Obtaining A Smooth, Clean Finish With Chalk Paint
We’ve done a lot of textured, grunge style finishes recently at Rehab 2 Fab Designs. Those specialty finishes are always so much fun but sometimes getting a smooth, clean finish can be just as rewarding. After all, not everyone can achieve them so being able to add that to your repertoire is definitely a skill set you want to have.
For starters, you want to have a good clean base to get going. This means proper prep work is key! I know there are a lot of people and companies out there that say “no prep” but trust me when I tell you that proper prep is necessary to not only achieving a beautiful finish… but also one that will last for years to come.
All of our pieces go though the same process when they come to our shop. 1) Inspection 2) Repairs 3) Sanding 4) Thorough Cleaning 4) Priming. Only then we will begin the painting/refinishing process.
Luckily, this piece didn’t need any repairs when it was brought to us for refinishing. The only thing it needed in addition to prep was to have the old drawer holes filled so we could add new pulls in a new location. But we’ll get to that shortly. This is what it looked like when it was brought in. It’s a classic 1980’s china cabinet; two piece thank goodness. Best thing about those pieces… they can be separated and made into two really cute, updated pieces of furniture.
We like to use our favorite wood filler, Pro Finishers Wood Filler for all repairs where we need to fill holes, scratches, gauges, etc. We apply it with a standard putty knife and then sand down smooth once it’s dry. You can pick it up at your local hardware store. We get ours from Home Depot. Once all the repairs are made, all pieces get a good scrubbing using TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) to remove all dirt and debris. * It is important to wash and TSP residue from your piece prior to painting. The goal is to clean the piece and then remove the cleaning solution. You should keep washing and rinsing with warm water until the water runs clear.
Once we finish with repairs and cleaning, we prime our pieces. We almost always use Bin Zinsser. We use either their oil or water based primer depending on the piece. This is our go to primer to prevent bleed through from tanins and also block any smells that are common in older pieces.
My hubby likes to spray his primer using his HomeRight paint sprayer. Every piece gets at least two coats and he sands in between each coat. This keeps the final outcome smooth. We use our SurfPrep sander whenever we can as it is lightweight, quiet and easy to maneuver. When sanding, you’ll want to start with a lower grit (rougher) sandpaper first and end with a higher grit (smoother) sandpaper.
For the new finish, our client wanted to lighten and brighten this piece with a nice neutral color to compliment her new farm house she is building. She chose gray so we picked none other that Dixie Belle Paint Company’s Driftwood. A beautiful soft, gray with undertones of blue. The hubby hand painted this using a Cling On Brush (essential for smooth finishes when using a brush). You can find these on our website if you’d like to try one out. You won’t regret it. In between the three coats of paint, it was sanded by hand with 220 grit sandpaper. Again, extra steps but this will ensure a smooth, final finish in your piece.
Once the painting was done, it was sealed to protect the new finish and keep it protected for years to come. We like Varathane topcoats and choose the finish dependent on the piece. We went with the water-based formula in gloss for this particular piece. The topcoat was sprayed on using our HomeRight sprayer as well. Three total coats were applied. And guess what… it was sanded by hand in between each coat. Again, a necessity to create that smooth, bump free flawless finish.
Now this piece is modern and beautiful and ready to bring years of joy to the owner.
So… are you ready to know the big secrets for creating a smooth, flawless finish? Here they are:
1) Start with a good prepped piece (repaired, sanded, cleaned, and primed).
2) Sand in between every coat of every product you apply… that is how you get a nice, smooth finish.
3 Spraying your products will produce a smoother finish than a brush.
5) If you are using a brush, you must use a good brush. There is a huge difference amongst brushes and they are not all created equally. Our brush of choice is Cling On. They are phenomenal for blending and creating smooth finishes. They last forever. And the best part… they’re basically self cleaning. You can suspend them in water and come back the next day and the paint that WAS on the brush will have settled to the bottom of your cup or glass jar. AMAZING!
