Here's How To Do It. A question we get asked often is, “Can you paint latex over oil?" The answer is “yes”.
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.
Also YES... Latex primers are perfect over Oil paints (AFTER SANDING!). It's done all the time. You CAN use an Oil primer as well... AFTER SANDING! >>> Obviously, Latex topcoats are ideal over either type of primer.
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.
Shellac Primers - These primers can be used with both oil-based and latex paints and may be the best at blocking stains and can even seal in smells that may be coming from the surface you are painting. They are fast-drying and can adhere to almost any 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.
You can paint older oil-based paint without sanding, but it's not always the best idea. If the oil-based primer or paint is in good condition, you may be able to get away with just painting over it. However, if the paint is starting to chip or peel, you need to sand it down before painting over it.
In addition, water-based paint is preferred when covering an oil-based product because it has a faster drying time and resists fading in the sunlight for exterior applications.
They are Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer, and Behr Bonding Primer. These top two primers were the very best at bonding in both the 24 hour test and the 38 day test.
Latex paint won't stick to oil-based paint and will eventually peel off, as shown in the picture above.
KILZ Concrete & Masonry Bonding Primer is specially formulated to optimize the adhesion of masonry coatings. With proper application, this product provides a sound foundation for coatings with excellent resistance to water, alkali and efflorescence.
Latex primers are water-based and ideal for prepping unfinished drywall for painting. They are more flexible and fast drying, and are less brittle than oil-based primers, making them less susceptible to peeling and cracking.
It is called the Acetone test. If you have a can of acetone simply soak a rag or cotton ball and rub an area where you think oil paint might be present. If the paint softens or comes off on the rag it's latex if it stays hard and nothing happens it's oil based paint.
Oil-based will seal the wood better and block any tannin stains that might bleed out. Oil-based is also ideal if blocking smoke and water stains as well as unwanted odors. Choose water-based if priming indoors where ventilation may be poor and in spaces sensitive to strong odors.
If you have various stains, shellac High hiding primer is the ideal choice. It can be used to cover rough surfaces and old varnish as well as metal and ceramic. Aerosol spray High hiding primer works well for metal or plastic surfaces. It's pressurized and provides for an even coat.
This all-purpose water-based undercoat primer-sealer can be used over or under any oil-based or water-based paint and is ideal for new construction and remodeling.
Alkyd Primer
This is an oil-based primer used as an undercoat on steel, wood and aluminium surfaces, most suitable for oil paintings. We sell two types of Alkyd primers: Robersons Thixotropic Alkyd Primer - this is a multi purpose primer for all types of oil painting.
(Note: Bonding primers are not recommended for use over peeling paint).
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.
Oil-based paints are no longer legal in Virginia and five other states. This is because oil paints create a ton of pollution, both in the air and in the ground. They have a lot of toxic fumes that make them dangerous to be around before they dry, especially for the painting contractors who use them.
As Moon mentioned, water-based paints have improved greatly and are much more durable, so the need for oil-based paint is virtually nonexistent. Because water-based is now the industry standard, there's a much wider range of products and colors.
Water-Based Paint. While painting over oil-based paint with another oil-based paint will forego the extra preparation steps, it's better in the long run to use water-based paint.
Can you paint over primer without sanding the car? Technically, yes, you can do that. Some circumstances don't require sanding the existing paint and primer before repainting. If you choose this route, the car's surface might show minimal damage like puncture holes, body scratches, dents, and cracks.
Should you sand in between coats of paint? Sanding between coats of paint is a step that some might consider skipping, but it's a game changer in achieving a flawless finish. Think of each coat of paint as a new chapter in a book. Sanding between these chapters ensures clarity, cohesion, and a polished narrative.