How To Crosshatch!

Crosshatch Technique

You'll need-
Polyvine Contractors Glaze- I like this glaze the best, it stays open longer than any of the other glazes on the market (ben moore; sherwin williams; martha stewart).  It is a water base product. When in a pinch and I can't get Polyvine, I will use one of the others but would never those to do a double story entry way!

Zar Antique Flat poly acrylic (water base)- also available in satin and gloss.  If you use the gloss, the overall finish of the project will be shinier. Minwax has a poly acrylic which can be used as well.

4" Chip Brush                                                Roller and roller tray
Tint-either mixol or tint all*                           Level or laser level
Blue painters tape

*This glaze can be tinted by using Latex paint but by doing so, you will lose some of the texture of the treatment.  To understand this, you need to understand that Latex paint has white base to the paint and that white base will make the glaze more opaque and less transparent.  In order to get enough texture, the glaze needs to be as transparent as possible.  Hope this makes sense!

Base coat on the walls should be a satin finish.  I have done it over eggshell finish but never do it over
flat base coats.  The flat paint makes it hard to drag the brush and turns what ever color you are using to a gray. 99% of the time, the base coat I use is a lighter shade of the final color.

step 1- Tape out the room with painters tape (ceiling, windows, baseboard, etc)

step 2- If you are not using a laser level, I lay out strips of blue tape every 3 feet two give a level
           guide. I always do the horizontal dragging first.

step 3- Mix glaze-ahhh!  this is all subjective!  For most of my clients, I will do sample boards to figure
           out the colors and get the tint right.
              When mixing the Polyvine Glaze, it is 4 parts glaze to 1 part Zar poly acrylic.  Then I add the
              mixol tint colors to match the decor.  This is where you need to be a bit crafty.  If I want a
              warm beige, I'll use 3 drops #22 (burnt umber) and 1 drop #5 (ochre).
          You can tint the Polyvine with latex paint but the texture will be more subtle.

         How much to mix???- small bathroom, figure out a quart.  Kitchen- a smidge more that a quart.
         Living room, bedroom - full bucket of polyvine contractors glaze.

step 4- start the glazing! I like to start doing the horizontal brushing. I roll the paint starting at the top left            (kind of like reading) going across about 4-5'.  When I roll out, I do about 15" band of paint.                  You need to work fast! This is the when you'll need an assistant who can roll on the glaze and                keep the edges from drying.

step 5- let the first coat dry over night!  This glaze takes a week or so to completely cure but the second
           coat can be done the following day.

step 6- Vertical brushing.  Again, start on the left and work right.  I roll out about 12-15" bands and
           then start dragging the brush.  Making sure to keep the edge of the glaze wet.  Again-you need
           to work fast!

step 7- Take off the tape and enjoy.  If it is a high traffic area, then a coat of poly acrylic sealer helps
            but for the most part after the glaze has cured(about 1 week) it can be wiped down with water
            if needed.  Never use any ammonia products on these finishes or any painted finishes for that
            matter!

basecoat is Ben Moore White Dove, Satin finish


I do the Horizontal brushing first

I laid out tape for a marker to make sure I'm level.
The tape is approx. 36" apart

I use a roller to apply the paint, this makes sure the paint looks even.  Then I brush out the textures using a 4" chip brush.

Always good to wire brush the chip brush to remove any loose bristles.  

After letting the horiztontal glaze dry over night, the vertical glaze goes on.

Again, I roll out the glaze in 15" bands then use the chip brush to drag the paint.

Always good to have a helper who can roll on the paint while you drag the brush.  This way you always have a wet edge and there are no overlap lines.

I did add some Latex Metallic Paint to the glaze to give it a glitter sheen.

This was done in a foyer and hallway in a NYC apartment.  We wanted to give the space a modern look.  Back hallway was done in Fine Paints of Europe Brilliant Finish- a big wow!