Repainting Latex on Oil Paint

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated August 3, 2016)

Everyone knows just how important it is to remove any remnants of old paint that may be stuck on a surface before you begin repainting. However, there are going to be some instances where you cannot do that, particularly when you are dealing with oil paint. It's a good thing that repainting latex on oil paint isn't impossible. All you need to do is follow these instructions.

  1. Prep the area. Before you can begin repainting latex on oil paint you need to prepare your work area. This means that you need to remove as many items from the room as possible so that you don't accidentally get any paint on anything that you don't want. In addition to this you will want to put down some drop cloths to help protect your floor as well as any furniture that you couldn't remove earlier.
  2. Rough it up. A good thing, and bad thing, about oil paint is that it tends to leave the surfaces it is applied to very slick an smooth. While this may look good, it does make things really difficult when you are trying to paint the wall. To counteract this tendency of the oil paint grab some 100-grit sand paper and lightly run it over the walls. Periodically run your hand over the wall, and ensure that you have created a rough surface that the latex paint can latch onto.
  3. Wash the wall. Once you have "roughed" up the walls, wash them down with a damp cloth or sponge. This will remove the dirt, grime, and dust that can make it difficult for paint to adhere to a wall. Only use a damp cloth when you do this since you do not want to waterlog the walls.
  4. Apply oil based primer. After you have finished washing the walls or surface, take the opportunity to finish preparing the area. This means that you want to apply some painters tape around the hardware, window frames, door frames, and other areas that you don't want to paint with your new paint. When everything is ready to go, you can begin applying your primer. Before you apply the primer you want to make sure that you choose a primer that is oil based, and then begin painting it onto your walls.
  5. Paint. Allow the primer to completely dry before you begin applying the latex paint. This will allow for a better overall look, as well as ensuring that the paint adheres as best as possible. Start applying the paint in one corner of the room near the ceiling, and work your way across and down around the entire room.

AS always when you are doing any painting project you will need to allow some time to pass between each coat you apply. This will allow the paint to dry, and give you the time necessary to determine whether you have missed anything, while also deciding whether you liked the current coloring or not. If you do like the color as it is, go ahead and begin cleaning up. If you do not, then go ahead and apply another coat. Repeat the wait, dry, and inspect procedure between each coat that you would like to apply to your wall.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

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