Painting Tips

  Many things you can learn from your local paint store like what's the difference between latex and oil based paints and what type of brush to use for those paints. I desire to use this web page to answer questions that you the customer can't find as common knowledge. As time goes by I will insert questions and answers that I have come across that can benefit you the customer. If there are any questions that you would like to have answered that are not on this site, feel free to call or email me and we will try to help you the best we can. 

COMMON SENSE TIPS

One of the most common errors in painting that I have seen among homeowners and painters alike is knowing when to use latex and oil based paints. There are other paints such as epoxies, lacquers and more but here I will deal with latex and oil based paints. Because there are so many paints that go on so many different surfaces. It can be confusing. In most cases the answer is as simple as this:

 1.  If the surface to be painted needs to breath or resist expanding and contracting . USE A LATEX PRODUCT! Quality latex paints move with the surface under it.

       2. Oil based paint on the other hand will not move but locks out moisture. It also locks in moisture, so if you don't let the surface dry the moisture will have no where to go and the wood will rot and the paint will lift from the surface.

       3. Stains will bleed through Latex products but not oil based products. So to cover a stain, it is best to use a oil based primer to cover a stain ,then paint with a topcoat of Latex.

   4. Never paint over latex paints with an oil based paint unless it is an oil based primer. Because the latex paint will try to move with the surface and the oil based paint will then be floating on a moveable surface. Also remember that oil based paint molecules interlock with each other while latex  paint (water based) molecules do not interlock . They two are not compatible unless you use a primer to join them.

     5.Even though you shouldn't use a oil based paint over a latex paint. You can use a latex paint over an oil based paint if you thoroughly sand the sheen off the oil based paint. This is workable because the oil based paint works as a solid unmovable under coater. However it is always better to use a  primer first.

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