Painting Instructions

All You Need To Know To Paint Your Projects!

 

Step by step painting instructions direct from us at Julia’s Junque! It has taken us hundreds of hours and projects and mess ups and tears to create these steps! Trust me I don’t even know how much time and money I would have saved to be given this info all together! So here you go!! Anyone who tells you their products take zero prep is full of it! You can use any product with zero prep but if you want a long lasting quality finish, these are the steps you NEED to take!

First you need to get your furniture/cupboards/project very clean! Our recommendation on a product is TSP you can purchase it from your local hardware store but be sure to wear gloves! You may need a good green scrubby or even a tooth brush, keep cleaning until a paper towel would be residue free. After that a good water rinse is needed.

Next step is going to depend on the surface you are working with and what we call a scratch test, even though our paint has excellent adhesion if your cupboards or project has too much of a slippery surface a light sanding can go a long ways!! If it is more on the slick surface still we recommend country chic primer, it is a bonding primer that will definitely help with adhesion. How do you check if this is done properly? Paint a small portion of your surface and let dry for 24 hours. Then give a scratch with your nail, if your paint stays on you’re good to go! If it doesn’t? more sanding and another coat of bonding primer may be needed! (you can preform the scratch test before you do any sanding or bonding primer to see if it is necessary at all). You an also skip the hand sanding step if you would like to try liquid sandpaper, also available at your local hardware store but follow the instructions on the bottle, and follow with a scratch test after apply paint as well!

Next you need to get a good primer that is going to block any stains or gunk coming through your paint job. We recommend and carry BIN primer! It is a bit stinky but totally worth the time and money! You don’t want to get to the end of your project and then have a pesky stain sneak through!  It also takes paint thinner or ammonia to clean up!

Finally Paint with our country chic all in one décor paint in your color of choice! Another well worth investment is our oval paint brushes designed specifically to work with our paint!! 2 coats with a good dry time between is best!  Sanding lightly between coats for smooth finish We love sanding blocks/sanding pads and carry them as well! Removing sanding dust with lint free cloth after any sanding is also a must.

You can distress if you would like with the sanding block or with a damp rag. This is all preference but a little or a lot ads the perfectly imperfect touch!

Now is when you can add in that antique or other effects. You can choose glaze or wax it’s all a preference and depending on project! You can apply either with a paint brush or a rag and you can wipe back until you get the look you are going for with a damp lint free rag.  Clear wax works to remove dark/colored wax! 2 light coats of wax and lots of buffing with a lint free rag is how you achieve that buttery finish.

How to chose between wax and glaze?? Both can add great detail and depth, wax is also a protectant while following glaze you need to add a topcoat. Do not use wax for your cupboards. If you are going to be using your surface/project a lot examples cupboards or desk etc. you are going to want to go with glaze and then our tough coat, it is even good for outdoor items!

Let paint and glaze/wax dry for 24 hours

Now add our tough coat in 3 light coats for best protection. ( do not add tough coat over wax, WAX IS ALWAYS LAST, nothing adheres to wax)  It is best to apply with our paint sponges. Do not shake this product but do stir thoroughly! We like to pour some onto a paper plate then dip your painting sponge in.  When applying tough coat move in one direction and keep a wet edge. Do not go back over once it begins to dry. Tough Coat is really runny and watery so have a damp lint free cloth to wipe away any drips.  It starts to dry *really* fast so if you think you missed a spot just leave it. Do *not* go back over it while it is still damp or starting to dry. You will want to! But just don’t. Three nice light even coats with a good dry time is best!  If you are painting on a dark color a mix of 1 part paint to 3 parts tough coat is best to keep streaking away.

For any other questions don’t hesitate to contact us or check out country chic paint youtube and website www.countrychicpaint.com for lots of great tutorials and follow us on Facebook @Julia’sJunuqe for more tips/tricks and up coming classes!