Glazing adds depth to any project. If someone says they like an aged or patina'd look, you can achieve that look with wax or glaze. I prefer working with glaze over wax. Glaze is usually a water based product and works great with other water based products. In all the years I've been working with furniture refinishing here are a few pro-tips to ensure your finish looks like what you imagined in your mind.
(**Look at the picture on the right, the 'glazed' side. See how the glaze highlights the dimensions? The glaze collecting in the corners makes the piece look as though it has some history. I just love what glaze can do.**)
Glazing Pro-Tips: Assuming we're working with a water based chalk paint, follow these steps.
1. Seal your piece--and let it cure--before you glaze. Why? By sealing it first you are putting a barrier between the water based paint finish and glaze which allows time to work the glaze, getting the amounts and features just right. Have shop towels and a spray bottle of distilled water handy to help achieve your desired look. (I use General Finishes High Performance Top Coat as my water based sealer.)
If you don't seal your chalk painted finish before glazing, you won't have much of a window to work with as the unsealed paint will quickly absorb most all of that glaze as soon as it's applied. Think of the unsealed painted finish as a dried up sponge and the glaze as water. In other words, it can get real ugly real quick. (Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and cried.)
2. Let it cure. Once you're happy with the glazed look, let it cure according to the manufacturer's details.
3. Seal it all up! Once cured, put another coat of sealer (or two) to protect that top layer. And, you're done!
Would you believe the base color on the body of this vintage side table was a BRIGHT, PURE WHITE color? Glaze can absolutely transform the look of any project, giving it depth, texture, and a sense of history. I almost never finish a project without glaze, I just love the character it can give.
If you've ever worked on a glazed project, we'd love to see it! If you found this helpful, please share with a friend!