Chalkboards are popping up everywhere (like Brittany’s DIY chalkboard calendar from last week) and you can easily make one, but how about upping the usefulness by making a chalkboard WITH a chalk ledge?  Jaime here from That’s My Letter to show you how easy it is to add a chalk ledge to your chalkboard.
You definitely need a place to put all that chalk (or chalk markers like we prefer).  This chalk ledge protudes a minimal  1 3/4″ from the wall but still has space enough to hold lots of chalk.
I also attached a galvanized pail for more chalk markers.
I installed this chalkboard near our back door mudroom area. Â Unfortunately the key pad for our alarm system is nearly smack in the middle of that wall. Â I simply cut out a square in my plywood using a jig saw to accommodate the key pad. Â My kids love their new chalkboard and somehow the key pad isn’t quite so obvious once they start drawing around it.
Supplies:
- 1/2″ plywood (cut to desired size)
- 1×2 pine board (cut to length of plywood)
- 1 3/8″ x 1/4″ thick flat trim moulding (cut to length of plywood)
- black chalkboard paint
- blue painters tape
- stain
- polyurethane
- foam brushes
- drill
- Kreg pocket hole jig (not necessary but definitely easier if you have one)
- 1″ pocket hole screws
- wood glue
- 3/4″ trim nails
- countersink bit
- 2 1/2″ toggle bolts
- 5/8″ spade bit (check toggle bolt requirements)
- pencil
- level
Instructions:
Step 1: Cut your plywood to size, using your Kreg pocket hole jig make pocket holes every 8″ along bottom edge of plywood (on back side). (I used the portable base with automaxx clamp here, much easier that slipping a large piece of plywood into the jig.) Read more
