Rustoleum Chalk Paint Review

Are you searching for an affordable paint option to transform your furniture pieces into something amazing? In this Rustoleum chalk paint review, we’re sharing our experience using Rustoleum chalk paint and the pros and cons of this product to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your next project.

We have tested many types of paint for furniture, and chalk painting is an easy and fun way to update your old furniture and update your home. So let’s dive into this review and get you started with your next project!

Chalk paint is a great choice for furniture because it provides an easy and cost-effective way to transform any piece of furniture into something unique and beautiful.

But how does Rustoleum chalk paint compare to other types of chalk paint? Well, I wondered the same thing, so I grabbed some Rustoleum chalk paint and a piece of furniture to test it out for you!

I have tested out a lot of chalk paints in my time as a furniture painter, and there are definitely some chalk paint brands that I would not recommend. Here is my list of the top chalk paint brands that I do recommend!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

Using Rustoleum Chalk Paint

On a little end table, we tested out spraying Rustoleum chalk paint with our Wagner FLEXiO Sprayer. The instructions on the can say that you can thin the paint up to 2 ounces per quart, so that’s the ratio we used to thin out what we used.

Check out our post on how to thin paint for Wagner FLEXiO sprayer to see how we usually thin paint.

At first, it seemed like it would be okay, even though it wasn’t as thin as I would like.
By the second coat, there was a lot of texture. Too much for my liking.

So, I tested some thinned out paint on a piece of finished wood that had not been sanded or primed. It held up to my scratch test as well as the full strength patch did.

So, after I distressed the chalk paint smooth and primed it again to stop stains from coming through the paint, I thinned out the Rustoleum chalk paint more. It sprayed to a much smoother texture after that.

Yes, most chalk paint, including Rustoleum says that you don’t need to sand or prime beforehand. But if you want your paint to actually stick very well, you’ll need to sand and prime before painting.

Here is more about sanding before painting, and here are the best primers for painting furniture.

Sealing Rustoleum Chalk Paint

After using the chalk paint, we topcoated it with Varathane’s water based polyurethane in a semi-gloss sheen. Now, when I scratch at the paint with a topcoat on it, it’s not going anywhere!

To get the best results for your project, check out our list of the best topcoats for painting furniture here.

Without a clear topcoat, chalk paint is very hard to keep clean, and it isn’t very durable on its own. For instance, I didn’t do a very good job taping off the freshly stained top before spraying the paint.

Some of the tape lifted up, and some paint splattered onto the stain that did not have a topcoat.

I was worried that I would have to sand off the paint and redo the stain, but even after letting the chalk paint sit on the stain over the weekend, it was easily wiped off with a damp rag.

That is not a sign of durable paint. But that’s on par with chalk paint. So, if you want your chalk painted project to last, definitely topcoat it with water based polyurethane! Learn about the 5 chalk paint problems and how to fix them here.

Get all of the details of this makeover in our pink painted nightstand post.

Rustoleum Chalk Paint Review

Now for my honest review after using Rustoleum Chalked paint on my own project.

First, the price is great! It’s not the cheapest, but it’s definitely not the most expensive. I am very happy with how well it sticks, though I do not recommend using it without sanding or priming before painting.

Almost every single paint in my opinion needs to have the surface sanded and primed before painting. This one is no exception. One thing that stands out to me is how smooth it dries!

A lot of chalk paint has a gritty texture once dry, and this is super smooth whether it is brushed or sprayed on. It also doesn’t feel super chalky!

The coverage of the blush pink is great! Two coats gets you full coverage, even with it thinned out! For a light color like this, that’s pretty amazing!

On the other hand, there aren’t many colors to choose from. There are 11 colors, but I see that there is a tintable version that can be tinted to 26 other colors. I haven’t seen that option in my store though.

It’s rated for indoor use only, so you can’t use it on things that will be outside.

I did have some trouble spraying it because of not thinning it out to my liking and not cleaning out my sprayer when I thinned it out more… If you don’t know how to clean a sprayer, here’s our blog post on how to clean a Wagner FLEXiO sprayer.

I do think that it sprays okay. It also brushed well in my little test, but it’s chalk paint and there are definitely brush marks when I brushed it on.

If you’re going to use a paint brush, check out our blog post about the best chalk paint brushes.

Rustoleum Chalked Paint Pros and Cons

Overall, I think it’s a great paint! I feel like it’s very comparable to other chalk paints and actually better in some ways. That’s the thing about paint, there is not one perfect paint out there! They all have their pros and cons!

Learn more about the truth of using chalk paint for furniture here.

Pros

• Very budget-friendly!
• Easy to distress!
• Very good coverage!
• Adheres well.
• Feels and looks like it might have some built-in topcoat. Not as chalky as other paints.
• A lot smoother than most chalk paint! No gritty texture left behind!!

Cons

• Few colors to choose from (11 colors)
• Rustoleum has a tint base to tint to an additional 26 colors. But hard to find this option
• Indoor use only

So, would I use Rustoleum Chalked again? Yep! I sure would!

Oh, one more thing. If you’re looking into using Rustoleum Chalked Spray Paint, we have a great comparison post for you on how it compares to other chalk spray paints.

Check out our post on chalk spray paints review and 5 chalk paint problems and how to fix them for more information!

More Chalk Paint Reviews

• Waverly Chalk Paint Review
• Rethunk Junk Paint Review
• Behr Chalk Paint Review
• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Review
• Best Chalk Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

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