What is chalk paint? Is it magic?

Chalk paint has definitely conquered the world of furniture paint. Chalk paint is also used in many other ecological and sustainable projects.

In this article we take a closer look at this phenomenon, how it is made and what to look out for when buying it.

It is important to know what ingredients chalk paint is made from.

There is still a lot of confusion about this and from time to time very strange stories appear about paint in general and chalk paint in particular.

We have been producing high quality chalk paint, Autentico Vintage, for almost 20 years and to clarify what chalk paint really is, we would like to give you more explanation below.

In general, paint consists of the following five ingredients:

1. Pigments: These are the dyes that give paint its final color. There are organic, inorganic and artificial pigments. It would take too long to go into detail on this now. We will write another article on this subject soon. Colors, however, can be very complex to make. At Autentico, we often use as many as six different types of pigments to obtain a particular color.

2. Solids/fillers: These are not only substances that give the paint “body,” but they also play a very important role in the final quality and appearance of the paint.

3. Binder: this is the “glue” that holds all the components of the paint together. The binder also plays a decisive role in the formation of the film during the evaporation of water (the carrier, see point 4).

4. Carrier/solvent:  Ensures that the pigment, binder and solids from the can reach the surface. This solvent is obviously very important, and in chalk paint, of course, only water is used for this purpose.

5. Additives: These are agents to prevent bacterial growth in the paint can as well as substances that prevent other undesirable reactions in the industrial paint production process.

What makes chalk paint so special?

There are two main ingredients in chalk paint: the solid or filler and the binder. In addition, the ratio of the solid to the carrier (water) is important. This is where major differences in quality can be seen. That is, the quality, the end result. For the paint manufacturer, but also for the customer. Our customer.

When you think of chalk paint, you expect it to contain chalk.

That's right. A good chalk paint uses chalk, or calcium carbonate, as a filler. Chalk is perfect for this purpose because it has a high filler content and once dry gives a powdery result.

Unfortunately, for cost reasons, other, sometimes cheaper fillers are all too often used. The most common are barium sulfate and kaolin. Of course, if chalk is not used as a filler, it cannot be called chalk paint. Unfortunately, this happens all too often and you often find them in discount stores. At Autentico, we use about 35% pure fine chalk in Autentico Vintage Chalk Paint. A real chalk paint.

Actually, the binder used in chalk paint is just as important. A true chalk paint dries powdery and porous. This is necessary for all kinds of decorative techniques. Think of sanding to make underlying layers visible or to age and create cracks. This would not work with a very strong binder. So the trick is to find a balance between the coverage, powdery appearance and permeability of the binder. This combination determines whether it is true chalk paint.

Finally, there is another factor that greatly affects the quality of chalk paint. This is the ratio of the solid to the carrier (water).

Higher quality paints use more solids, usually between 35-40%, depending on the gloss level. The percentage of solids per volume indicates how much paint remains on the surface after the liquids have evaporated. The overall performance of the paint depends directly on the composition of the solids. By the way, the fact that a paint contains a lot of solids does not always mean that the product is of high quality. It also depends on the type of solids and the type of binder. But we've talked about that before.

As you can see, chalk paint is a matter of balancing several factors. This balance and the craftsmanship of the manufacturer determine whether we are dealing with good and especially authentic chalk paint.

Just compare a loaf of bread from the supermarket with a loaf from an artisan baker who bakes his bread early in the morning with love and skill. You can see and taste the difference The same applies to chalk paint.

Is chalk paint magical? No, it is simply the result of true craftsmanship.

Frequently asked questions:

Is chalk paint a modern invention?

No. Chalk has been used as a filler in paint for centuries. The same goes for other ingredients such as mud, sand or clay. People even used to use their own blood as a binder. One of the most famous examples is Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. This famous Renaissance artist painted his life's work between 1508 and 1512 and used mainly chalk and lime. Anyone who now claims to have invented chalk paint is historically wrong. What is new is the modern balance between the various ingredients. In this way, stability and reliability are achieved, which is important when producing chalk paint on a large scale.

Is it true that sanding is never necessary?

Should chalk paint always be protected with wax or varnish?

Can you make chalk paint yourself?

Is there a difference between chalk paint and lime paint?

Is there anything else I should pay attention to before painting with chalk paint?