Annie Sloan is dedicated to helping you make your house a home! Even, outside in the yard and garden.

First and foremost- here are FOUR of the most IMPORTANT tips we can share if using either Gloss Lacquer or Matte Lacquer on outside projects:

1. Wait 14 days after applying your last coat of either Annie’s Gloss Lacquer or Matte Lacquer BEFORE putting your finished items out in the direct elements of Mother Nature.
2. Make sure when using either Gloss Lacquer or Matte Lacquer on a piece of furniture or whatever you are coating, that you completely coat 100% of it. Meaning, even the bottom of the feet or if a table, the side that faces the ground.
3. When using Annie’s Lacquer over dark colored Chalk Paint, always use Annie’s Gloss Lacquer or apply it first before using her Matte Lacquer . The reason is that the flattening agents in the Matte Lacquer can leave a white, hazey, cloud like appearance.
4. Annie’s Gloss Lacquer is more robust and is better for outside projects.

Annie recently shared that using Chalk Paint® outdoors is incredibly easy. Read this blog and learn all you need to know to ensure your garden Chalk Paint® projects stay colourful and cheerful for years to come! Annie made a video for you to enjoy at the end!

• Do use Chalk Paint® outdoors. It’s one of the things I’m most frequently asked, and the answer is yes! You can use Chalk Paint® outdoors.
• In the North East of the USA however, make sure to use it when there will be weeks ahead of you of warmer weather versus in late fall. You want the sun to be able to have time to “bake” and cure your piece.
• Don’t sand! As with using Chalk Paint® indoors, there is no need to prep or prime your outdoor furniture.
• Do remove old peeling paint or rust. You will be able to paint over these…but if you don’t get rid of them they will continue peeling under your Chalk Paint® – and will eventually flake off, taking your lovely new paint job with them! Rust may even show through, so best to tackle it head on.
• Do wipe away any cobwebs or dirt, pop open your Chalk Paint® tin and get stuck straight into the fun part.
• Do know when to Lacquer and when to not. Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint® Lacquer is your garden furnitures’ best defence against UV rays, fading paint colour, and peeling paint caused by water damage.
• Do Lacquer: Garden furniture – anything which will be touched a lot, sat on, or has a horizontal surface which will collect water or fade in bright sunlight needs to be protected with Chalk Paint® Lacquer to ensure paint won’t transfer, peel or fade.
• Don’t Lacquer: Vertical surfaces – shed walls, fencing, and brickwork are all a) porous (making them IDEAL Chalk Paint® surfaces) and b) vertical facing. This means they are much less prone to the key causes of outdoor damage – UV rays and standing water. Twin enemies of garden furniture!
• Do use two coats of Lacquer! Apply two thin coats or more of Chalk Paint® Lacquer so you can be sure the entire painted piece is fully protected to prevent any water ingress. Note that curing time for maximum protection occurs over 14 days. See out Fact Sheet here for more info.
• Do check the weather forecast! Rain will wash away Chalk Paint® and compromise the Lacquer if either hasn’t dried sufficiently before being exposed to water.
• Don’t use any of Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint® Wax on outdoor projects.
• Do play with bright colours – being bold is easier outdoors and adds some fun and whimsy….and let’s face it, right now – we need it!
• Do seal outdoor metal furniture that has rust with Rust-Oleum® Clean Metal Primer before painting or using Lacquer.

If you’re in need of some extra confidence boosting before you commit paint to brush and brush to furniture – watch Annie’s quick video on using her Lacquer   on a metal garden chair here.

The Purple Painted Lady is going to be painting the outside brick of her Macedon, NY location in June using Chalk Paint® . Follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram to watch!