If you’re considering interior painting or some cabinet refinishing, you must discover whether your woodwork has oil or latex paint. Cleveland house painters say that most homes constructed before the 1970s were designed with trim, walls, or ceilings painted with oil-based paints.
Of course, this paint was used for quite some time, so you can frequently discover oil-painted trims in constructions up to the early 2000s. If you don’t know where to start your next interior painting project, we are here to help you. Next, we shared our insights on telling if you have oil or latex paint on your trim.
What is the distinction between oil and latex paint?
Oil paint is a sturdy, durable, and scratch-resistant type of paint. Also, it has a hard finish, which prevents you from directly applying a fresh coat of latex paint. And many painters still use this because of the smooth finish it can offer. Keep in mind that oil paints come with a longer drying time, which can take up to three days.
Latex paint has synthetic resins of polyvinyl acetate and styrene-butadiene. It comes with several advantages, including the fact that it is washable with soap and water. Also, it is not flammable and allows the wall to breathe. The difference between oil and latex paint is that the latex one doesn’t cause cracking or peeling as oil-based paints do.
So, before you do any interior painting or cabinet refinishing.
It is always best to establish which paint is on your surfaces. As a general rule, oil can is ok to use over latex. Yet you cannot apply any latex paint over oil. Hence, here’s the quickest and most reliable way to determine which type of paint you have on your surface:
- Get the following supplies: denatured alcohol, cotton cloth, and a household cleaner.
- Clean the area you want to test and ensure there is no dirt or debris on the surface.
- Use the cotton cloth and pour some denatured alcohol on it.
- Rub the surface gently and asses the cotton cloth.
- If your cotton cloth gets covered with paint, you have water-based paint with a latex base. But if the paint doesn’t come off after a second or two of rubbing, you most likely have an oil-based paint.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that you should always be careful when doing DIY interior painting. Misapplying the paint can lead to undesired results. Moreover, our recommendation is to consider the services of professional painters, such as The Picky Painters in Berea, for Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, and Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing. These experts know how to determine which paint you have on your surface, how to manage it, and how to do the best interior painting or cabinet refinishing with adequate materials.
Find out more @ The Picky Painters.
FAQ
Q1: Why does it matter whether my trim is painted with oil or latex?
A1: Because oil and latex paints age differently—oil can become brittle and yellow over time, while latex stays flexible but may peel if applied over oil. Knowing which one is on your trim helps you choose the right prep work and avoid a paint-job disaster.
Q2: How can I tell which type of paint is on my trim without guessing?
A2: Try the alcohol test—rub a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol on the paint. If it softens or comes off, it’s latex. If nothing happens, it’s likely oil. The feel can also give clues: oil is often smoother and glossier, latex a bit softer to the touch.
Q3: What’s the biggest mistake people make when painting over old trim?
A3: Skipping surface prep. Many slap latex over oil without sanding or priming, only to watch it peel. The secret is respect for the base layer—oil needs bonding primer, while latex-to-latex usually just needs a good cleaning and light sanding.
