Tag Archives: Chalk Paint

I’ve had a lot of questions and comments about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, so I thought I’d take a few minutes to explain the pros and the cons of ASCP in a short post (well, kind of a short post).

Basically, everyone wants to know what is so great about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and what is all the fuss about?

Is ASCP the right product for your project?

Here’s what I’ve experienced with the paint so far:

Pros:
It’s water-based. The fact that this paint is water based makes clean-up super easy.   In addition, I find that if I make a mistake, it’s very forgiving.  It wipes up like a dream.  Like drops on the floor for example, wipe up with no problems at all.

And, because it wipes up so easily, if you decide to be lazy (like I can be sometimes) you can leave all your hardware on a piece and paint around it or over it.  If you accidentally get it somewhere you don’t want it — just wipe it off no problem!

No prepping required.  This probably my very favorite part about the paint.  You don’t have to sand your piece before you use it.  For lazy painters like me, this is a dream come true.  No priming either!  Yea!!

Good coverage.  The paint covers really well.  Especially the darker colors.  I did notice with my Old White, that two coats were better than one, but really, the coverage is excellent!

Unique colors.  The colors in the ASCP line are really great.  Really pretty, vintage-y (I know it’s not a word) and unique.  Love them!  But, if you want to experiment a little more, you can mix them to come up with something else unique.  I did that with this tin pail.  I mixed Old Violet and Aubusson blue together and absolutely LOVE this blue.

Depth of Color and Appearance. ASCP gives you a different and richer look than latex.  This is especially true when you sand and scuff up the paint and wax.  And, by the way, I definitely recommend using the ASCP wax with this paint.

On the china hutch above, I used 2-3 coats of wax and I sanded in between coats.  It gave me this really beautiful, rich depth that I absolutely love.  And, by the way, the wax hardens completely after a few days and gives a very nice durable finish.  I like ASCP wax better than Minwax paste wax.  No contest.

Low VOCs.  There is very little paint odor from this paint — I mean, hardly any at all.

Flexibility.  There seems to be a lot of flexibility with this paint to achieve different looks that you like.  I have only scratched the surface and haven’t even begun to explore all the possibilities of ASCP, but I definitely really like this paint – a lot!  If you’re looking for a paint that will give your pieces a time-worn, rich appearance, this is the paint for you!

For different looks you can add water, leave the can open and thicken it up, or mix it with other colors.  You can even mix it into the wax!

If you’re interested in more information, click here to find out what the Annie Sloan website says about the benefits of their paint.

You can also find a retailer near you or an online resource if you’re interested in purchasing some.

Cons:
The cost.  The number one strike against buying Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the price.  It is not cheap.  A small can (about a quart) will run you around $35-$40 depending on where you buy it.  In addition, the wax will cost you an extra $28-$30.  But, I will tell you that I have found the coverage to be excellent.  I only used a sample size on my coffee table, for example.

I purchased the samples I’ve gotten at the same ASCP retailer where I bought the larger cans.  It’s still a little pricey at $10-$15 per sample, but if you only need a little, it’s a much better price!

Availability.  Retailers are not always nearby and you might have to buy online.  Not a big deal, but if you’re like me and don’t like to pay shipping on something that’s already a little pricey, having to order online can be a con.

Do you need to buy all the extras — the expensive brushes, the wax, etc.?  Not necessarily.  I have yet to use any of the ASCP brushes, but during a few of my projects I have seen where the size and shape of the brushes would really be handy.  I also think the bristle-type would lend themselves well to creating more texture and depth to a piece.

But, if you’re just getting started, like me, you don’t need to make the investment.  To make one of my pieces look older, I wanted more visible brush strokes, so I used and inexpensive chip brush from Lowe’s and it gave me the look I was after.

So, where wouldn’t you use ASCP?  Since my first adventure with the paint, I haven’t used it exclusively.  I still use latex and spray paint for projects.  I have also dabbled in milk paint.
So, it really depends on the look I’m after.  If I want a smooth, shiny appearance, I use latex or spray paint.  I have used those two types of paint exclusively for my daughter’s room update because she wants everything more modern and sleek looking.  And, I can still use latex for antiquing-type projects.  A lot of times it will just boil down to cost and availability.

There you have it — my take on the pros and cons of using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I hope that helps for all of you who are thinking about giving it a try!

Thanks for reading!

**I am not a paid spokesperson for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I simply love their product and decided to blog about it!