Exterior House Paint ~ LaTeX or OiL? Need advice from experience, please!?

Question

I'm doing this [humongous] job myself. Southeast GA, USA. Large house, 100yrs old, clapboard/pine siding [hardwood]. Hasn't been painted in decades; I will be removing eVeRy bit of old/existing paint.

I want to use Latex. I don't want to use Oil, if I don't have to. Most say that the best/most long-lasting job will result with the use of an oil-based primer, and two top coats of Latex. This is exactly what I did on the last [also old/same type of siding] house I painted. [sprayed oil primer; brushed latex top coats] And yes, it held up extraordinarily well; current owners are just now prepping to repaint - 19 yrs later. [Have I answered my own Q?]

I would just like NoT to have to MeSS with Oil paint. But it's a BiG issue, not to be certain whether Latex primer will do as good a job as oil primer. Any of you been successful with Latex primer and top coats? Or is everyone absolutely convinced that Oil primer should be used?

Answer 1

Hi, 11 Years painting. Own a very profitable company in the business. I have painted many heritage homes.

You are correct, use an top quality oil primer, then 2 coats of latex top coat.
You see, wood, especially old wood releases chemicals known as tannens. These tannens are not stopped with a latex primer and thus you will see what looks like a brown water spot after you use latex primer.
(There are two latex primers that are able to inhibit these tannens - they are both produced by the company Zinzer (Europe/Canada/USA) but are not cost effective for large applications).

You may want to to try to level the places that you have scraped the old paint and it doesn't line up with the paint that does not scrape off with exterior vinyl spackle. It will produce a more level look.

Enjoy the project.
Remember prep work is 80% of the job.

PS - Contrary to what donkanard says - peeling from latex being painted over oil only results when one does not use an oil base 'primer' and tries to be cheap and just use regular oil base paint as a primer.

Answer 2

Hi,
Your answer to your own question is contrary to advice I've heard over my lifetime of owning homes. I once painted with latex over oil based trim on a house and it was peeled and coming off in six months.
I would use latex since I've used that with very satisfactory results over the years. My brother was a house painter and I believe always used latex.
Thanks,
John

Answer 3

Professionally speaking I have to agree with everything K L just said. Furthermore if you are absolutely interested using a Latex primer several are available. If you have access to a Duron look into their "Bond N Seal". Link Provided
http://www.duron.com/products/exterior_primers/productdetails.asp?cat=4&lineid=365