How can you tell if a wall has been painted with latex or oil paint?

Is there a quick way of telling what kind of paint is on the wall?


And can you use latex paint over oil paint?How can you tell if a wall has been painted with latex or oil paint?
take a little alcohol and rub your wall with your finger if the paint starts to break down it's latexHow can you tell if a wall has been painted with latex or oil paint?
look for used cans or ask the person who painted.


If the paint is sound, it does not really matter what you use.


A primer over the base coat and a coat of your color coat. I would prefer latex to oil due to the water cleanup and lack of solvent release.
Go to Debbie Travis painted house or something like that and she has a question and answer site which deals with that question. I think it is under her FAQ.


I would try washing it off, if it comes off easy it*s latex. if you need paint thinner its oil based.
From a paint store or Home Depot buy a can of GOOF OFF. This is a paint remover for latex paint. Put some on a rag and rub the wall, if the paint begins to come off you have latex paint.





You can not paint latex paint directly over oil paint. Oil is too smooth and the latex will sag and fish mouth. Use a good latex primer such as KILZ then you can put latex over that.
Usually if there are any cracks on the wall you can tell by trying to peel it off. If it peels off usually a fair size of peel that is, its oil, if its flaky and britle and just keeps breaking, its latex. Its not recomended to latex paint over oil, but you can if you sand first to make the paint adhere better, and or use a really good primer first, making your primer a latex one of course. Good luck!
Put a little latex paint on surface let dry if it comes off with a stir stick it is oil