How to Use Chalkboard Paint on a Floor

Painting your floors with chalkboard paint isn't necessarily what the paint's intended for--it's not formulated for high-traffic abuse and may scratch with heavy use. However, you can use it on your floors as long as you're willing to touch it up as needed.

1. Clean the area that you're planning to paint thoroughly. Vacuum up all dust and lint. Use mild soap and water to clean the area, and dry it thoroughly with a clean towel.

2. Sand the space using medium-grit sandpaper. This removes some of the gloss from the floor to create texture. Texture allows the primer to adhere to the floor's surface.

3. Wipe up all sanding dust with damp rags. Make sure there's no remaining dust.

4. Tape off the section of floor that you're going to paint with low tack painter's tape. Use a thick tape to help avoid roller strokes from landing outside your taped area.

5. Use a smooth foam roller to apply an oil-based primer to the floor. Choose a primer that's formulated for floors. Oil-based primers take longer to dry and are a little more difficult to work with than latex primers, but they give you a more durable finish. Because the chalkboard paint isn't formulated for floors, choose the most durable primer you're comfortable working with. If you don't want to use an oil-based primer, choose a latex floor primer. Allow the primer to dry completely.

6. Roll on the chalkboard paint. Apply the paint in two to three thin, even coats, allowing each coat to dry for one hour before applying another. Let the paint dry overnight. Remove the tape.

Tip

Because the chalkboard paint isn't formulated for floors, avoid putting furniture directly on top of the painted area, and take off your shoes when walking on the painted surface.