What is the best paint to paint over oil based?

Author: Prof. Cristopher Wunsch III  |  Last update: Saturday, July 12, 2025

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.

What paint can go over oil-based paint?

Oil based primer is about as universal a product as exists. Latex, acrylic and alkyd regardless of sheen are all fine on top of it.

Can I paint over oil-based paint without sanding?

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.

What happens if you paint over oil-based paint with water-based paint?

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.

What's the best primer to use over oil-based paint?

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.

How to Paint Over Oil Based Paint With Water Based Paint

Can Kilz 2 be used over oil-based paint?

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.

What are the tips for painting with oil-based paint?

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.

Can I use a latex primer over oil-based 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.

What is a good bonding primer?

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.

Why is water based paint better than oil based?

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.

How do you paint oil-based paint without brush strokes?

When painting a wall, go horizontal with your brush strokes. This technique can minimize visible streaks, creating a seamless and uniform finish. For an extra level of smoothness, consider mixing additives like water or linseed oil with your paint to prevent brush marks.

Why is my gloss paint peeling off?

Surface contamination such as dirt, oil, and grease. Polish residues on the surface, which impair the adhesion of the paint. Excessive movement of the substrate, such as joints, imposing stress on the paint film which can result in cracking which in turn lets in moisture, ultimately resulting in a flaking paint film.

Do you have to sand oil-based primer before painting?

When the oil-based primer is completely dry, the surface may still have a few small imperfections. This is typical even if you are a pro. The surface may feel chalky or even slightly rough. Using a Sanding Sponge, lightly sand the entire surface.

Do painters still use oil-based paint?

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.

Can Benjamin Moore Advance go over oil-based paint?

Benjamin Moore Advance – this hybrid alkyd paint is both alkyd and water-based, meaning that it adheres well to oil-based paint.

How do you paint over oil-based paint Sherwin Williams?

First would be to wash the surface, sand and then clean the sanding dust off. You may then apply your latex paint over the oil base paint. That process works for both interior and exterior applications. Your other option is to wash the surface and then apply a coat of a bonding primer and then topcoat.

What is the best primer to cover oil-based paint?

Ideal Primers and Topcoats for Painting Over Oil-Based Paint
  • BEHR® Multi-Surface Stain-Blocking Primer & Sealer. ...
  • BEHR® Bonding Primer. ...
  • BEHR® Acrylic-Alkyd Enamel Undercoater. ...
  • BEHR MARQUEE® Exterior Paint & Primer.

When should you not use bonding primer?

(Note: Bonding primers are not recommended for use over peeling paint).

Is Zinsser 123 a good bonding primer?

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.

What paint will stick to oil-based paint?

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.

What is the best bonding primer?

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.

How to paint over old oil-based paint?

In just four simple steps, you can successfully paint over oil-based paint without worrying about the new paint peeling or cracking in just a week.
  1. Step 1: Sand Away the Coating. ...
  2. Step 2: Clean with TSP. ...
  3. Step 3: Prime the Surface. ...
  4. Step 4: Add Two Coats of Paint.

What is the best use for oil-based paint?

Oil based paints are widely used for high traffic areas in a home such as hallways and play rooms for children. As a result, they are good choices for bathroom, kitchens, bathrooms and also cabinets and furniture. The glossy finish makes surfaces stain resistant and the paint can be wiped down for easy cleaning.

Do you paint light to dark or dark to light?

To depict brilliant light, we must push our dark values as well as our light values. We want a full range of tonal values. The interplay between light and dark is essential. And to push the light in watercolor, we want to paint from light to dark, focusing on specific values in each wash.

Should I wet my brush when using oil paint?

Brush Care

Avoid dipping a dry brush into oil paint. For natural hair brushes, first, dip the brush into painting medium. This distributes the natural oils of the brush hairs and allows each hair to load properly with paint. Different levels of the painting require different types of brush hair.

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