#IPAINT U WITH BRIE UPDATE#

To prevent this, I always use a primer under white/light paint. There’s a short article with more info on this issue here. This doesn’t always happen, but when it does it’s almost always with white or very light paint. Poly topcoats can sometimes pull tannins from the wood through the porous chalk paint, creating yellowish (or sometimes pink) spots. There is a potential downside to a poly finish that isn’t an issue with wax. I haven’t used this product myself but it’s got a 5-star rating from everyone who’s mentioned it). (Update: One top coat that’s been mentioned many times in the comments is Artisan Enhancements. Both are easy to use, easy cleanup, non-yellowing, and in my opinion, provide a more durable, longer lasting finish than wax. I’ve also used Rust-Oleum Varathane Crystal Clear Water-Based Polyurethane with success. My go-to favorite is General Finishes High Performance Water Based Top Coat . There are a ton of different options out there and I haven’t tried even a fraction of them.

Have I got you thinking about experimenting with other sealers? Good!

#IPAINT U WITH BRIE UPDATE#

You can also use dark or colored waxes to create depth and detail on your pieces (see the update below for more info on this!). It will not yellow and provides minor protection for painted furniture.

Of course! It has a beautiful, soft matte look that’s really pretty. So is there anything good about a waxed finish? In general, wax is not a stable enough base for other paints and sealers to adhere to. Unless you’re using a brand that specifically states you can paint over their wax, you cannot apply any other product over a waxed surface and expect lasting results. Annie Sloan is one brand who claims their chalk paint can be used over their own brand of wax, and I have done this myself with success. There is an exception to this rule: some chalk paint manufacturers say their paint will adhere to wax once it’s cured. Change your mind about the waxed finish and want to seal it with something stronger? Sorry again. You can’t apply anything over top of itĭid you seal a piece of furniture with wax a few years ago and now you want to repaint it? Oh, sorry, you have to remove all the wax first. And until you’ve done it a few times it can be really hard to know if you’re doing it right. Most people put it on too thick when they’re first starting out. But it’s even harder to apply correctly without one). (Ok, technically you don’t have to have a special brush. Need proof? Read this.Īpplying wax correctly takes practice. So I’m saying it again: wax is not a good choice for sealing cabinets. I will bet my left foot if you paint your cabinets, or anything else in your kitchen for that matter, and seal it with wax you’ll end up regretting it. I see so many people who sell a chalk paint and wax line say that wax is perfect for sealing kitchen cabinets and it drives me batty. It is absolutely not strong enough for dining tables, kitchen cabinets, or any other surface that will see frequent use. It’s perfectly fine for a decorative piece that will get little to no traffic. Wax is what I would consider a low durability finish. I don’t want to sell furniture to a customer who has no idea they will need to occasionally re-wax it. I don’t have the time or desire to re-wax it. Once I’m done with a piece I want to be DONE. Raise your hand if you want to finish a piece of furniture then have to go back every few months or even once a year to apply another coat of wax. Honestly, I could just stop right here because this is enough for me to not use it. Here are the reasons why I rarely use wax to seal furniture It’s not permanent I started testing different top coats and found a couple really great options that are much stronger than wax and they’re now my go-to choices for sealing furniture. I was worried I was selling furniture with a subpar finish, and I certainly didn’t like how easily the pieces I painted for my own home were getting marked up. I didn’t know I had options.Īfter a while, I started getting really frustrated with the low durability of a waxed finish. So I bought a can of wax and used it to seal every piece I painted. When I bought my first can of chalk paint the lady selling it said I needed wax too. I simply think many new painters don’t realize they have a choice when it comes to deciding what works best for them when sealing chalk paint. Seriously, I’m all for everyone choosing whatever products work best for them. If you’re a fan of a waxed finish, you should go with it. For more information, click here.īefore I get into it, I do want to say there’s nothing wrong with sealing furniture with wax. Some links in this post are affiliate links. And secondly, because I think many people assume that wax is the only option for sealing chalk painted furniture.

First, because I get a lot of questions about it. I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while.

Ipaint u with brie