DIY Paint Facts & FAQs

 What is the difference between DIY paint and other brands?

DIY Paint is a nontoxic, all-natural clay and chalk-based paint (water-based). The clay is the magic ingredient which gives it the unique ability to create a variety of textures from smooth to chippy. DIY Paint is one of the most affordable brands on the market because it goes right from the factory to the retailer. The excellent quality of DIY Paint is due to the selection of the best pigments and ingredients. 

Is DIY Paint affordable?

DIY Paint is one of the most affordable premium paints of its kind on the market. I cannot put a price on my health and do not want to contaminate our environment. DIY Paint smells like earth and is safe enough for kids. DIY Paint contains no VOCs, latex, acrylic or other harmful binders.

The natural clay base is its champion! DIY Paint is five times more pigmented that its competitors. The blend-ability is second to none and adding water does not dilute the paint color. Artists paint their canvases with DIY Paint. The clay base allows for subtle undertones and nuances of color that you cannot achieve with other premium paint brands of its kind.

DIY Paint is easy, a little goes a long way and the possibilities are endless. If you are still not convinced, try one of our forty-five colors in an 8 oz size. You will be a happy creative! And please let us know what you think.

 

Can you paint on laminate and other surfaces?

Yes, DIY Paint is designed primarily to paint on furniture with no need for sanding or priming before you begin. The paint also adheres to surfaces including metal, plastic, laminate, and glass. (A light sanding with a fine grit sanding block may be used on shiny, slick surfaces. Keep in mind this is one only to rough up the surface a little.)

What is the best practice before painting?

The number one thing to do first is clean surfaces to remove any residue for better adherence.

 Why is the first coat of paint not a full coverage?

More than likely, you will not get full coverage on your piece with the first coat. This is the stage before beauty. Try not to go over areas you have already painted with your brush when applying the first coat. Allow the first coat to dry, then apply the second coat.

DIY Paint is a thick and highly pigmented paint, so you only need a small amount of paint on your brush. Using a quality brush is a dream and a tool you will want to invest in. In addition, keep a misting spray bottle handy. See upcoming and current video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

Why is DIY Paint a lighter color when dry?

DIY Paint will appear lighter when it is dry compared to when it is wet. This is natural. The rich paint color will return once the piece is sealed with a wax or topcoat.

Does DIY Paint need to be sealed?

Yes, DIY Paint needs sealing with a wax or topcoat because it is a natural clay-based and chalk-based paint with no VOCs, harmful binders or acrylics.

What White in DIY Paint do I choose?

DIY Paint White Swan is our truest, pure white. The other “Whites” in the DIY Paint line have cool or warm undertones to match your palette. Bead Board is our white with cool undertones (cool palettes). Vintage Linen is out white with subtle beige undertones (warm palettes). Crinoline is our creamiest white with pale yellow undertones (warm palettes). Tarnished Pearl is our white with subtle grey undertones (cool palettes).

What is “bleed through” and how is it prevented when painting on wood?

Darker woods like cherry and mahogany naturally contain darker tannins. “Bleed through” refers to the tannins in the wood coming through when you paint; therefore, do a test in a small area before painting darker woods. You have “bleed through” if you see a brownish or reddish tint appear once the paint has dried which means the tannins blead through the paint. Some people do not care if the tannins bleed through and often the tannins do not considerably change the paint color. However, we recommend and have a solution and that is DIY Paint Salvation Solution. Applying Salvation Solution first solves the “bleed through” problem. DIY Paint Salvation Solution is available in clear and white. Use the clear Salvation Solution when painting with darker colors and use the white when painting with lighter colors.

TIP:  Let’s say you are painting a piece in DIY Paint Aviary (a farmhouse, olive green). You can add a small amount of grey paint to the white Salvation Solution to make it easier when painting with the Aviary because it is easier to cover over a light grey than a white. (Of course, you would not do this is you were painting your piece in a lighter color such as DIY Paint Vintage Linen (one of our whites with creamy beige undertones). FYI – Clear Salvation Solution contains no color pigments, so do not add paint color to it; its purpose is to remain clear.

What is the best practice when applying clear wax or colored waxes?

DIY Paint Clear Wax - Put a small amount of wax on your brush or use a rag to apply the clear wax. Only the tip of your brush should have wax on it. Using a premium brush specifically made for applying wax is ideal. Offload your brush onto a piece of cardboard to allow the wax to evenly distribute on the brush. Let the first coat dry and then apply a second coat of clear wax. Wait 24 hours and buff with a clean, lint-free rag. You can use your piece after seven days (i.e., putting items in drawers), but the full curing time is 30 days. We do not put anything on the surface of our pieces until after the wax has fully cured.

DIY Paint Colored Waxes are heavily pigmented, so apply the colored wax sparingly and always offload onto a piece of cardboard before applying.

We always apply clear wax before applying colored wax (i.e., dark, black, etc.). Applying the clear wax first acts like an eraser should you need to remove any of the colored wax. In addition, waiting about twenty minutes for the clear wax to penetrate the paint before applying the colored wax will insure the colored wax will stay its true color.

It helps to spoon out a small amount of wax onto a piece of cardboard or paper plate to use when getting ready to apply your wax, so the wax in the container does not get contaminated. Lastly, use a different wax brush to apply the colored waxes.

Can I layer sealers and waxes?  Topcoats and Sealers  can also be used as a clear barrier layer BEFORE applying tinted and colored waxes. Apply 1 thin coat of  clear topcoat or sealer BEFORE applying waxes. Allow clear topcoat or sealer to dry for minimum of 24 hours before applying waxes. (DIY FINISHES)

We do not typically recommend applying clear topcoats or sealers over  OVER waxed finishes. With waxed surfaces there are a lot of variables – thickness of wax, type of wax, solvents used in wax formula, number of layers of wax, dry time between layers, how much the wax was buffed, and cure time of wax. All of these variables make layering another product over wax potentially problematic. For most wax products, an additional sealer is not required over the layer of wax. In most circumstances, if using wax to seal, wax should be the final layer to seal chalk painted surfaces.

What is the curing time for DIY Paints and Finishes?

To be fully cured is about 30 days. After seven days, the paint and/or finishes will be somewhat cured and can be used gently; however this depends on weather conditions, temperatures and humidity. For example, if you have a dresser, you can place items in the drawers, put do not put anything on top of the dresser for 30 days.

Can you paint on fabric or upholstery?

Yes, tightly woven fabrics work best to paint as they do not absorb as much of the product. If painting upholstery, it is best to work with lighter fabrics or to select a paint color darker than the color of the original upholstery.

Can you paint on leather?

Yes. You can basically paint on anything. It is a good practice to do a test first because sometimes pre-existing factors may affect the outcome.

What is wet distressing?

Wet distressing is an impressive attribute with DIY Paint! DIY Paint contains no latex or acrylic, so you can rub the paint back with a wet cloth or a wet sanding block, even a baby wipe will do the trick.

Sandpaper is good for some projects, but over-sanding can leave a furniture piece looking like you tied it behind a pickup truck and drug it down a gravel road. On the other hand, wet sanding allows you to create a look of paint worn down over time.

Sanding is time consuming and leaves a dusty mess. Rubbing paint off is much faster and dust free.

Sanding can damage wood especially ornate or carved areas. Wet distressing is the perfect alternative and a beautiful way to highlight those curves and scrolls.

How do I mix colors?

DIY Paint is water-based and mixes like any other paint. When mixing, start with your lighter shade and add tiny amounts of the darker shade and mix until the color you desire.

How do I make a chalkboard?

Any color of DIY Paint can be used as the base of a chalkboard! The paint has a natural matte finish, so while colors like Weathered Wood or Letterpress Grey will give you the classic slate look, you can write with chalk and erase just as easily with any of the amazing colors.

Start with a smooth, clean surface and apply at least three layers of DIY Paint with a satin-finished roller to avoid brush strokes and texture. When the paint has dried thoroughly, use the side of a piece of chalk to "prime" the board by completely covering it evenly with a layer of chalk and then erase it. 

Morning Dewdrops Disclaimer - We offer DIY Paint and Finishes and Artisan Enhancements products.  We provide tips or answers to questions about these products when working in conjunction with each other. 

We do not provide these tops or answer these questions pertaining to any other brands of paint topcoats, sealers, waxes or other finishing products.

To learn more, subscribe to our YouTube channel and for free tutorials and subscribed to our email magazine, The Art of Doing. We share our painting secrets with you and so much more!

Stay Creative, Terri