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MudPaint Clay Paint – how is it Unique?

file cabinet painted in olive green moss clay furniture paint from MudPaint

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

In the increasingly crowded decorative paint line market, there are, broadly speaking, three groupings: Chalk Paints – which can have a gritty texture, Milk Paints- which can frequently chip and crack over time, and then other Clay+Chalk blend brands that can frequently lack durability. How is MudPaint different? Why is it better? For a very quick overview of the comparison between MudPaint Clay Paint and other paints, we have broken it down into 4 areas – Preparation, Application, Finish and Durability. We’ve worked hard on our clay paint formula over the years and are proud that MudPaint is eco-friendly, LEED-compliant and it’s unique, clay-based formula with natural earthen materials requires little prep work and no waxing for a smooth coat.

Prep

First, prep work for your furniture painting projects is dramatically minimized with MudPaint compared to other types of furniture paint.  It is a far thicker, richer, and creamier paint than chalk paint. Because of its viscosity and natural binding agents, it will apply much smoother than other paints.  We recommend that most furniture surfaces be thoroughly cleaned and, if needed, lightly sanded with our preferred product – Rad Pad Sanding pads – before beginning.

mudpaint clay furniture paint key differences between other paint products
Read more to find out the key distinctions between MudPaint and other paint lines!

Generally, a coat of primer is not needed when you paint wood furniture with MudPaint.  However if the surface is slick, shiny or smooth, you may want to prime the surface. If you do need to prime, MudPaint is compatible with water based primers, cover stain and KILZ.  

Again, not EVERY project will only require one coat of paint – the colors which are being covered, as well as the thickness of the application can alter some – but, because of it’s natural adhesion, MudPaint stands above the competition when it comes to the amount – and frequency – of the prep work required.

 

Application

Secondly, in application, MudPaint’s smooth finish is distinct from other paints as it does not have any chalky or gritty elements in it.  The texture of MudPaint is smooth and soft with a matte finish. MudPaint may be applied with brushes, rollers or paint sprayers.

For best results, we recommend using a natural bristle paint brush.  Use shorter strokes to apply the paint and spread it thin to avoid any unnecessary brush marks. With MudPaint, always think ‘less is more’!  Though we do have a wonderful Matte Finish Clear Coat for high use/high traffic areas that is very easy to apply, ~70% of the time, MudPaint does not require a finishing top coat in order to seal or protect the paint. Our customers find that the paint dries quickly with a smooth, velvety matte finish.

 

olive green clay furniture paint by MudPaint

 

Finish

Next, we’ll compare finish and drying times. Again, If the piece is in a higher traffic area and will receive daily wear and tear, or in a place where high humidity can be an issue – i.e. bathroom cabinets near a steamy shower or tile –   we do recommend that our Matte Protective Clear Coat is used. MudPaint also can be finished with our famous wax – paired especially with our easily-cleaned, specially-designed wax brush with stiffer bristles! -especially if a sheen/polish is desired.

As it is thicker and creamier, you will immediately get a smoother finish than chalk paint. This also leads to far fewer brush marks in the paint.  Also, many of our customers find that MudPaint’s coverage far exceeds the competition. A quart of MudPaint will generally cover about 150 square feet, or 3-4 distinct furniture pieces.    MudPaint has been created with clay and earthen materials; this gives the paint exceptional adhesion AND coverage.

 

Durability

 

light baby blue clay furniture paint by MudPaint

Finally, we’ll compare lifetime durability of our clay-based paint to leading chalk paints. We have customers who have applied MudPaint Clay Furniture Paint to wrought iron outdoor furniture.  Three hot Texas summers later and those chairs are still without crack, wear or tear! To ensure that your outdoor furniture painting projects hold up to the elements, again, we recommend finishing with a coat of clear coat.

Of course, there are other differences you will find, but we hope that this quick overview of the key distinctions is helpful. For more — check out our easy-to-read Flow Chart for your project!

Please feel free to contact us directly for any questions, check out our MudPaint store map, and/or join the growing global MudPaint Box community. MudPaint Clay Furniture Paint is expanding quickly and can now be purchased at over 220+ retailers around the world. Shop your local retailer or online today!

 

2 thoughts on “MudPaint Clay Paint – how is it Unique?

  1. Pam Ostrander says:

    If we use it on a kitchen table what top coat do you recommend?

    1. Kara says:

      Thanks so much for the note in, Pam – We have a full line of finishing waxes to finish your kitchen table. These can be buffed to a high, glossy shine. And you can always check out our Matte Finish Clear coat – nothing like it out there and fantastic reviews! https://mudpaint.com/shop/finishing-products/matte-finish-clear-coat/

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