Determining what kind of paint is on the walls...
ccho...@ppc.edu
I heard that if I take a damp cloth and rub the wall that I should be
able to see some paint on the cloth if it is latex. Oil-based paint
will not come off on the cloth. Is this the best way to determine?
I need to repaint the room and I don't want to put latex over oil-based
paint. Or, can I do this?
Thanks in advance.
-Chris
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Before you buy.
JJVandJMB
>How can I tell whether there is an oil-based or latex paint on a wall?
>I heard that if I take a damp cloth and rub the wall that I should be
>able to see some paint on the cloth if it is latex. Oil-based paint
>will not come off on the cloth. Is this the best way to determine?
>
>I need to repaint the room and I don't want to put latex over oil-based
>paint. Or, can I do this?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>-Chris
I saw a small kit at the counter of the last paint store I was in (Wallauer's)
that claims to test the paint to see if it's oil or latex. It looks like a pen,
and you're supposed to put a sample of the old paint into the tip of it and
then I don't know what happens, but it'll tell you if it's oil or latex. I
don't know what it's called or if it works, I just remember seeing it when I
was waiting for the cashier.
John
R Fromm
oil, that's what people do all the time when they use a oil base primer and
cover it with a latex top coat. I do believe putting oil over latex would
be a no-no. Any one else agree or disagree?
--
R. Fromm, Customer Service
Efficiency Connection / EnergyMatch
"Energy Saving Ideas, Contractors who can help"
www.energymatch.com
<ccho...@ppc.edu> wrote in message news:8frn2h$8b7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> How can I tell whether there is an oil-based or latex paint on a wall?
> I heard that if I take a damp cloth and rub the wall that I should be
> able to see some paint on the cloth if it is latex. Oil-based paint
> will not come off on the cloth. Is this the best way to determine?
>
> I need to repaint the room and I don't want to put latex over oil-based
> paint. Or, can I do this?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -Chris
>
>
lkm...@my-deja.com
ccho...@ppc.edu wrote:
> How can I tell whether there is an oil-based or latex paint on a wall?
> I heard that if I take a damp cloth and rub the wall that I should be
> able to see some paint on the cloth if it is latex. Oil-based paint
> will not come off on the cloth. Is this the best way to determine?
You can test it by putting some rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip and rubbing
it on the surface. If the paint is latex, the rubbing alcohol will
make a little come off onto the Q-tip and/or score the surface
slightly. Latex is a type of rubber, and rubbing alcohol (isopropanol)
attacks the rubber to soften it but is much less likely to bother an
oil-based paint.
>
> I need to repaint the room and I don't want to put latex over oil-
based
> paint. Or, can I do this?
You can do this if you use the proper primer on top of the oil-base
paint before you paint over it with latex. If you don't use the right
primer, the latex paint won't adhere well to the oil-base surface...
You can ask at the paint store for guidance about the best primer in
such a case.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -Chris
You're welcome! Laura
John Barry
First, on an interior wall, it's pretty unlikely to be alkyd (oil) unless
it's a bath or kitchen.
Second, you can generally tell with your fingernail- the surface of alkyd is
notably harder than acrylic (latex).
No matter which it is, surface prep is important. If it's at all glossy
(generally indicating alkyd), you want to sand it thoroughly, so the next
coat will stick. Even if it's flat, sanding helps assure a good job.
If you're concerned about latex over alkyd, sand, and apply a good alkyd
primer, then latex.
Personally, the solvents in many interior alkyd paints are _nasty_.
Regards,
John
<ccho...@ppc.edu> wrote in message news:8frn2h$8b7$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> How can I tell whether there is an oil-based or latex paint on a wall?
> I heard that if I take a damp cloth and rub the wall that I should be
> able to see some paint on the cloth if it is latex. Oil-based paint
> will not come off on the cloth. Is this the best way to determine?
>
> I need to repaint the room and I don't want to put latex over oil-based
> paint. Or, can I do this?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -Chris
Paul Broussard
>
> I'm not an expert on painting ... but you should be able to put latex over
> oil, that's what people do all the time when they use a oil base primer and
> cover it with a latex top coat. I do believe putting oil over latex would
> be a no-no. Any one else agree or disagree?
Latex over oil is not a great idea. Some of the modern acrylics will
stick fairly well, if the old oil paint is scuff sanded and clean.
Otherwise it will peel. Now an acrylic primer will stick like glue to
oil paint, again, scuff sanding and cleaning.
Your conception of latexes over oil primers is slightly skewered. Oil
primers will accept latex or oil finish coats, as the film is flat and
somewhat porous. Latexes over oil paints with a sheen is where the
difficulty is at.
Back to the original question, use a rag wetted with goof-off or other
latex paint remover. Latex will almost immediately start to soften when
rubbed. Oil paint won't soften at all.
--
Broussard Paint Contractors, friend of Bill's
"reality.exe corrupted. reset universe? (Y)es (N)o"
family pics from Paul & Laurie-
http://members.home.net/pbroussard/index.html