Ellyn tells us:
We have a tiny back yard and struggle with making it fun for the kids. Anything we do needs to be vertical to make it fit, so over the weekend we made a big outdoor chalkboard.
Started by getting a 4 x 8 plywood sheet, mixed an outdoor paint with sanded grout in a color that looks like chalkboard because we couldn't find a chalkboard paint that is made for the outdoors. By the end of the weekend the board was in use. Got the recipe for the paint/grout mixture online and to our surprise it works great. Just like the real thing.
We plan to leave it out all season – will it hold up? We'll see...
Total project cost: About $100
(Images: Ellyn Perreault)
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Genius!
Brilliant!!!
http://ashleighnclark.blogspot.com/
I love this.
Love.
Great!
Remindes me of my on weekend project, much smaller, but still makes my son smile!
It's blogged here:
http://alittleworldblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/project-of-week.html
I want this in my backyard, what a great way to cover up part of my dilapidated tool shed!
"Got the recipe for the paint/grout mixture online and to our surprise it works great."
Can you share where? I'd like to do this, too! What a great idea!
Thanks for the nice comments. BTW, have the paint person at the store mix primer into the paint. We used Behr Ultra and the can reads: BASE: 4853- FLATT MATT PP ULTRA EXTERIOR FLAT (BROADWAY) UL200-1. Match the grout color to the paint. We adhered ply wood (for rigidity) and tempered hardboard (smooth surface) together using liquid nails.
Chalkboard paint recipe:
- 3 or 4 parts paint to 1 part unsanded grout (the more grout the quicker it will firm up)
- For best results use a paint stirrer attachment for a drill to blend thoroughly.
- If you apply with a roller do this as quickly as possible to avoid lumps/texture. If you use a brush it comes out smoother.
- When dry sand some of the roughness away with 150 grit sand paper then, 300-600 wet/dry sand paper.
I think that's it. Have fun and good luck!
LOOOVE IT
Made this today. Totally easy and the "hardest" part was hanging it since you really need like three people (two to hold, one to level and drill into fence) and we only had two people. But it's wonderful and we didn't even need to sand ours (I used a brush not a roller to paint). The paint mixture dries really fast, but not so fast that you need to rush. Only needed one coat.