Using Chalk Paint Outside
I have been knocking out a ton of small projects, which is good – and bad. Good that I am finally getting around to getting them done. Not so good that it takes time away from my bigger projects. A lot of these projects would normally have been done in the spring, but this years torrential rains kept me from getting them done.
One of the questions I get asked a lot about is using chalk paint outside. Can you? Yes! It is as durable outside as it is inside. The only difference? The top coat finish. You clean and prep the same. Paint the same. However, you can not use a wax to seal it outside, which if you think about it makes sense. Wax melts in the heat, and honey it is one great big hot mess in Texas right now!
This clock has been on my back patio for awhile now. As you can see it has developed this patina from weather. At first I thought it was kinda cool and would just leave it alone. However, when I was replacing the battery I realized that it was one rainy, hot humid day away from rusting. My first thought was to just paint it the same color with spray paint, but where is the fun in that?
I cleaned it thoroughly and then taped it up.
Gave it two good coats of chalk paint.
Distressed the edges to make it look old. I love the oil rubbed bronze color showing through the paint!
Once that was done I gave it a good spay of polyacrylic top coat to protect the finish.
And this is my finished clock! Much better don’t you think?
It always amazes me how a little work can give you such great rewards! I mean, I literally took this clock down at 11:00 a.m. and put it back up at 4:30 p.m. I don’t think I spent more than 40 minutes of actual hands on time – most of that was dry time. Which allows me to work on a ton of my other small projects! Yay, me!
If you were wondering if using chalk paint outside was possible, this proves that you can. If you were wondering how it will hold up in my hot Texas sun… I promise to share another photo of it in a few months just so you can see. Your Welcome!
Until next time…