If you have a question about a furniture project you're about to tackle, chances are someone else has asked it too. Our staff members are a wealth of knowledge and we're here to help you! Below, we've answered some of the questions that we get asked almost on a daily basis. We hope you'll find some helpful tips here!

1) Should I use Glaze or Antiquing Wax to give my piece a rustic, aged look?

The finishing product you choose will depend a bit on the look you're trying to achieve, and also what the piece will be used for. Both Antiquing Wax and Glaze are designed to give your piece age and depth, but they have different colors and very different application methods. Click here to see examples of Antiquing Wax and Glaze or click here to watch our tutorial about the differences in our finishing products where you'll not only see the various results, but we'll also demonstrate the different application methods. If you're refurbishing a piece that will get a lot of traffic or heavy usage, we recommend using a glaze so that you can seal your work with Clear Coat to give it the best protection possible. Clear Coat cannot be applied over wax as it's a water-based product that won't adhere properly over an oily product like wax. If your project will not be used as heavily and you'd just like a nice, professional-looking finish, then antiquing wax may be the way to go!

2) Where can I buy your paint?

You can find a full list of retail locations on our store locator. If you can't find a convenient retailer in your area, you can always purchase from our online shop and have your order delivered straight to your door! A flat shipping rate of $6.95 applies to all online orders. If you know of a store that would be a good fit for our products, we would love to hear about them! Send us a referral and we will try to bring a retailer closer to you.

3) How much paint will I need?

That’s a question that isn’t easy for us to answer as it depends on a lot of things. If you have just a small little project, such as a small stool or chair, you’ll likely get away with using just a 4 oz sample jar. For a dresser, you will want to get at least a pint size. On average, this is how far each can of Country Chic Paint will go:

• Quart (32 oz) ~ 120 square feet
• Pint (16 oz) ~ 60 square feet
• Sample Jar (4 oz) ~ 15 square feet

4) How long do I have to wait after painting to apply a finishing product?

Your paint coat should always be completely dry before applying any finishing product. When in doubt, wait a little longer than you think is necessary! Check out this list to see how long you should wait after painting your piece to apply each finishing product:

• Glaze - 12 hours
• Wax - 24 hours
• Metallic Cream - 12 hours
• Clear Coat - 24 hours

These suggested wait times are MINIMUMS. Keep in mind that the paint will take longer to cure if it has been applied in thick coats, or if the space it's left to dry in is humid or cold.

5) Should I seal my piece with wax or Clear Coat?

A lot of this comes down to personal preference, but we can make some suggestions based on what kind of project you're refurbishing. For high-traffic pieces that will get more wear and tear like table tops and kitchen cabinets, we always recommend Clear Coat as it's very durable and will keep your furniture looking beautiful for years to come. It is easy to clean and has a satin finish. Clear Coat can be applied over any water-based Country Chic Paint product such as paint, metallic cream, image transfer medium, and glaze. Wax is designed to create a fine furniture finish. It cures to a smooth, buttery finish that will help protect your work.

6) Is this a chalk-style paint?

In short, yes! All-in-One Decor Paint is a clay-based formula that shares many of the properties you've come to know and love in a traditional chalk-style paint. It cures to a durable, matte finish that can be easily distressed to create a shabby chic look, or left as-is for a more modern finish. It has amazing adhesion requiring little to no prep work in most cases. It also tests ultra-low for VOC content making it virtually odor-free and safe for your whole family!

7) Do I need to prep my piece?

Most of the time, there is very little you need to do in terms of prep work. You do want to make sure that your piece is clean, dust-free and is mold-free. If the piece has been painted before, make sure there is no loose or scaling paint (unless you don’t mind that the new coat will chip away). It all depends on the look you’re going for! If the surface is glossy, then we recommend you sand it lightly with 120 grit sandpaper so the paint adheres better. Certain types of wood may cause the stain to bleed through to the paint, leaving it looking yellow or pink. To avoid this, you’ll need to apply a stain-blocking primer (such as Shellac) before you paint. If you’ve started painting already, you can also apply it over the paint, let it dry and continue painting with a new coat. Before you start painting, always make sure the surface is dry and the temperature is approximately between 10°C (50°F) and 30°C (86°F). If it’s too hot the paint will dry too quickly and if it’s too cold or too humid the paint will take a long time to dry. If you're unsure of what to do, go through our handy surface prep flow chart to help you determine what prep steps are necessary! Please visit our Surface Prep Tutorial for detailed instructions! WARNING! If you think your piece might have been previously finished in a lead-based paint, please go to this website to learn about the risks and how to mitigate them. Canadian customers, please contact the Product Safety Division of Health Canada at 1-800-O-CANADA. US customers, please contact the US EPA/Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD.

8) I can't find the color I'm looking for.

If you heard about a Country Chic Paint color through a retailer or blog post that you can't find on our website, chances are it was one of our old, limited-edition colors that has been discontinued. You can always find a current list of our available colors by clicking here. If none of our colors are quite what you're looking for, try mixing to make the perfect custom hue!

9) I'm interested in learning more about your Wholesale Program.

That's fantastic! If you're a business owner and you're interested in providing your customers with top-quality furniture refurbishing products, you've taken a great first step! In order to learn a bit more about you and your business, we ask that you take just a few minutes to fill out our wholesale application by clicking here. After we've received it, one of our wholesale account representatives will be in touch with you within 1-2 business day to chat with you and answer all of your questions.

10) How do I care for my wax brushes?

Since the wax will harden over time when exposed to air, it's a good idea to either store them in a Ziploc bag, or wash them out with Brush Soap after each use. Otherwise, the bristles will become stiff and your next wax application will not be as smooth.   To see more FAQs, click here. If you have a question that we didn't answer in this post, please feel free to reach out to us any time! Any of our staff members would be happy to chat with you about your project. You can reach us at our toll-free number, 1-888-523-2360, by email to hello@countrychicpaint.com, or you can chat with us live on our website. We look forward to helping you make your next project a success!