Can i paint over latex paint with oil based paint

A question we get asked often is, “Can you paint latex over oil?"

The answer is, “yes”.

But you can’t treat it like latex or water-based surfaces.

If you put latex paint over oil, you’ll just end up with that fruit roll-up look all over your house because they just can’t adhere. Since they’re not compatible, they won’t form a good bond.

15-30 days after painting, you’ll even be able to peel that paint right off after getting the surface wet.

Yikes!

Why We Don’t Use Oil Based Paint

A lot of the older homes we paint in East Grand Rapids have oil-based paint on the plaster walls, trim, and cabinets. Oil-based paint was popular back in the ’70s and ’80s, especially on trim, cabinets, and doors. The most popular paint was a product called Satin Impervo.

There are a couple of reasons we don’t use oil-based paint anymore:

  1. It emits a host of harmful VOCs (volatile organic content) that’s harmful to the environment.

  2. Cleanup is messy since you have to use paint thinner

  3. Latex paints are more flexible than oil-based paints and modern formulas are just as durable.

How To Tell If It’s Oil Or Not

To see if a surface has oil-based paint, we like to use a test affectionately named, “The Oil Paint Test” (We’re painters, not professional namers)

To do this test, simply use denatured alcohol from a brand like Klean Strip and rub it on the surface with a rag or cotton ball.

If the paint does NOT come off, the surface is oil-based paint.

If it doesn’t, then it’s water or latex-based paint.

How To Paint Over Oil Base Paint

Ok, so you’ve done the test and it comes back positive for oil-based paint, what do you do now?

Here’s what to do step-by-step:

  1. First, lightly sand the surface and clean it with a sponge dipped in TSP (trisodium phosphate) mixed with water.

  2. Allow the surface to dry

  3. Coat it with an oil or latex bonding primer. If the original paint was really shiny, you’ll want to use a primer like Kilz. If it’s not too shiny, you can use a latex primer, then put a couple of latex coats over it.

  4. Allow the primer to dry

  5. Coat with two coats of high-quality latex paint.

Can an oil-based paint be used over a surface already painted with latex paint? The truthful answer to this question is that you shouldn’t paint an oil-based product directly over latex paint, but it can be done if a sealing coat is used to separate the layers. Because latex paint has built-in flexibility, it doesn’t make the ideal base for oil paint, which has a hard finish. It’s also far trickier to achieve a good result if the latex paint is relatively new. The task requires paying attention to preparation, which is the key to all successful DIY jobs.

Step 1 – First Stage of Sanding

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Due to the stretchy nature of latex paint, an oil-based alternative won’t adhere properly if it is applied directly. That’s why it’s important to remove as much of the latex product as possible. This step is actually the single most important part of the whole process, so it’s well worth applying yourself to creating a suitable application surface if you want to achieve results that will last and look professional.

P80 grit sandpaper is fairly coarse so it is ideal for cutting through the existing finish on varnished and latex painted surfaces. Use a sanding block with the paper wrapped around it and methodically sand the entire area. You want to achieve more than just a light key up with this process so aim to get the surface looking completely matte. Any remaining shiny areas will cause problems later on when it comes time to apply the oil-based paint.

Step 2 – Second Stage of Sanding

Finish sanding using 150 grit sandpaper to achieve a completely smooth surface. When the area is completely sanded, sweep away any residual dust. Wipe the area with a damp cloth and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Step 3 – Mask the Area to Protect Surroundings

Mask edges to protect adjoining walls or features and to ensure that you achieve a neat cut-in when the final coats of paint are applied.

Step 4 – Apply a Water-based or Acrylic Primer

Apply a coat of your chosen water-based or acrylic primer. Because water and acrylics are compatible with both latex and oil-based paints, they make an ideal isolating surface for this task. In effect, the primer will be sandwiched between the latex paint and the oil topcoat. When the primer is thoroughly dry, apply a second coat to further isolate the original surface. You want to ensure that all traces of the old latex paint have been completely covered.

Step 5 – Apply an Oil-based Top Coat

Apply a thin coat of your chosen oil-based topcoat. When this is dry, appraise the situation. If need be, apply a further coat to ensure maximum coverage. Remove all masking tape while the paint is still tacky to avoid tearing the paint.

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Can you put oil

Painting with an oil based paint over latex is OK but doing the reverse will cause you grief for many years to come since any further coats of paints applied will stick to the latex only.

Can you paint over water

You can use oil-based paint on top of water-based paint. You can use a water-based primer on top of an oil-based primer. You can use an oil-based primer on top of a water-based primer. You can use oil-based primer on water-based paint.

Can you apply oil

Once the acrylic paint is dry, you can safely paint over it using oil paints. Many artists like to do this because it allows them to enjoy the properties of both types of paint. What you should not do is paint a layer of oils and then paint over it with acrylics.

What paint will stick to latex paint?

As a general rule, any water-based or oil-based paint can be used to paint over latex paint. It is recommended to use a primer when applying oil-based paints over latex paint to ensure that the paint adheres properly. Latex paint can be applied directly to other latex-based paint.