When should you use an oil based paint and when should you use a water based paint?

Answer 1

Oil base is the best for exterior painting. Water based chips after a few years, while oil has more of plastic coating effect and will need repainting maybe ten years down the road. It's also good for inside walls if you have kids. When it drys it still looks wet, sort of. It's easier to clean hand prints or coloring off of.

Answer 2

Oil based paint is not necessary for most interior applications. In some cases you would use an oil based primer if you needed good penetration and stain hiding characteristics. Modern latex paints are much more appropriate because of ease of clean-up (water) and low volatile organic compounds. If you need an extremely durable paint for a concrete wall, for instance, look at epoxies.

If you paint over oil based paint, you should use oil based paint. If you want to paint latex over oil, you will need to apply an oil based or shellac primer to give the latex good adhesion else you will get a finish with lots of 'spider web' cracks.

A quick test to determine if your existing paint is latex is to rub the surface in a small spot with a cottonball dipped in rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will soften and remove the latex but will have no effect on the oil.

Answer 3

Oil base is the best for exterior painting. Water based chips after a few years, while oil has more of plastic coating effect and will need repainting maybe ten years down the road. It's also good for inside walls if you have kids. When it drys it still looks wet, sort of. It's easier to clean hand prints or coloring off of.

Answer 4

oil based paint is when meant to get in contact with liquids water based paint is when your not expected it to get into contact with liquids

Answer 5

Oil paint is available in a spray delivery system, as are all other forms of paint. Check the label.