How can you tell if inside trim paint is oil base or latex?

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How can you tell if inside trim paint is oil base or latex?

by Ray Thomas
(Alabama, USA)

I have to paint the walls and trim in a house and they think the trim is painted with oil but not sure. Is there any way to test it?

Answer

Here is a simple test that works really well.

Use a clean cloth, painters rag, and denatured alcohol. Apply the alcohol to the cloth and gently rub the surface. If any paint is softened or removed then the finish is an acrylic or latex paint. If no color is on the rag and the finish is still unaffected then it is an oil base.

Use a white rag for checking dark colors and a dark rag for light colors. This will make it easier to see any removed paint.

Denatured alcohol readily dissolves acrylic and latex paints but leaves oil base paints alone.

Acrylic, latex, house paints cannot be applied over Alkyd, oil base, finishes without being primed first. However an Alkyd, oil base, house paint can be applied over an Acrylic, latex finish.

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How can you tell if inside trim paint is oil base or latex?

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Stick it with Acrylic
by: Allan

With the advances of acrylics in the last ten years and present day technology, a good sanding and proper prep, acrylic paints will stick to most surfaces better than oils. (ie. aluminium, masonry, oil based finishes) Oil based alkyd formulation has not changed in fifty years, but you still can't beet the look and feel of a good hand brushed oil finish.

Allan Mitchell
Vancouver-Whistler Painting Inc.

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