Latex Lowdown

You know how I'm always yammering on about not painting over latex, 

even if you're using chalk-type paint?  

Here's another example of why I'm a big advocate of removing the latex, 

or at least priming over it 

(if it was a high quality latex, done properly)

Our dining table was painted in white latex

by a well-meaning seller

The next owner decided to paint over the latex with chalk-type paint and wax

(I don't know which brand)

It looked really pretty

and the blue was actually similar to 

the blue on our walls...

and on the floor...

basically, it was a whole lot of BLUE!

I decided I'd try to remove the wax and the chalk-type paint

while hopefully leaving the white latex intact

We will be stripping it back to wood in the relatively near future

but you know how that goes!

Between Etsy, the studio, and now preparing the new shop, it could be a while!

I wasn't really sure how to go about this, so I started with the least complicated method

I could think of

And it worked...really, really well

The magic concoction that removed the wax and paint?

Hot soapy water and the scrubby side of a sponge!!!

Yes, I scrubbed...

but really, no harder than I would have scrubbed to get dried spaghetti sauce off!

(imagine if this was a client table and she was scrubbing it clean when OFF came the paint!)

 It should NOT be this easy, y'all! 

Why was it so easy?  

Because stuff just doesn't bond well to latex paint

 (and this table was painted pretty well...notice the latex isn't budging...lol.)

Had the chalk-type paint been painted over wood, 

I'd have given up this task an hour ago...

the paint wouldn't hardly budge!

Why is the latex intact?  

Because it's painted over wood that was primed first.

Latex isn't the bad guy here, nor are chalk-type paints

Latex can work if you get the best products

and prep and prime your surface properly

and chalk-type paints can be much more durable than this

when applied to a properly prepared surface

No Prep No Prime is OFTEN the case

with chalk-type paints,

but not always the best practice!

If the latex is peeling, you need to strip it off!

If the latex seems durable and isn't peeling or bubbling,

 and you can't scratch it with your fingernail, 

use a good quality bonding primer

before applying your chosen paint over the surface

When in doubt,

 take a few extra steps to ensure you're confident in the durability of your finish!

Yes, it sucks. We hate doing it, too.

Kenny and Michele