How to Paint a House With Oils

Generally speaking, latex is the preferred medium with which to paint a house. Latex is easier and less unpleasant to apply because it dries faster and smells less. Over time, it’s more durable and flexible. However, latex paints can create big problems when painted over old oil paint. In the not so distant past, oil paint was the norm for anyone painting a house, and so even today, many homes are coated in old layers of oil paint. Latex paint applied on top of oil can accelerate the deterioration of old oil paint to the point that a newly repainted house could be shedding all paint on a massive scale in less than a year’s time. For this reason, oil paints can be a safer choice to paint an older home.

Power washer
Paint scraper
Medium-grit sandpaper
Bleach
Bucket
Oil primer
Paint
Brushes
Paint roller

Instructions

- 1
  Prep all surfaces for painting. Power-wash the house first to remove all dirt, then scrape off any cracking or peeling paint. After scraping, sand bare wood and exposed paint edges to improve adhesion. Wash the house again -- this time with a mixture of bleach and water -- to remove areas of mildew.
- 2
  Cover all nearby bushes and grass with tarps. Remove any debris from around the house.
- 3
  Paint visible patches of bare wood with water-repellant preservative. This will control the absorption of moisture into the wood -- the primary reason that oil paints crack over time. Wait three days for the newly cleaned house to completely dry. It is important that the house be very dry when the paint is applied because the paint will trap the moisture into the wood once it’s applied.
- 4
  Check the weather forecast before beginning to paint. You will need dry weather, at the appropriate temperatures. Check the label on the paint can for the appropriate temperatures and necessary drying time.
- 5
  Paint the house with oil-based primer. Use angle-sash paintbrushes for corners and tight spaces, and paint rollers for larger flat areas.
- 6
  Paint within two weeks of priming the house or you will need to wash the primer before painting.

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