Latex Over Oil OK?
Is it OK to put latex paint over oil-based primer? The fumes are killing me, can’t keep on with the oil-based paint in mid-winter. Thank you.
Is it OK to put latex paint over oil-based primer?
The fumes are killing me, can’t keep on with the oil-based paint in mid-winter. Thank you.
Thanks, Commodore! We have a respirator, didn’t know the cartridges expire! Actually, the fumes were killing me as I was sleeping in bed on the floor above. But I could try sleeping with a respirator, it’s a good look….no, seriously, if we ever attempt to fix the rusted ceiling on the first floor, not only will it have to be in the summer, obviously, but we’ll probably have to stay elsewhere for a week. Fortunately the fumes are almost gone now, it was just a teeny thing.
Mopar, The fumes are not only annoying, they’re toxic. A respirator with two cartridges costs about $50 and is considered basic, indispensable equipment for painting with alkyd, and alcohol based paints (& many other uses). Keep it in a ziploc bag labeled with the date so as to keep track of the expiration of the cartridges. The Henry store near you probably has them; if not, try Krown. (Bway @ Quincy)
Kilz makes both oil based and alcohol based primers. Both are suitable as undercoating for latex. Give a light sanding between coats. Don’t involve steel wool if you’re gonna use latex, or you’ll have more little rusty bits to drive you crazy.
KILZ also makes a reduced-fumes version, but I would still wear the respirator.
Rust needs to be removed before painting the metal, no matter what paint is used. It will find a way to keep corroding from one side or the other.
RD
Yes. I always use benjamin moore alkyd primer and a paint with latex.
Aha! Thank you all, this is very helpful. I think I’ll give it a try.
I primed the kitchen fireplace, which had already been painted black, and which I needed to paint before installing the stove in front of it, so we can move into the downstairs kitchen and get a renter. I was going to use latex, but then realized the rear of the opening is sheet metal. Since indeed we do have rust coming through one of our tin ceilings from a previous owner, I thought I better use oil. Now I wish I hadn’t.
Good to know on the ceiling.
If it is a true primer, most likely yes. It is the finish in oil paints (not primer) that make them hard to paint over with latex paints, or even latex primer.
Kilz primer which is an excellent brand says on the can that you can finish with latex paint .
Latex paint over oil primer is fine. That’s the preferred way of painting exteriors.
After years of always using oil paint on my tin ceilings, to avoid rust spots, I had a newly installed tin ceiling painted with oil-based primer and latex finish paint, at the suggestion of my painter. That was two years ago and I’ve had no problems. He also used latex over my older tin ceilings, which I had installed 36 years ago. No problems their either. I presume that latex paint has been greatly improved over the last generation, or so, because I remember seeing ugly rust spots come through on neighbors’ tin ceilings back in the ’70s when they were painted with latex. OTOH it might just be that my older tin ceilings had a few coats of oil paint which, like the oil-based primer, protected them from the water in the latex top coat.
I used latex over a Kilz original oil based primer on all the walls in our living room and 2nd fl hall. No problem. Your right about those fumes – wow.
I’ve not had a problem with this but have used latex primer over oil paint, not latex over oil primer. Use oil on any high-traffic trim if you can wait because latex is very easily chipped.