I need to paint a wall in a room with latex paint. However some of the other rooms in the house are painted with oil based paint (I know because the latex paint that former owners painted over it is peeling). On the wall I want to paint, is there a way to find out what kind of paint is on it?
2007-03-09 05:21:11 · 8 answers · asked by MeekaBee 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
gk: you're lik doesn't work... can you try again?
2007-03-09 05:39:03 · update #1
Put some rubbing alcohol on a rag and wipe a small area. If paint comes off then it is water borne, if not, then it's oil. Having said that, you can use a primer like Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start over oil. It will stick wonderfully and allow you to paint latex over. Get it tinted to the color your going with and use it as a first coat.
I know I answered in another category, but hey, points are points.
2007-03-09 05:50:31 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The simplest way to test for oil based paint is get a small can of GOOF OFF from Home Base. With a cloth, rub some on the wall in question. If the paint starts to discolor the cloth it is latex paint.
Goof Off will not remove oil based paint.
If you are still uncertain, prime the entire wall with KILZ. You will be able to paint latex over that.
2007-03-09 16:57:41 · answer #2 · answered by big_mustache 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually, oil based paint is a little shinier.
You have 2 choices the way I see it.
1) paint a small piece of the wall with latex paint. Let it dry for a day, then scratch it with your fingernail. If it comes off then the base is oil.
If it is oil, you'll need to paint over the wall with an oil based primer (no need to sand). Be sure to let it dry fully, otherwise it will crack the latex paint that you put on top. Use a high quality primer, benamin moore, sherwin williams... not some cheapo home depot stuff.
Once the primer is dry (the longer you wait the better), paint on top with your latex paint.
2007-03-09 15:57:51 · answer #3 · answered by NY1Krr 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I wouldn't worry about figuring out what's on there now. Since you've already had a peeling problem, assume that at the very least you have CHEAP paint on the wall and prime over it. Any decent primer will seal out problems from oil paint or cheap latex and make a good base for your new paint. Since primer's only $11/gallon, don't spend too much time figuring out what's there now. Prime it for now other reason than that's you'll inevitably want to do anyway.
2007-03-09 18:12:57 · answer #4 · answered by GenevievesMom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well latex paints are water-based , oil based paints are alkyd, alkyd (oil based) dry virtually with no brush marks and also tends to yellow with age . with the painting over the oil based paint with the latex when preparing those rooms for paint your gonna have a lot of sanding to do then prime the surface with an alkyd primer, and tehn apply latex finish coats. i would recommend going to Lowes or Home Depot in you area and talking to the paint specialist they have books on painting that would answer all of your questions and tell you step by step how to do it . good luck
2007-03-09 13:39:41 · answer #5 · answered by cassie9003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't tried it, but I read this technique - paint a tiny bit of latex paint over the wall in question. Let dry thoroughly. If it scrapes off easily, it was an oil paint underneath.
Good luck!
2007-03-09 13:56:28 · answer #6 · answered by cjkip 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
oil paint has a shiny finish to it, water based doesn't
2007-03-09 13:34:47 · answer #7 · answered by JASON D 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/nflash/Painting/ChoosePaint/ChoosePaint.htm.
hope this helps
2007-03-09 13:32:46 · answer #8 · answered by .G. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋