Last Spring our courtyard needed a makeover, so I spray-painted our patio table. Yes, I took these pictures nearly a year ago. I forgot I had taken them, and I came across them today. I’m scatter-brained what can I say. But, I thought I should tell you what happened so that you don’t run into the same problems if you decide to spray paint anything in the near future.
I used Valspar Spray paint called Exotic Sea, and although it worked out ok in the long run, I was not super happy with the spray paint.
I would get almost done with the project and then the color would have variation and look completely different than the previous coat. So, I would shake the can really well and start over and then it would happen again! It took a few tries and a bit of good luck to finally get the entire table the same color. I would say I was the problem, after all I am just human, but I’m pretty much a professional when it comes to spray painting, so I have to say it was the product and not faulty command on this one.
So, although I think the courtyard is much more colorful than before, next time I will choose a different brand of spray paint. On a more positive note: the color is a great shade and very bright and that was exactly what I was going for. Let’s give it the benefit of the doubt, maybe the can was old?
Happy Monday.
xoxo,
Brooke
I’ve never tried that brand, good to know you had trouble with it. But dang your table and chairs look better now!
That’s really odd. I’ve used Valspar several times and always gotten excellent results. I love that one can goes so far compared to other brands. Maybe if you contact the company they can offer some explanation?
I’ve used spray paint many times for furniture. Last year I did all my girls beds and you know I had the same problem! I wonder if it’s the blue that is especially difficult? I used rustoleum and got much better results along with less hand fatigue. I like the color selections of Valspar but the Rustoleum I found had better nozzle and was low in odor also. I do wonder about that blue because I was so frustrated! I painted a chair, desk, hutch and bed and had to go over so many times it was super frustrating. But honestly it still turned out really cute!
I have to agree with you. I love the Valspar colors, but my overall FAVORITE has to be RUSTOLEUM!!!! The can’s easier to work with, I don’t have a lot of clogging or problems with the nozzle, and the consistency is great. Best of all, it only takes about 2 coats to cover evenly.
Originally I thought maybe the texture of the top of your table vrs the legs could be the problem, then I thought maybe the top was rusted but, it could really be the spray paint. In the last 5 months I’ve used Valspar and found it inferior – both paint and spray paint. I’ve use Valspar before – my house exterior and trim is Valspar and I’ve loved it. I don’t know if they have changed the formula or are getting it made from a different manufacturer or what but lately I’ve been very unhappy with the results and have taken paint and spray paint back. I use Rustoleum spray paint now and it has been great! I’ve also changed to Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore for paint and though they cost more, OK a LOT more, I’ve been really happy with the finishes and how the paint handles. I do love the color you chose!
I did this same color for four chairs and I had the same problem. So much of a problem that I picked up the cans to make sure they were all the same color. Luckily though they’ve held up well so far.
I too bought valspar because I love the beautiful colors. My blue did the exact same thing. When I went to put the final coat on, it was a completely different color. I had to start all over!
I have used it and I like the paint but I HATE the can!!! Its supposed to be easy on your hands but it just about killed me!!
NOT recomended if you have problems with your hands!!!
I have not had that problem so much as it takes about 30 coats for it to cover anything. It comes out so light & faint that I ended up giving up & going & buying something that would actually cover. Now that I hear your thoughts & experience with it- I will stick with another brand until maybe something changes with them.
Funny, because I used Valspar for many projects and was very happy with it. Then I read you and Mandi recommending Krylon, used it, and was disappointed. The spray went all over and not onto the project, and I needed more passes to cover it, and the can was finished more quickly than Valspar. Well, to each his own.
I’ve had trouble with Valspar every single time that I’ve used it. The biggest problem for me has been that the cans wind up spitting blotches of paint. Very frustrating. Love the color of your table and chairs, btw!
I have had trouble with Valspar every time I’ve tried to use it also. My prob is it runs….. or drips out the can ~ not in a spray. I’ve tried shaking it longer…. nope, still runs every.single.time. I won’t buy it again. My fav is Rust-O-Leum. 🙂
So, I laughed when I read your comment about the color change. I just had this experience myself. I was like, “What the heck? There are two different colors in this can? I shook it!” It was towards the bottom of the can. Good to know that you had that experience too!
I love the colors of Valspar Spray Paint especially the blues. My favorite being Peacock Blue. I have had the same problem everytime I have used one of them. I also had a problem with a Garnet color I bought many cans of for a large project. Afte it was sanded and primed and dried completely I sprayed it looked beautiful but after 3 weeks it was still not dry and tacky. It stuck to any and everything. I love the Valspar cclors but will be sticking with my reliable Rustoleum!
I’ve had the exact same problem with the Valspar spray paints. Especially the blues. I absolutely love the Peacock Blue but this happens everytime I use the paint. I am a shaker as well. I also bought several cans of a Garnet for a large project and after 3 weeks it still was not dry. Don’t know what the problem was. Love all the colors but for spray paint I will stick with Rustoleum!
So…I have a confession too. Not using Valspar spray paint, but I have a can of the white and I’m not super happy with it. Maybe it’s me, choosing to paint in this unfavorable weather, but it’s so thick. I’m thinking it is the cold weather…I have no choice now, my table is half done. It’s just the brush strokes are super visible, the paint is thick, and I’m ready to just start over. Grr!!! I should have spray-painted!
You know, I used Valspar recently and had to give the item three coats to cover, so was interested in the fact that other peole have had problems with it, as well. Personally, don’t think you can beat Behr and Sherman Williams paint, my favorites.
I bought the valspar paint too from Lowe’s and I started painting and it came all all lumpy and not smooth like Rustoleum does. It would have looked really bad if I kept on it so i took the paint back and got Rustoleum instead. Tried and true and nice smooth finish.
Spray Paint may have frozen but still shakes, is it ok? I painted kilz on my newly built wood shelf, then spray painted one coat white Rustoleum High Gloss spray paint. By mistake I left the white Rustoleum High Gloss Spray paint can out last night 24 December, the night time air froze to 10 degrees F but this morning the can still shook. Is it bad to use this for the 2nd coat? Thanks,
Warm it back up before you use it, but I bet it will be ok.
I know I’m a little late to the party, but I found this blog from a pin of a pin of a pin…LOL. I was looking for what to do and what not to do with my kitchen table & chairs now that they do not even remotely match my kitchen (after my kitchen facelift). I have problems with the Valspar spray paint as well. It sprays very light, takes may coats & that sprayer! Oh my! That sprayer is the most. difficult. thing. ever. I will not ever never ever buy another can of it, which is sad because they have wonderful colors!
I spray painted two pieces of wood cut from the same board. I used the same colors of Valspar on both pieces of wood. One turned out much darker than the other. Both beautiful, but I expect color to be consistent when it is the exact same can!
lol, I totally agree with your assessment of Valspar. In fact, I guessed that “your least favorite paint” was going to be Valspar before even clicking on the link. I too an am avid painter that has tried every different technique and brand out there. But the one brand that is consistently terrible is Valspar. The brand’s most recent failure was a welding helmet I was painting. After hitting it with a coat of Rustoleum Plastic Primer I top-coated with some Valspar red that I happened to have lying around. As usual, their annoying little “twist-lock” cap swiveled and induced a paint misdirection and after 24 hours the paint that actually hit the target was still tacky. To harden it, I finish-coated with some Duplicolor clear-coat. It worked, but without a doubt the weak link in that process was the Valspar. FWIW, I find their latex wall paint to be equally aweful.