What’s covered in this blog:

• Can you use latex based paint over oil?
• Do I need specific paint, or additives when painting over oil?
• The easiest method for painting latex-based paint over oil-based surfaces

Introduction

Are you preparing to paint over an oil-based painted surface? Maybe you’ve purchased an older home that has oil-based paint throughout the home. Or, maybe you’ve discovered an out-of-the-way area of your home that still has old oil-based paint on it. Kitchen cabinets are one of the most common oil-based painted surfaces found in homes. Whatever the case may be, oil-based may be out of style, but it’s certainly not eradicated.

That means homeowners need to know how to properly paint latex paints over oil. Without the right preparation, latex paints will experience all sorts of problems when painted over oil. Though oil-based paints are far less common than they used to be, if you live in an old home, it’s still very common to find oil-based painted surfaces.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to properly prepare and paint over oil-based surfaces.

Can you use latex based paint over oil-based painted surfaces?

Absolutely. You can paint over oil-based paints. But you need to do it properly - otherwise your project will turn into a disaster. With better latex-based paints and a new product called Oil Bond on the market today, painting over oil-based surfaces is actually easier than ever before.

Do I need specific paint, or additives when painting over oil?

Yes. We recommend using Oil Bond. Oil Bond makes painting over oil-based surfaces, stains, varnishes, polyurethanes, sealers and more easy. It has been recognized by professional painters, bloggers and the likes of This Old House, earning This Old House’s prestigious Top 100 list for 2015. It costs $20, and treats 2-gallons of paint. It provides a better, longer-lasting paint job. Not to mention you won’t need to sand (the most laborious part of any paint job) or prime (which saves you money); Oil Bond is well worth its cost.

Oil Bond creates a powerful adhesive boost for latex paints, allowing for a fast and easy painting project that, as mentioned, doesn’t require sanding or even priming.

Watch the video here.

The easiest method for painting latex-based paint over oil-based surfaces

• Clean the surface
• Wipe Oil Bond directly
• Treat your new paint with Oil Bond
• Paint

Many other painting professionals and DIYs will say you need to sand, or even use special paints, primers or other enhancing products when painting latex paints over oil-based paints. And normally, they’d be correct. However, using Oil Bond will allow you to achieve a professional level of quality without the hassle.

Learn more about Oil Bond here. Or at HomeDepot.com.