What is magnetic paint used for and how to make it yourself?

Magnetic and magnetic chalk paint are becoming common materials for interior design. How to paint a wall using them, how many layers to apply - these questions arise for people who decide to put such a solution into practice.

Painting walls using this method is not difficult and allows you to create an interesting interior. It is important to properly prepare the walls for painting; a high-quality primer is necessary.

Magnetic marker wall

Magnetic walls are growing in popularity. They are used in various interiors:

• residential buildings (children's rooms, corridors, kitchens);
• cafes, bars;
• other public institutions.

Below we will tell you what magnetic wall paint is and how to prepare the surface for application to avoid peeling of the coating, wooden surfaces, and refrigerator. How to use magnetic coatings in home kitchens, children's rooms, and other rooms?

Pros of paint

Such magnetic substances in paint have a large number of advantages:

1. No smell;
2. It does not emit poisons, so they are safely used in schools, kindergartens, and other educational institutions;
3. Fireproof in accordance with standards;
4. This is an environmentally friendly material, so it does not harm human health or animals;
5. High level of adhesion to different substrates.

Such substances in paint have certain characteristics. For example, they reduce electromagnetic radiation from equipment (TV, microwave, computer).

What is magnetic, slate and magnetic marker paint?

The slate coating allows you to create a matte surface on the wall that is resistant to washing and cleaning with a dry or wet cloth. There are 3 classes of coating strength:

• A quality product is characterized by first class strength.
• The second and third classes are not resistant to cleaning with a damp cloth or sponge.

Slate paint on which you can write with chalk - white, other colors available in different colors.
The most commonly used slate compounds are available in black, but other colors can be found, including light shades suitable for writing with a dark, bright marker. The purpose of magnetic paint is slightly different. It includes small particles of iron, and as a result the coating attracts a magnet. With magnetic ink, 2-3 layers are usually required. The coating increases the ability to attract a magnet as the layer thickness increases.

Slate and magnetic compositions are used for painting walls:

• kitchens,
• corridor,
• children's rooms.

They can be painted:

• wooden furniture elements,
• doors,
• equipment, for example, a refrigerator door, a dishwasher (it is worth sanding it with fine sandpaper first).

Magnetic paint can be used as a base for slate paint. Magnetic marker paint allows you to create a surface that attracts a magnet and allows you to draw on the wall with chalk. It is important to follow the order of application of various compositions - you should always apply the magnetic composition first, then the slate one. Magnetic paint should not be used as a substitute for primer; for long-lasting coverage, it should be used in any case.

Features of making magnetic paint with your own hands

In most cases, consumers buy ready-made mixtures with magnetic properties. But with a little effort, you can prepare the product yourself.

Recipes for formulations containing iron particles

To prepare the paint, you need to prepare a simple acrylic material and add a construction cement mixture to it. Ingredient proportions – 2 tbsp. l. Mix for 1 cup of paint.

Using this recipe, you can create an effective slate base that imitates the texture of a blackboard. In order for the consistency to acquire magnetic properties, it is necessary to add crushed particles of available metal to it. And the smaller they are, the higher the quality of the composition.

The next recipe looks like this:

1. Prepare a varnish based on polystyrene foam dissolved in acetone.
2. Add metal filings to the feedstock.
3. Distribute the finished product in several layers onto the base.
4. Fix the coating with ordinary varnish and wait until it dries.
5. Paint the surface with any suitable enamel.

The main thing is to mix the mixture well.

Use in the kitchen

Marker-magnetic coatings are ideal for the kitchen, effective in areas exposed to splashing water, for example, on the wall between the countertop and hanging cabinets - on the kitchen backsplash. Black color gives an interesting space for maneuver, serves as an excellent background for various decorations, and creating interesting designs with your own hands.

The slate coating allows you to freely change the design of the kitchen, thanks to drawings, inscriptions made by hand or using stencils and templates. If used in the kitchen, an interesting solution is to cover a fragment of the wall or refrigerator door with drawings. On the resulting surface you can make notes:

• daily routine;
• shopping list;
• short exchange of information between family members.

You need to carefully apply paint next to ceramic tiles, induction, and gas stoves. Coatings are resistant to abrasion and moisture, but not always resistant to oil and fat splashing. Some coatings become discolored when exposed to hot fat.

Magnetic coating allows you to create interesting arrangements from:

• photographs attached to small magnets;
• children's drawings;
• posters.

The greatest potential is realized with a combination of magnetic and slate paint. In this case, you need to purchase 2 identical colors as much as possible. First, magnetic paint is applied, then slate paint.

If you plan to use only black, you can ignore minor color differences. The problem occurs when light colors are used. In this situation, the magnetic base should be lighter than the slate coating so as not to significantly affect the final color of the surface.

Offers from manufacturers

The following magnetic compositions are known on the Russian building materials market:

1. KM "Tikkurila Magnetic" water-based applied to concrete, wood, plywood. The coating is three-layer, and 1 liter of paint is consumed per 1.5 m2. Tikkurila magnetic paint is available in basic white and several shades. On white, you can apply the topcoat of regular CM in the desired color. "Tikkurila Magnetic" is applied to the walls with a roller or brush; A matte coating is formed, and it dries within 24 hours. Since there is no unpleasant odor while working with it and during its polymerization, the long drying period does not cause any inconvenience. After 24 hours, a final color coating is applied exclusively on a water basis. Material consumption: 0.67 l/m2.

2. KM "Magnet Paint" its technical and operational characteristics are similar to the material described above.

Slate-magnetic wall in the children's room

Many parents are faced with the problem of painting and painting walls by children. Modern coatings make it possible to clean walls from occasionally appearing children's drawings. In the case of traditional acrylic and latex paints, over time the coating loses its resistance to wet cleaning and wet cleaning. Even high-quality latex paints are not as resistant to cleaning as chalkboard paints. This design of the wall above the bed is a very interesting solution for children’s and adult bedrooms.

Decorating a children's wall with magnetic slate coating, photo

The main advantage of using this coating in a nursery is the ability to create almost any interior design. The color of the coating is chosen depending on the purpose of the room:

• in the living room and kitchen, black is often used,
• In children's rooms, you should consider painting the walls with light, bright colors.

It is not recommended to use any pastel colors - it is difficult to choose the right chalk colors for them. The following colors are often chosen:

• light shades of green,
• blue,
• light grey.

Magnetic paints with a slate effect are often used in children's and youth rooms, where a teenager can freely hang decorative posters and photographs without damaging the walls.

Is it possible to make a magnetic mixture yourself at home?

You can make this paint yourself, for example, for a drawing board for children or for a marker board in the kitchen, office, and so on.

This is not very difficult, as it seems at first, because the base is an acrylic-based primer mixture into which grains of metal are mixed.

In order to get paint with magnetic properties, you need to have:

• Coloring agent (tone of your choice) based on acrylic - 250 ml is enough for one board with magnetic functions;
• Cement without sand (2 tablespoons);
• Metal dust;
• Mixing container;
• Whisk or simple spoon (for mixing).

How to paint walls?

Questions often arise about how to paint walls with chalkboard paint and how many layers should be applied. Both coatings (slate and magnetic) are used on most common surfaces:

• plaster;
• gypsum;
• drywall;
• brick, cement - in this case it is difficult to get a smooth wall.

Painting with these compounds is practically no different from traditional painting. It is recommended to use rollers, which provide a smoother finish than brushing.

Stages of work

1. Surface preparation - you first need to level the wall, remove dirt and dust. Any inequalities must be removed.
2. Before painting, the surface must be primed, preferably using primers that provide a uniform, light-colored coating. Only the primed surface can be painted.
3. Some surfaces will require special application of primer, degreasing, and matting of the surface.
4. The best effect is achieved by applying 2 layers of paint. Some surfaces will require painting three times. Depending on the manufacturer, paints are applied in 2-3 layers. Some products are applied in one layer, but then it is difficult to immediately obtain a uniform color and smooth surface.
5. The paint should be thoroughly mixed before painting. Each subsequent layer is applied when the previous one has dried. A less experienced person should use a thicker consistency of paint that does not produce a lot of splashes and does not flow down. To work with a liquid consistency, you need to have a little more practice, be able to quickly and effectively control the roller so that unsightly stains do not form.
6. The painting technique is not much different from conventional painting. It is advisable to paint from top to bottom.
7. The painted surface dries quickly, but durability is achieved after some time. The surface is ready for use after approximately 7 days - then you can paint freely. During the first month, you need to carefully handle the surface, especially when cleaning until it reaches its final strength.