I’m a homeowner and I have to paint some interior trim this week. I’d be curious to know what everyone recommends in regards to the paint type (oil or latex) for both the primer and the topcoats? Right now I’m leaning towards using oil for both. Agree or disagree?
Edited 6/18/2007 7:40 am ET by Flips
Replies
Trim Primer -
Benjamin Moore All Purpose Alkyd Primer or
Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Alkyd Enamel Underbody - http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_pg3.asp?L=prod&K=intprods&groupid=15&productid=55#article
Trim Finish Coats -
Benjamin Moore Waterborne Satin Impervo - http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_pg3.asp?L=prod&K=intprods&groupid=23&productid=207#article
or
Benjamin Moore Regal Semigloss - http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_pg3.asp?L=prod&K=intprods&groupid=23&productid=88#article
or
Muralo Ultra Waterborne Semigloss - http://www.muralo.com/projectsolver/inttrimsg.html
or
Sherwin Williams Interior Latex semigloss or soft gloss - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/sherwin_williams_products/interior_house_paint/paints.jsp
Jeff
For interior trim, latex works just fine, both as a primer and topcoat. There are some advantages to oil: better stain-blocking, better adhesion, better self-leveling and it doesn't raise the grain. Stain-blocking shouldn't be an issue, adhesion is rarely an issue for interior painting, oil is only minimally superior to latex when it comes to self-leveling (if you're painting on a very warm, dry day, a little Floetrol can compensate if the latex paint is skinning over too quickly) and if latex does raise the grain (bare wood only), a very quick, light sanding after priming easily takes care of it.
Oil still has it's adherents, but keep in mind that oil paint has not been getting better for many years due to VOC regulations (and many would say it's been getting worse) while all of the R&D has gone into latex (specifically, acrylic) paints.
I would use latex if only because it's so much easier to work with (and much easier to clean up), I feel I can do a better job.
You can get oil base interior paint still?
Benjamin-Moore still sells oil-based paints. It's labeled as being for metal, but it's the same stuff they sold before (or so they tell me). I don't know about other brands.
It's good stuff. I used it on my basement bulkhead (Bilco) doors to preven rust. But for interior, I would still use latex.
I don't paint often but I learned to do it properly so I guess my comments have some value.
The first time I repainted woodwork I learned that good preparation is what makes paint adhere well and last a long time. Scraping and sanding take many hours, if done properly, but the resulting surface is better than bare wood.
I've become convinced, from forty-five years of occasional house painting, that latex paints are every bit a good as any alkyd available. As I write this, I'm looking at interior trim that I primed and painted with latex paint fifteen years ago and it still looks good.
Buy quality paint and use a quality cutting brush. It's a lot easier to paint with good material and tools...and the finish will last for a long time. And don't forget to do good prep. If you don't raise a blister on your thumb, you're not sanding hard enough. ;-)
I hate to paint, so anything that makes it easier or last longer is for me. I use Sherwin Williams Prep-Rite for primer. For trim enamel, I use Sherwin Williams Pro Classic. The Pro Classic behaves just like oil. It flows out nicely and dries hard. I was an oil-only guy until I found this. As mentioned earlier, a good brush helps a lot too.