What Happens If You Put Oil Based Paint Over Latex?

Whether you already have latex paint on the walls, or you need to paint over latex for another reason, you might be wondering if it is possible to cover them. Typically oil-based paint is a great option to choose for painting, but if you have latex down already, then it is not really a great decision.

You can put oil-based paint over latex paint as long as you properly prepare the surface first. You’ll need to scrape away the layer of latex paint before you can apply a coat of oil-based paint. Putting oil-based paint directly on latex paint will result in splitting and cracking of your paint surface. As the latex paint expands, the oil-based layer is unable to expand with it.

In this article, we will discuss what you need to know about putting oil-based paint over latex, and we will explain precisely how you can do this. If you do it wrong, the layers will separate, and you’ll have to redo it completely. So, by following this guide, you’ll have done it correctly and bypass any of the hassles.

Because latex is very stretchy, your oil paint will not adhere to it if it is applied directly. This means that you will need to attempt to remove as much of the latex paint as possible. Make sure you take this step very seriously, as it is the reason that this method will work for you. Otherwise, you will achieve a less than perfect result that looks incredibly unprofessional.

Use P80 grit sandpaper for this as it is very coarse and will be able to cut through any varnished or latex painted walls. Take your sanding block and keep the sandpaper wrapped around it. Sand the entire area. The end product of this process should be a completely matte looking surface. This may take you a while, but it is essential you do this properly. Any areas that appear shiny will cause problems down the line with your oil-based paint.

The next half of the sanding needs to be done with your 150 grit sandpaper. This will help you to obtain an entirely smooth surface. After you have completely sanded the area, you should sweep away all of the dust and then wipe your walls with a damp cloth.

Allow the walls to dry before the next step completely. If the walls are too wet when you go to apply the tape, then, of course, it’s not going to allow the tape to stick as sufficiently as it needs to. Eventually, it will peel off and cause more of a problem. It will be impossible for you to finish the job.

When choosing a primer, you can use either water-based or acrylic primer. This is mainly because both water and acrylics are compatible with latex as well as oil-based paints. These two primer options allow you to create an isolating surface and essentially a barrier between the two.

After painting on the primer, allow it to dry and then follow it up with a second coat. This second coat will help to cover all aspects of the old paint and ensure you will not have any reactions to the new.

Topcoat is a fancier way of saying the main paint color. This is your oil-based paint. After painting this on, you can analyze the situation. You may need to add another coat if necessary. Remember, you are going for maximum coverage as you want to see the color and avoid any streaks.

Remove all masking tape while the paint is still a bit wet so that you can avoid tearing it once it is dry. However, the paint shouldn’t be soaking wet when you remove the masking tape. Touch the wall in an inconspicuous spot. Once it’s damp but not wet, you can remove the tape.

Now that you have painted oil-based paint over latex, you might be wondering if you can do the same in the opposite manner. This is also possible, but once again, it is important to remember that it will not be easy to reverse the process. In order to remove it, you will need to sand it off every time. Sanding and painting over and over again can become a real nightmare. So unless you enjoy this cycle, which most people do not, try to get it right the first time.

Whatever the case may be, if you do decide to use latex over oil-based paint, you will once again need to sand any glossy areas. Suppose possible sand as much as possible all over the wall. This will give you a better chance of having the process go successfully. When painting latex over oil paint, you should use 100% acrylic latex.

The latex paint test is often the last resort that people use, mainly because the other ones are easier and quicker. Also, not everyone has latex paint lying around waiting to be used. If you do, however, you can take the latex paint and dab it on a tiny spot of the wall about the size of a quarter. Pick somewhere inconspicuous in case you change your mind about painting.

Next, let the paint dry overnight. Go back when the paint is dry and lightly scratch at it with your fingernail. If the paint comes easily off, the bottom layer is likely oil-based paint. This is because latex paint doesn’t adhere well to oil-based paint and is easy to remove from it.