Tutorials

Instructions for Blackberry House Paints

We believe there are 6 steps to a successful paint project. When using our paint, we recommend that you go through this 6 step process to see the full benefits of our paint at every stage.

SPECIAL NOTE: Remember to take a before and after picture of your project. Feel free to post it to our page!

1. Clean your project with a commercial degreaser product such as Krud Kutter or Zep. We suggest cleaning with the scrub side of a sponge (Scotch Brite, for example) to get all the residue off your project. You want to start with a clean surface. If you are working on a laminate piece, we recommend that you clean it with a deglosser for best results. Be sure to wipe the cleaner off with a clean wet rag. Let it dry completely before painting.

2. Paint your project. Saturate your brush and paint with straight, thorough strokes. You will get the best coverage on your project when you paint with the side of your brush rather than the tip.
If your project requires more than one coat, let the first coat dry completely before applying the second coat. It dries fast, so it won’t take long. Applying wet paint to wet paint only pushes your paint around, it doesn’t add more paint, and in most cases will actually pick up your first layer.
(TIP: When your brush is not in use, put it in a zip lock bag and seal it to keep the paint moist. Do not put in refrigerator.)

3. Sand your piece lightly with a sanding sponge. IMPORTANT: This paint is VERY easy to sand and does not require much elbow grease. When used with a good quality brush, our paint dries free of brush strokes. Because of this, a light swipe across the whole piece will smooth it out effectively. This will help you obtain a professional finish on your end project. NOTE: If you prefer your piece to have a more weathered (rather than distressed) look once you apply your wax, skip this step so the wax or glaze will grip into the paint quicker and settle deeper into the ridges.

4. Distress your piece. This is much easier than you’re probably used to. If you want to try wet distressing, wet your sanding sponge and ring it out until you have no dripping water. You want it damp, but not soaking. Proceed with distressing. If you prefer to dry sand, use whatever method you are familiar with. When you wet sand, you’ll need to wash out your sanding block when it gets full of paint to achieve the best results. Again, this paint does NOT require a heavy hand and if you sand too hard or too much in one spot you may remove the paint entirely.

5. Wipe your piece down with a damp rag. You‘ll want to wipe your piece to get the residue off created by sanding and distressing. Be sure your rag is damp, not soaked.

6. Age and Seal your piece. This paint can be sealed with wax, polyacrylic, glaze, or stain. Most applications are brush on, wipe off, but be sure to follow the instructions for the product you are using. Many people prefer to add a little color to their piece for an aged effect – this can be achieved with tinted top coat products such as wax. When using a stain to color or age your piece, we recommend that you water it down a bit so that you do not have heavy lines of demarcation where you stop and start applying it. Same with glaze.
If you want to use your project piece immediately, you will need to seal it for best results. If you prefer not to seal/wax your piece, this paint will cure to a very hard finish after 8-10 days and will not need a topcoat.

Clean your brushes and hands immediately after use.

Our paint is heavily pigmented and has strong adhesion properties, and may be hard to remove if left very long after your project is finished. You may need to use a soft Scotch Brite type sponge and soap to remove. SCRUBBY SOAP brand also works very well to remove our paint.