Covering with water-based paint: You can't paint over oil-based paint with water-based paint directly, but you can after some crucial prep. Doing the correct prep: Always sand the glossy surface of oil-based paint before applying water-based paint. This step ensures better adhesion and a smooth finish.
The glossy surface of oil-based paint makes it difficult for any other paint to bond. If you apply water-based paint directly over oil-based paint, it will flake and crack as the water-based paint pulls away.
Latex paints will not stick to oil based paints. The exception is that an oil based primer may accept any kind of top coat paint. For that reason, an oil based primer is recommended to be applied over any oil based top coat, then a water based paint may be used as a top coat.
The point of an oil primer is that you can then paint anything over it. Painting latex paint over oil paint will end up either peeling off, as shown, or if the oil paint was scuffed/scoured, you can get micro cracking of the paint which shows up and is a pain to get rid of.
The sanding is only needed of the oil based paint has a gloss or shine to it. You only have to rough up the surface to give it some tooth to hold onto the next layer. But definitely follow sanding with priming. You risk having your water based paint start to flake off within a week or two. Thank you for asking me.
Poor paint adhesion is one of the most common consequences of skipping the sanding step. Without sanding, the cabinet surface remains smooth and may have a glossy finish or residual substances that hinder the paint from properly adhering.
If you have various stains, shellac Bonding primer is the ideal choice. It can be used to cover rough surfaces and old varnish as well as metal and ceramic.
If you put latex paint over oil, you'll 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!
Best for use in
Use on interior and exterior surfaces including woodwork, drywall, plaster, paneling, masonry, brick, painted metal and properly prepared glossy surfaces†. Use under or over water-based or oil-based paints. Not recommended on flooring.
Painting with oil based enamel paints is still a popular choice among painters because they produce a hard, glossy, and smooth finish once they have been dried. In this case, they make a great choice for high-traffic areas like doors, windows, and trim, since they are extremely durable.
Get a clean rag and put some metho on the edge of the rag. Rub it against a section of the paint. If the paint comes off, it is water-based paint. If it doesn't come off and just becomes very shiny, it's an oil-based paint.
Low Odour - water based paint smells much less than oil based. Quicker Drying - most water-based paints are dry within a couple of hours where as oil based paints often take a minimum of 16 hours to dry. Non Yellowing - oil-based paints can start to yellow over time, which is not the case with water-based paint.
Both can work, but acrylic paint's elasticity and resistance to wear and tear make it better for high-touch areas and furniture. Latex paint works well for larger indoor projects where low toxicity and easy cleanup with a brush are priorities.
Firstly, when painting with oils, it is important to adhere to the three rules of oil painting. These are 'fat over lean', 'thick over thin' and 'slow-drying over fast-drying'. This means that each layer of paint should be progressively more flexible, thicker and slow drying than the one below it.
When covering oil-based paint with latex or water-based paint, you cannot paint directly over it. You must sand off the glossy finish, wash the surface with TSP, and prime it before painting it. This will provide a longer-lasting paint job and prevent the paint from peeling.
This incompatibility when you paint latex over oil can lead to flaking, peeling and chipping of the paint job, which spoils the look and functionality of your DIY project.
Tip: If the trim is new or already smooth, lightly sand using 120-grit sandpaper until all shine disappears from the trim. If the trim is rough and worn, start by sanding with coarse, 80-grit sandpaper. Then, move to less-coarse sandpaper such as 100- or 120-grit to smooth the surface.
We recommend KILZ KLEAR® Clear Sealer & Bonding Primer – a high performance fast-drying, multi-surface clear primer developed to seal highly porous surfaces inside and outside your home. It is also recommended for use when painting the same topcoat paint color on top of an existing paint coat.
Zinsser Cover Stain 1 Gal. Oil Based White Interior/Exterior Primer and Sealer sticks to any surface without sanding and can be used under and over oil and latex topcoats.
If the paint does NOT come off, it is oil-based paint and you will need to prime the surface with a bonding primer before applying latex paint. The primer can be latex, but it has to be a product that is made to prepare the surface and help with adhesion and that says “bonding” on the label.
(Note: Bonding primers are not recommended for use over peeling paint).
You can use a latex primer over oil-based paint as long as it is a bonding primer. Bonding primers are best because they are formulated to adhere to glossy surfaces, such as oil-based painted finishes.
A 'bond coat' primer that's great for hard-to-stick surfaces, it offers excellent adhesion without sanding. Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 also prevents rust formation when applied over clean ferrous metal such as iron and steel.