Whiteboard Wall: How to Paint a Usable Whiteboard Anywhere

Whiteboard Wall: How to Paint and Keep It Fresh

Have you ever thought, geez, I would love a giant whiteboard on this wall, and oh, how great would it be for it to measure four feet by five feet? A whopping twenty square feet of writing space. Or, heck, even larger. Well, I did for my youngest daughter’s bedroom. She loved to play school, doodle, or just decorate her room with her drawings, so I cleaned up a useless wall space between the window and the closet and turned it into a writing board like school.

Whiteboard wall paint research

The market holds a few dry erase whiteboard paints, and they can cost around $40 up to $600, depending on the square footage and brand. First, you have the high-end paints like Remakeable Paint ($150 for about 35 sq ft of coverage) and IdeaPaint ($200 for 50 sq ft of coverage). Now these options were far too expensive for me to try, so I cannot say if they are worth the cost. But I can tell you about a cheaper option that works amazingly well. Rust-Oleum makes a dry erase paint that is $40 for about 50 sq ft of coverage. It’s also simple to use and has a low odor. It also comes in the typical white color base, as I used, or in a clear formula. Read through this entire article before starting! Promise me, it will save you trouble.

Equipment Needed

• Rust-Oleum dry erase paint
• Painter’s tape
• Small paint roller kit includes 4-inch paint roller, dense foam covers (very important for the best and smoothest coverage), paint tray and liner
• Interior/Exterior Spackle
• Spackling Sanding Block
• Wood Chisel only if you are working with old wooden walls like I did
• Paint sticks for mixing
• Makers for non-porous surfaces: dry erase, wet erase, liquid chalk

How to prepare for the whiteboard wall

1. Determine size.
   • By this point, you should have a place in mind where you would like to paint your whiteboard. In order to determine how much paint to purchase, measure the square footage of your space (length x width).
   • Determine if you want everyone in the family to write on it; thus, paint closer to the ground to let the little ones take part.
2. Prepare the wall space.
   • Patch any existing holes with spackle, let dry, and sand until smooth.
   • For new drywall walls, you will need to paint a coat of primer first; otherwise the whiteboard paint will soak in and not work as it is intended. You do not need to do anything if your walls are already painted. But you may want to paint a specific color if you want to use the clear coat whiteboard paint.
   • If you have wood walls, as I do, use a chisel to scrape any larger paint or wooden protrusions. You can also sand down the wall until it is completely smooth. I find this too much work, and since you will then have bare wood, it would be best to prime again, like if you had new drywall.
   • Tape the area you wish to paint.
3. Now paint!
   • Using the Rust-Oleum brand is simple: open the two containers labeled A and B.
   • Pour the smaller A, which is your resin activator, into the larger B paint can and mix with a stirring stick.
   • Next, pour paint into the tray with a liner. Roll a foam roller into paint and roll paint on the wall.
4. Tips to remember.
   • You must move in a timely manner because you must use the combined paint and activator within 45-60 minutes, depending on the temperature of the room. Leaving the paint in the tray to do something else will cause a goopy, slimy mixture that can no longer be painted on the wall.
   • If you want a white-colored whiteboard and intend on painting on top of a dark-colored wall, I would recommend painting the wall white first. One coat of Rust-Oleum is perfect for use, but dark colors will show through.
   • You can paint a second coat within 3-4 hours, or it’s dry to the touch. But remember, this second coat cannot come from the first mixed paint batch. That will be a gloopy mess. A second coat will need to come from a new batch of paint.
5. Writing.
   • Let the wall go through its proper cure time. Do not write on your new whiteboard for four days after painting it.
   • Many markers work on this paint: dry erase, wet erase, and liquid chalk markers. As a precaution for reducing shadowing, we make sure we erase the wall each night.
   • Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the wall. Light soap and water will suffice.
   • Use stencils and bright color markers to bring the wall to life.

How to paint a whiteboard wall

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