Blackboard paint?

[ABmom]

I want to organize a small space in our basement for dd and ds to play in and to also store their toys. The space is about 8 X 6 with carpet. I have two large toy chest that will be placed against the 2 walls. With the third, I'm thinking of painting it in the blackboard paint. Have you done this before? Is it worthwhile? If so, do I need to prime the wall first or just paint? Thanks

[JamSamMom]

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[utopia760]

ive ALWAYS wanted to do it ive seen it many times on tv look like it work with no prime- ask the hardware stor guy

[gmvh]

I made this chalkboard a year or so ago. It's a piece of galvanized steel (so it's magnetic) glued onto masonite, painted with chalkboard paint, and the trim holds it to the wall (the screws go through the trim). I like it but the chalk has been so incredibly dusty and colored chalk does not come out of fabrics (or off walls) easily at all. I'm pretty positive we primed the metal.

With that said, I think a friend is planning to do an entire wall but it's in her unfinished basement so the dust isn't quite the same concern. I'm very excited about that project!

[avendesora]

Yes, the dust gets EVERYWHERE! I taught in a high school, and the dust was all over my desk, my clothes, my hands were chronically dry, the colored chalk doesn't always wash out of clothes. I'm not saying to not do it, just know what you're getting into. Don't keep any computers near the dusty chalkboard.

Avne

[4evermom]

I saw a recipe online somewhere. The key ingredient was sandless grout, I think. But you could put it in any color paint so you could have a custom color chalkboard.

[ABmom]

OK...maybe that isn't agood idea. I hate dust! Thanks for the heads up. Back to the drawing board.

[lucyem]

I always thought some dry erase board would be fun. Then just recently in Lowes I saw them selling it in big pieces designed to be put along a wall. Cheaper then the boards already "made" in Staples. And you can make it as long as you like.

[I Fly]

We have a wall in our playroom painted with chalkboard paint, available at Lowe's and Home Depot. Martha Stewart had a recipe a few issues back to make chalkboard paint out of any color paint.

The wall is cool-looking and it is easy to write on. However, it does not erase as easily or as well as the chalkboard in schools or on our little art easel. There is chalk dust below the wall, but it doesn't seem to go everywhere. My kids use the wall in bursts, so infrequency might help. Anyway, in my next playroom, I would probably opt to buy a large chalkboard and hang it instead of the painted kind. It just doesn't erase that well, so it's hard to get a "clean slate." I have taken to just leaving everything on it and wiping it off with a wet rag every now and then. I'm not sure if my problem is the paint or the surface under it.

[counterGOPI]

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[deuxceleste]

HEY! the PP is right, don't buy chalkboard paint! there's a recipe online. lemme see if i can find it.

[deuxceleste]

here it is

http://www.wallnutz.com/ProjectChalkboard.htm