Chalkboards & Chair Rail

		Creative chalkboards painted directly on your walls offer a decorative way for family members and guests to express themselves. Make them in any shape you want using your own templates and ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape.

TOOLS

ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Advanced Delicate Surface with Edge-Lock™ Protector
Brush, roller & tray
Primer, paint, chalkboard paint
5-in-1 tool/putty knife
Tape measure
Pencil & level
Cardboard / tackboard

PREPARATION

Remove any wall hangings (pictures, nails, fixtures)
Fill nail holes, then use sandpaper to smooth the wall
Make sure wall is clean, dust-free and dry before you begin

MORE INFORMATION

	PRINTABLE-VERSION PDF (2.05 MB)	TAPE- SELECTOR CHART PDF (1.26 MB)

Step By Step Guide:

Step 1: Mask Trim

Mask along trim, baseboards and non-textured ceilings with ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Advanced Delicate Surface.

Step 2: Mask Chair Rail

Measure from the floor to the desired height of your chair rail. Make a small pencil mark, then use a level and a pencil to draw the top rail edge. Tape the rail line. Hint: use tape to determine the width of your chair rail.

Step 3: Paint Lower Wall

Apply primer to lower wall and let it dry for 24 hours. Hint: for best results, use two coats of primer. Then paint the lower wall with chalkboard paint. Let it dry for 24 hours.

Step 4: Paint Upper Wall

Paint the upper portion of the wall with your basecoat color and let it dry for 24 hours.

Step 5: Create Templates

Use cardboard to create templates for your upper-wall chalkboards. Tape templates to the wall and outline each one in pencil. Hint: you can also create your outlines by just using a tape measure and pencil.

Step 6: Mask Shapes

Mask around each shape. Hint: Keep pencil lines inside the border of the tape.

Step 7:Paint Chalkboards

Apply primer to shapes and let them dry for 24 hours. Then apply the chalkboard paint and let it dry for 24 hours.

Step 8: Remove Tape

Remove tape at a 45° angle. If adhesive begins to transfer, use a 90° angle. If paint starts to lift, use a sharp tool to cut along the painted tape edge.

Helpful Hints

SIZE AND SCALE SUGGESTIONS

Consider the size of the room as you plan the sizes of your upper-wall chalkboards. You may wish to vary the sizes and use both squares and rectangles, depending on your space and your needs.
Sketch your vision on paper, drawn to scale. This will give you a blueprint of how the sizes, shapes and spacing will fit onto your wall.
Use tape to bring your vision to life and see it come together – before you paint.

PAINT POINTERS

Use two coats of primer before painting with chalkboard paint, to make sure you can't see the base wall color.
Create dual-purpose boards by using primers and/or chalkboard paints that contain metal dust – turning your boards into magnetic surfaces too.

TAPE TIPS

Resist the Urge to Stretch

When masking any surface, pull tape off the roll a few feet at a time. Avoid stretching the tape, as this can cause it to lift up or break.

Get Extra Sharp Lines

Seal the edge of the tape with the basecoat color. This helps the tape adhere and gives you clean, sharp, professional paint lines.

DÉCOR IDEAS

Attach a wooden rail to the wall under each board, to hold your chalk and (if applicable) your magnets.
Add a bench or shelving to enhance the chalkboard wall while providing useful storage for items like erasers and extra chalk.