I am currently in the process of prepping an outdoor wood railing to re-paint it. I started the project since the old paint was flaking off in spots and on some railings, the wood had rotted through (I am replacing that wood). I have been stripping the old paint where it was flaking and then sanding down the entire railing. I've been told to apply an oil based primer where the wood is now bare and then apply an outdoor paint (not sure whether latex or oil - what's best?). I am new to this, but does it matter what type of paint the old paint was - i.e. if I am only putting primer on the bare wood, will that make a difference when I apply the top coat of paint? And how would I test to know what kind of paint it is? I just want to finish off the railing so that it looks good and so that I won't have to re-visit it too often. Any help or insights would be great. Thanks.
COMMUNITY FORUM
Hi mleader,
Think of oil and latex paint for what they are.Oil soaks in...latex covers the surface.Latex can go over oil,but oil cannot go over latex.Your oil primer is fine on bare spots,however,if the previous paint was latex,then your finish coat should be the same.To make matters simple,you could have primed and finished in latex.
Think of oil and latex paint for what they are.Oil soaks in...latex covers the surface.Latex can go over oil,but oil cannot go over latex.Your oil primer is fine on bare spots,however,if the previous paint was latex,then your finish coat should be the same.To make matters simple,you could have primed and finished in latex.
Matches.......your information is incorrect - Oil primer can go over anything - and anything can go over it.
I would recommend oil primer because is grabs better on wood (in my opinion). As for the topcoat - a good quality 100% Acrylic latex will outlast any oil outside.
So - this should be - 1 coat of exterior oil primer - and 2 coats of 100% Acrylic Latex topcpoat - either Semi-Gloss or Gloss
Mr. Paint
oil over latex,oil stays hard and in extreme conditions here in Mn. if the oil is not flexing and the latex will and does could make a latex primer with oil top coat crack and show premature aging.
If you use latex primer you had better use a latex top coat too.
If you use a oil primer use oil or latex top coat.Some people say this does not matter,
Everyone has their own thinking and opinions even the paint makers.
I have been doing this for awhile and their are a few old schoolers out their that say this but we have never seen this,so no matter what you should be pretty safe.
If you use latex primer you had better use a latex top coat too.
If you use a oil primer use oil or latex top coat.Some people say this does not matter,
Everyone has their own thinking and opinions even the paint makers.
I have been doing this for awhile and their are a few old schoolers out their that say this but we have never seen this,so no matter what you should be pretty safe.
