If you’ve ever gone to buy chalk before, you’ve surely come across different types of chalk and wondered which type to get. Regular white chalk? Colored Chalk? Or the big sidewalk chalk?
It’s easy to get confused, but it all boils down to what you need the chalk for.
Chalks are generally versatile and could be used on multiple surfaces, but you must be mindful when mixing and matching to get the best result.
For example, if you’ve ever wondered whether you could use sidewalk chalk on a chalkboard, the answer is yes, but it’s not recommended.
Sidewalk chalk is rough and gritty to withstand the harsh friction of a sidewalk. If you use it on a chalkboard, you’ll find it patchy, hard to erase, and it will possibly scratch your board.
But what other surfaces can you use sidewalk chalk on? Read on to find out.
Can You Use Sidewalk Chalk on Paper?
Absolutely. You could have so much fun with just a piece of paper and some colored chalk sticks. You could draw directly on the paper, or for more vibrant colors, try drawing with wet chalk sticks.
All you need to do is soak ¾ of your chalk sticks in water for no more than 10 minutes. Then, take out the chalk sticks and set them aside until they’re lightly damp. Once they’re ready, you could color your masterpiece and watch it as it slowly dries back to its original chalk texture.
As a pro tip, we recommend you use cardstock paper instead of regular ones. Cardstock is thicker, heavier, and much more durable than regular paper, which makes it the perfect option for arts and crafts, especially if you’ll use gritty sidewalk chalk sticks.
Can You Use Sidewalk Chalk on Pavers?
Yes, you’re free to draw on your pavers to your heart’s content. Sidewalk chalk is specifically created for harsh surfaces like concrete and pavements, which makes it a safe option for creative outdoor activities.
The best thing about coloring your pavers with sidewalk chalk is that you get to decorate your paving stone driveway. You can make it more cheerful and colorful with zero commitment to your masterpiece.
Once you’re done and want to clean it up, simply spray it with a water hose. If the colors seep between the blocks, you could always wipe them with a damp microfiber towel or gently scrub them off with a brush and soapy water.
Can You Use Sidewalk Chalk on Asphalt?
Asphalt is another surface that pairs well with sidewalk chalk. Since sidewalk chalk mainly consists of plaster or talc powder, it won’t ruin your asphalt driveway or leave any stains. Of course, the older your asphalt, the less likely it would be affected by the colorants in the chalk.
Although sidewalk chalk isn’t a threat to your asphalt, the water with which you wash your chalk drawing may leave a negative impact. After spraying your asphalt, keep an eye out for any water pooling on the surface. Over time, stagnant water may corrupt the surface of your asphalt.
Of course, this happens over a long period, but it’s best to keep your asphalt driveway as dry as possible. If your family loves drawing chalk masterpieces outside and you’re worried about using too much water on your asphalt, you could always protect it with a decent asphalt coating.
Can You Use Regular Chalk on a Sidewalk?
Although regular chalk won’t harm your sidewalk in any way, it may be too delicate for the concrete. Regular chalk sticks are made for the smooth, non-porous surface of chalkboards. When you draw on the sidewalk with chalkboard chalk, the friction might cause it to break.
Additionally, regular chalk won’t be as colorful and vibrant on the concrete as sidewalk chalk. The pigment will turn out too pale and maybe even a bit dull. However, you could still use regular scotch to temporarily mark places on your sidewalk or draw a hopscotch game.
Can You Use Sidewalk Chalk on New Concrete?
We don’t recommend using any colorants, including sidewalk chalk, on newly poured concrete. New concrete slabs have open pores that could absorb the colorants in the chalk sticks and make it very difficult to clean up afterward.
If you color over a newly poured concrete slab and want to clean up, spraying your concrete with a water hose isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need to grab a brush and put in some elbow grease to remove any traces of color from your fresh slabs.
Of course, if all else fails, you could always have it professionally cleaned by paver cleaning services.
Final Thoughts
Chalk is a versatile element that you can use on various surfaces for so many activities. The key to getting the most out of your chalk is knowing what to pair it with.
By now, you know to keep the sidewalk chalk for sidewalks, driveways, and pavements and that regular chalk is the best option for the chalkboard.
So the next time you buy art supplies for your new art project and come across the chalk sticks, remember what you’ve learned today and choose your chalk sticks wisely to get the best results.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience working in IT. As a homeowner, I love working on projects around the house, and as a father, I love investigating various ways to keep my family safe (whether or not this involves tech). I’ve also played guitar for almost 20 years and love writing music, although it’s hard to find the time these days.