Will chalk paint last? A frequently asked question 💕

Have you heard that 'chalk paints' are not of high quality or durable.

How is Frenchic different from other chalk paints?

You must have heard exactly right, because there are many different and high-quality paint sets on the market.

The award-winning Frenchic Paint® has set new standards for furniture painting and made it even easier and more fun - if you previously thought that chalk paint is not durable or practical, now is the time to try Frenchic at the latest!

Frenchic Paint® is not the 'usual chalk paint', but a completely new, award-winning and respected innovation, a quality paint series that is durable and suitable for professional use.

So how does Frenchic differ from other paint series?

Frenchic paints have the protective properties already in the paint - how convenient, isn't it?

There are many types of chalk paints and Chalk Paints on the market: Discover the award-winning and tested Frenchic series in this article.

For painting furniture, use only high-quality paint made for painting furniture, such as the Frenchic Paint® series, and avoid 'tube paints' intended for crafts, etc. when painting furniture.

Frenchic Paint® is a brand new, durable and high-quality paint series that is also suitable for professional use.

Painting with Frenchic paints is easy when you know how!

Frenchic paints have different and completely new properties than other paints, so the painting process may also be different from what you are used to:

For example, Frenchic paints do not need to be thinned, and simply shaking the jar is not enough to lift the heavy pigment from the bottom.

At least two layers of paint are always needed.

Familiarize yourself with our instructions before starting, and you will avoid pitfalls.

The paint surface of the Frenchic series can be wiped and washed without any other protection.

All our paint series are therefore splash-proof.

• You can influence the durability of the paint yourself with careful preparations, by following the instructions on the side of the paint can, for example on drying times and painting conditions.

• Mixing the paint is one of the most common steps that is left out or done carelessly. However, mixing the paint is one of the most important steps when painting with Frenchic paints.

• Remember to do a test painting first before a larger project and familiarize yourself with your painting tools.
  

• Consumption and usage habits are different in every family. Appreciate and nurture painted surfaces, and they will remain as good as new for a long time - use only mild detergents and non-scratching tools for cleaning.

• Note that the surface to be painted must also be intact before painting. The paint does not provide durability to a broken, cracked or rotten surface.
• The material of the surface to be painted is also important: some types of wood are softer than others: for example, even an unpainted pine surface gets dents and scratches easily, because pine is a soft type of wood.

• The location of the rooms, light and shadows are unique in each space. Always test the shade in the place, in the space where it was intended. The same shade in another room or in another home can look completely different. So test first.

• Sometimes it hurts and happens - life - and the paint surface gets scratched - spot painting is a normal way to maintain painted surfaces.

• You don't believe such talk that no groundwork or preparations need to be done

• Get to know the series and read more about our products here.

Here we have collected some common questions and beliefs that may be useful to you when thinking about the durability of paint in your own project

Are you painting a kitchen table, children's high chair or something similar for everyday life and heavy use of a family with children?

Do you want to paint the dresser cover in the hall, on which the keys are always thrown? Similarly: would you throw your key fob on the hood of your car every day?

When you wonder if the paint will last, be realistic about your own usage habits

Few pieces of furniture in the home are subject to as much wear and tear as, for example, the kitchen table. Few surfaces are wiped as often as the kitchen table. The same can be said about children's high chairs. This is surely signed by every parent who has scraped dried porridge from the folds of a highchair.

Heavy wear doesn't mean you can't paint the furniture.

Then take into account the things presented here and follow the instructions, and you will succeed.

The nature of hard-wearing surfaces includes maintenance and spot painting. Maintenance painting is part of the normal life cycle of furniture or surfaces.

As an alternative to painting the entire piece of furniture - paint only part of the piece of furniture according to your own consumption:

For example, leave the cover or platform on the wooden surface, and you will be better protected from damage to the paint surface if the cover is subjected to frequent, heavy stress or, for example, impacts.

Sand the wood beautifully and finish the surface with waxes or Finishing Coat or give the cover a beautiful paint wash - 'White Wash'-, the thinned paint will absorb into the wood surface, leaving the wood grain visible, but you will get a beautiful and durable shade for the furniture.

Paint the frame or legs of the furniture colorful.

Learn more about the Väripesu technique here.

Treat and use the painted surface gently and appreciate your painting work - use coasters and tablets.

Clean only with mild detergents without abrasive or scratchy cleaning tools.

Choose the finishing coating according to the purpose of use:

To protect the paint surface, for example on the kitchen table top or kitchen counter, there is a new finishing agent in the Frenchic series: 'Tuff Top Coat', which is heat resistant.

TTC also applies to floor protection. The surface then becomes matte.

You can get a shiny surface with the Finishing Coat coating.

Both of our finishing coatings are quick drying and easy to apply. Before use, read the instructions on the side of the jar and the product information on our website.

You must have noticed that our customers who are enthusiastic about painting paint all kinds of surfaces and things with Frenchic paint - at their own risk, of course.

Although we cannot guarantee the painting of non-officially tested surfaces, we want you to succeed in your project and we can give you a few tips:

No matter what you paint, always make the same preparations: careful washing & cleaning, roughening the surface and painting on a dry and clean surface will help you succeed.

You can find pictures of these more special projects in our FB group with the search term: #oho

Do you want to paint the front door or the interior stairs?

Painting doors and stairs is a nice way to renew the look of your home.

Plan the timing of your painting project so that the paint has time to dry in peace.

Put the painted surface or piece of furniture on a "no-use" basis for the first 48 hours, before careful use.

If your dog jumps against the door, any paint surface can be scratched.

Did you remember to check the weather report before painting the front door?

The air temperature and humidity must be suitable for the paint drying process, at least plus 10 degrees, at least for the first 48 hours - that is, day and night.

Can you protect the painted surface so that the paint has time to harden according to the manufacturer's instructions?

If you lift a TV or a flower pot on top of a freshly painted surface, the heavy object will probably leave marks on the soft and fresh paint surface.

Fresh paint is always sensitive to dents and scratches.

The protective properties of Frenchic series paints harden approximately three weeks before the paint surface reaches its final hardness.

Take into account the manufacturer's instructions and follow them.

You will notice a huge difference in durability when you follow our instructions!

Instructions and tips for painting doors and stairs here.

Why does paint take so long to dry?

Frenchic paints dry quickly, but it takes three weeks for the paint to harden: Drying and hardening are different things.

The paints of the Frenchic series are water-based. In the drying process, the water evaporates from the paint and the other protective properties get to harden and it takes about three weeks. The process is the same for all water-based paints.

When the protective substances of the paint start to harden, the surface becomes very durable.

Frenchic paints are dust-dry quickly, in about an hour, and you can paint a new layer after 1-4 hours, depending on the series.

There is a huge difference in durability when you allow the paint surface to dry in peace for the first 48 hours and handle it carefully for the next three weeks.

Are you painting your garden furniture but don't have a place to store it for the winter?

Ice, snow and water in winter will eat any paint surface - so be prepared for repainting.

Maintenance painting is a normal procedure even if the furniture has been dented in cramped winter storage.

Al Fresco paint can withstand winter, snow and rain, but the wood of the furniture lives on.

So the problem is not the paint, but the moisture inside the wood or other material. If moisture gets into the wood, concrete or board frame of the furniture, it will swell and the paint film will crack.

From the crack, water goes under the paint film and it removes any paint.

The same type of opening of furniture joints occurs if you use so-called indoor furniture outdoors.

The joints and glues used to make them are different from furniture intended for outdoor use. In general, the material of the furniture is also different and it is intended to withstand indoor use only.

Always keep the painted furniture protected from the weather during the winter.

Exterior painting instructions and tips here.

Would you like to paint rag rug stripes on the terrace, yard tiles, pier or outdoor stairs?

Painting rag rug stripes can be a nice summer project.

Sand, stones, water and shoes in the summer naturally eat the paint surface depending on the use, water in the fall and ice and snow in the winter.

But the best thing is the painting every summer and the rag rug is again a cheerful splash of color in the yard.

How many layers should be painted?

Two, at least. All paints in the Frenchic Paint® series follow the same instructions.

Paint regular layers and always wait for the previous layer of paint to be completely dry before working on the surface again.

For Al Fresco paints, wait 2 hours.

The number of paint layers depends on the base color and material, as well as the color of the selected paint. Try the shade on an inconspicuous part of the piece of furniture you are painting.

You can get a small test jar of all Frenchic shades, which you can use to try the shade and make sure the color is correct.

The moisture resistance of the paints of the Al Fresco series is created by means of at least two uniform layers of paint.

Remember to mix the paint well before painting - and during longer painting projects

Thinning and using unmixed paint has a negative effect on the paint's coverage and flow and durability.

A paint layer that is too thin affects the durability, and the wonderful self-leveling property of Frenchic paints cannot be realized when there is not enough leveling paint.

Frenchic series paints do not need to be thinned when painting by hand.

Useful painting instructions here.

Is it absolutely necessary to do the groundwork?

The furniture to be painted must always be prepared - at a minimum, this includes cleaning the surfaces and lightly roughening them.

If the surface treatment is applied to a wet or dirty surface, it will begin to peel off quickly.

Frenchic series paints have excellent adhesion, as do lime and mineral paints in general.

That is why it is important that you remove all obstacles between the paint and the surface to be painted - the paint must be able to stick to the bottom - not remain on top of the dirt layer.

If you made a slight correction during cleaning or roughening the surface, it is likely that the paint has not been able to stick to the bottom in all places.

The paint itself is of uniform quality and therefore equally durable everywhere, but if there are impurities on the bottom, for example oil, grease, detergent or silicone, the paint will not stick to that particular spot and it will eventually come off.

However, it does not mean that there is something wrong with the paint, at that point.

Wash and rinse off also pastes, glues, oils and fats and used detergent.

Washing and cleaning is important - especially if there is no information about the origin of the furniture (old furniture, flea market find, etc.)

Many types of surface treatments and conditioners have often been used in old furniture during its lifetime.

However, do not wash the furniture with a pressure washer or paint a damp wooden surface.

Try the surface of the furniture to be painted by hand - is it smooth, slippery and even - or a little rough? Damp or wet wooden garden furniture is cold to the hand.

It is not always necessary to sand the surface on clean wood - but a light roughening of the surface increases adhesion to the paint.

Memory rule:

the more worn the surface is - the better it is to prepare and sand. A shiny, slippery and smooth surface should always be at least roughened.

Wash the surfaces first, then roughen them - otherwise you will grind dirt and grease deep into the wood grain.

Finishing Coat and TTC - finishing coating and much more

Solvent-free Finishing Coat is a reliable product that does a lot!

You can use it to increase the adhesion of the surface to be painted, to seal the smells of the furniture and, for example, to add splash water and a very wear-resistant surface instead of wax.

By adding layers of Finishing Coat on top of the matte paint, you get a glossy surface.

As a fast-drying and certified coating, it is pleasant and safe to use.

TTC, or 'Tuff Top Coat', is made specifically for hard-wearing surfaces, for example table tops, kitchen countertops or for finishing painted wooden floors.

TTC is heat resistant and has been granted ISO standard classification for wet abrasion resistance (as well as Frenchic series wall paints).

Can be used in outdoor and indoor furniture or together with FrenShee metal pigments. Matte finish.

Read more usage methods and instructions on the product pages in the online store .

Do you clean with strong chemicals or bleaches?

Strong cleaning agents, rough and scratchy cleaning tools, disinfectants and chemicals damage and soften the wax and paint surface quickly.

Do you use self-applied furniture wax on the surface of the chalk paint?

Then remember to add wax to the surface in the future according to use and consumption. Treat & clean the wax surface gently, without abrasive cleaning tools.

The wax layer added by itself can wear off the surface without being noticed during consumption and also quickly from the use of strong detergents.

In this case, the dirt sticks to the unprotected paint, and the stain will no longer come off the paint. You should add wax regularly, according to your consumption. Wax can only be used on indoor surfaces.

Learn more about the use of waxes here and read how waxes can be used versatilely and correctly.

You should always treat a self-painted surface gently and with respect - after all, you've put a lot of effort into painting beautiful furniture.

Put a cloth under the flower jar and use glass and plate containers. Here you can read how to care for a painted surface.

The painted surface should not be cleaned with strong chemicals.

If there is a scratch on the paint surface, it can be easily patched life.

Nice painting moments - we use Maalausjärki

You can find more painting instructions in Frenchic's own FB group 'Frenchic Paint Finland'