great option to know about!! 

Be sure to check out the other reviews if you missed any of them: Dixie Belle Paint ReviewRustoleum Paint Review, Fusion Mineral Paint ReviewMiss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint , General Finishes Milk Paint 

Until next time, 
Jenni