DIY Chalkboard Under $50!

Would you like to have a chalkboard at home, but it’s just not in the budget? Maybe you want one for your homeschool like me. In this post I’ll show you how to make your own DIY Chalkboard Under $50!

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Materials:

Sheet of Luan- You can pick this up at your local home improvement store. We got a 4’x8′ sheet for $20 at Lowe’s.

Chalkboard Paint– I use the Rust-oleum Brand. You can find it anywhere paint is sold, or buy it online.

Sanding Block– Or sandpaper. Something with a fine grit, you don’t want anything too harsh.

Painter’s Tape– My favorite is Frog Tape.

Paint Roller– I used a small roller with the smooth foam rolls. If doing a large area, you should go with a large roller.

Wood Filler– Just a small tube or tub is all you’ll need. There will be plenty of leftover.

Other- You may want a small paintbrush for the edges and paint stirring sticks. I did not have a paint stick, I used a clean stick from the yard. Also, I didn’t have a paint tray and used paper plates instead.

I already had the tape and didn’t need to buy more for this project. So depending on what you already have and your location/store prices, also the size chalkboard you are making, this project comes in right at, a little over or just under $50.

What to do:

Measure and cut your piece of Luan the size you need for your DIY Chalkboard

Hang Your board. My husband used sheetrock/ drywall screws to hang the chalkboard up, screwing them in around the perimeter.

Anchor the middle of the board. Next he used the nail gun and fastened the middle of the board with finish nails to prevent it from warping or bubbling in the middle.

Fill the nail holes. I used wood filler to fill in all of the nail holes so that the finished chalkboard will be smooth.

Tape the edges. While your wood filler dries, now is a good time to tape your edges to keep everything nice and clean.

Sand the wood filler smooth after it dries completely.

Wipe the sanded Luan with a damp towel to remove dust. Then apply your first coat of chalkboard paint.

After the paint dries, lightly sand the chalkboard to ensure a smooth writing surface. Wipe the board with a damp cloth after sanding to remove the dust. Allow to dry and repeat until desired results are reached. I ended up putting four coats on our chalkboard.

Season your chalkboard. When your DIY chalkboard is finished and completely dry, go over the whole board with a piece of chalk. Rub the chalk into the board then wipe off with a damp cloth. This is called seasoning your chalkboard.

If you do not do this and immediately start drawing on your board, when you wipe it clean you will always be able to see a faint picture of what you drew or wrote. When this happens it is called “ghosting”. Since you’ve gone through the process of making your own chalkboard, you don’t want it to ghost after all that work! Be sure to season it!

Enjoy your new Chalkboard!