How can you paint walls with latex if the previous paint was oil-based?

The interior of our house was painted 20 years ago using Sherwin-Williams oil-based paint. When we repaint, should we use latex, and if so, how well will that go on over the oil-based paint?How can you paint walls with latex if the previous paint was oil-based?
PRIMER THE WALL! Latex (water based) can not bond to Oil base. I have heard some say if you sand the walls it will bond. Maybe thats why some people will say it worked for them because there walls were sanded good. Its not a risk worth taking especially since primering a wall helps the overal finish anyways. Also think that it takes less time to put a coat of primer on the wall (typically you need 2 coats anyways) then too sand down pealing paint all over the walls. I don't understand why half these guys are saying you ';SHOULD'; be fine. What kind of answer is that. Primer the wall first, and if you have the money get the primer tinted to the finish coat's color. I say if you have the money because its usually free to tint the color but now that whole can of primer is unique to that rooms color. So depending on how many rooms you are painting thats an extra gallon of primer per color. You can prime it in the standard grey or white but your risking a 3 coat job. If you have the time then go right ahead if not tint it. I have painted many homes. Latex or oil base primer will work. Oil base is harder to spread then latex but leaves fewer roller marks. I strongly recommend using oil base for the trim because the brush marks settle out leaving a nice smooth finish. If you use latex for the trim you will see the brush marks. I recommend using a gloss white in oil base for the trim it makes it pop. If you dont know Oil base paints have a higher gloss index then latex paints. As for the walls, well latex is a whole lot easier to work with because it spreads with fewer drips, faster, and more coverage area. Cleanup is just using water while oil paints you have to use mineral spirits or paint thinner.How can you paint walls with latex if the previous paint was oil-based?
Best bet is to prime the walls. That will give you the best results...best coverage, best looking job...


If you don't want to do that, you should sand the walls so there is some tooth for the new paint to adhere too.
prime your walls first with a bonding primer such as ici paints gripper or Sherwin Williams prep rite bonding primer then go a head and paint your walls
You should be fine, but you can prime the walls if you wish. Oil base is nice because it is very durable, but it's hard to clean up spills and brushes and can only be cleaned using mineral spirits. Latex is not as durable; but it's cheaper and easier to clean paint spills and brushes.
You'll be fine, although you'll probably save yourself some hassle if you prime first.





Oil over latex is more of a problem than the other way around.
The way to go is with latex. if the walls are stained you may want to use an oil base stain blocking primer, but use a latex finish coat. In some states you can not buy oil base paints because of the emission standards on paint fumes.
Use C.I.L problem solver @ hommers, its called smart paint same thing This primmer is the best thing that comes in a can, Just painted hallways in my own home , Had the primmer tinted to same as finish coat unbeilivebabe job
i would use , two coats of primer, latex will work


this will cover up the oil primer,


and try walmart for kilms, new paint, $21 a gallon


works better than williams, so i found out today .......


and ive allways used willaims paint ....... sad but true





one coat , after you primed
you will need to primer it to in sure it will not peel
It's been a long time, so latex should bond....but I would still put a good printer coat.