Can You Use Water-Based Satinwood Over Oil-Based Undercoat? Ultimate Guide

If your surface is already coated with oil-based paint, refreshing it with oil-based paint is the preferred way. You could use any oil-based paint with an alkyd made with a synthetic resin binder or any natural oil formula such as linseed.
If you use acrylic paint or a water-based one on an oil-based undercoat, the possible outcome of the paint would be either peeling or chipping since these formulas are not homogeneous with each other and don’t bond well with the naturally glossy surface of the oil-based undercoat. Read about the Difference Between Satin And High Gloss Paint?
Can You Use Water-Based Satinwood Over Oil-Based Undercoat?
Despite this common knowledge, water-based paints are continued to be used on oil-based undercoats as they boast the lower VOC content found in the paint. Some of the other favored characteristics include less smelly fumes, a faster drying period, and longer persistence from the discoloration caused by the sunlight.
Degloss as much as possible from the painting surface before putting a water-based undercoat over an oil-based undercoat. Removing as much gloss as you can from the paint surface is the best way to paint any water-based paint on an oil-based undercoat, as it would be easier to bond much better with the oil-based satinwood. The surface won’t be as slippery as earlier, resulting in the paint being attached more easily. Find out Best Spray Paint for Metal.
If you use a proper approach to paint your desired surface, you can successfully use water-based paint over an oil-based undercoat. here are some of the pro tips to use while painting a water-based paint coat over an already oil-based undercoat
Using fine-grit sandpaper with a 180-220 grit, you can make a pass over the entire surface. You shouldn’t sand too deeply since you are not going to remove all the finish. Just grind the medium you want to repaint until it’s smooth and no longer slick. After the process is complete, wipe the surface with a tack cloth to pick up any sanding dust from the medium. Learn more about Best Paint for Wood Floor.
After you have sanded your surface and removed any dirt or grime using a tack cloth, you should clean the medium as it would lessen the gluing of the water-based paint from the oil-based paint undercoat. Use the donning gloves and safety glasses to shield your face from any splatter protection.
To give your surface a deep clean for water-based satinwood and for oil-based satinwood, you should dilute the quarter-cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) in a gallon of lukewarm water and mix them in a larger container. It would be best if you then saturated a soft sponge in the prepared solution. Find out the Difference Between Eggshell And Satinwood Paint
After wringing it lightly with your hands, you can deep clean the sanded medium with it to eliminate any dirt, debris, or grime. After the surface has been clean, re-clean it with a dampened sponge from freshwater. After making a second pass over the entire surface, you can let the medium air dry.
You can apply a bonding primer on the surface that needs to be repainted to prevent peeling or chipping during the drying or curing process. The bonding primer is formulated to stick to any glossy or other mediums that are hard to paint. It would be best if you coated this over the antique oil-based undercoat so that you get the optimal paint adherence.
You can use both oil-based and water-based bonding primers. Apply at least two coats rather than one and let it try to touch according to the product directions. To check if the medium you have coated is adequately primed, you should look out for the former paint color, stains, or other surface imperfections. If they are not visible, you have painted the primer correctly and adequately.
You should apply at least two layers of the high-quality water-based latex or acrylic paint over the surface you have earlier primed to allow ample drying between coats. You could refer to the product labeling to get the right directions. The paint can be applied using any brush, roller, or paint sprayer. It all depends on the budget you have or the tool available to you.
If you are painting a medium that belongs to the interior of any item, you should choose a paint that is specifically made for interior use. If the paint surface belongs to any exterior item, you could utilize both interior and exterior paints as they are more resistant to rot and extreme weather. You should select a complementary color and a semi-gloss sheen to accentuate the details on the trim if you are painting any molding or other decoration.

Benjamin Drake, also known as Ben, is an enthusiastic painter who has been working with the paints and wood industry since 2005. After collaborating with leading paint industries, he is now on the path to guide locals about the knowledge he had attained throughout these years so that our dedicated users always make the right decision.