How to Make a Kitchen Chalkboard With a Shelf
- 1). Mix mild liquid soap with warm water in a small bucket until suds form. Dip a sponge in the soapy water and clean the wall where you intend to place the chalkboard. Rinse the wall with clean water. Allow the wall to air-dry.
- 2). Use a tape measure to mark out a 2-foot-by-2-foot section of the kitchen wall where you wish to place your chalkboard. Place pencil marks at each corner. Connect the marks with a pencil; use a straightedge as a guide to keep the pencil lines straight.
- 3). Sand the surface within the outlined area with a medium-grit sandpaper to remove any glossy finish. Wipe the area with a tack cloth.
- 4). Place strips of masking tape on each side of the outlined area. Set the straightedge against the tape where it meets the penciled outline. Use a utility knife to cut the tape along the straightedge on each side. This will ensure that the painted chalkboard's edges will be straight.
- 5). Brush a layer of latex primer onto the wall within the outline area. Apply two thin layers. Allow the primer to dry for two hours.
- 6). Stir the chalkboard paint thoroughly with a wooden paint stick. Apply the chalkboard paint with a synthetic brush to the primed area. Use light brushstrokes for even coverage. Apply two coats for a durable finish. Allow the paint to dry for four hours.
- 7). Hold the shelf against the wall beneath the chalkboard. Set a carpenter’s level on top of the shelf. Adjust the shelf until it is perfectly straight. Use a pencil to draw a small line at both ends of the shelf and along the base to mark the position. Set the shelf aside.
- 8). Attach the two shelf brackets to the wall. Place each shelf bracket 4 inches inward from the edge of the shelf; the brackets should be 16 inches apart. Make sure the brackets are positioned so that the top of the bracket is even with the mark representing the base of the shelf. Screw the brackets to the wall using drywall screws.
- 9). Set the shelf on top of the brackets. Place wood screws through the top of the brackets and screw them into the base of the shelf. Make sure that the screws are short enough that they will not pierce through the top of the shelf.
- 10
Allow three days for the chalkboard paint to cure. Condition the board before use by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk over its surface. Erase the chalk with a felt cloth.
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