Oil polyurethane over latex paint

fishacura

I've seen conflicting answers to this but I want to clarify if anyone can help.

I have some laundry room lockers that are made of pine and painted with black latex paint. I'd like to cover with an oil polyurethane I have. The room gets absolutely no exposure to sun (I have read that the finish can yellow over time).

Given that the paint is black, it's a laundry room (i.e. don't care if things are not perfect), and gets no sun exposure, any "harm" in using the oil based poly? By harm I mean I want to make sure it's not going to take the black paint off or start flaking off over time or something like that.

Is it a big deal? I'm trying to use it since I have it to avoid buying another product. Also, I believe it will require less coats if I use the oil.

joecaption

If it's painted then why do you need to add a sealer?

fishacura

The finish is very flat and I'd like to better protect it and add some shine/smoothness.

joecaption

Then just lightly sand and go over it with enamel gloss or semi gloss paint.

If you use poly it will yellow and also wear off where the handles are.

fishacura

Great feedback and thank you for your assistance. Is there such a thing as "clear semi gloss paint"? I didn't want to change the color....or for that matter a latex based poly???

ric knows paint

There is absolutely nothing wrong with applying one or several coats of an oil poly over a flat latex paint. There will be no issues of incompatibility - they will work fine with each other. You are right that the oil poly will yellow some, over time, but over black it really won't matter or be that noticeable. If you are concerned about yellowing, there are latex (acrylic) polys in a semi-gloss finish that are pretty durable - and would work fine.

As long as the black paint is clean, and in good sound condition, applying a coat of oil poly is a great way to provide further protection to your lockers. The poly will NOT wear off any faster around the handles than would an "enamel" or "semi-gloss" paint - matter-o-fact, the oil poly will provide greater protection than either around the handles, knobs, whatever.

The biggest concern I'd have with the oil poly is applying it in a basement, in a laundry room - but that'd only be if your basement is not dry, or if you already have a mildew problem due to high humidity - if so, mildew can grow on an oil (alkyd) finish easier than on a latex (acrylic) finish. If that's not an issue, stay with what you've got, it'll be a well protected project.

fishacura

My point exactly (per my original post). Completely different response lol! These were my thoughts but Joe seems to really disagree (and has thousands more posts...)

In honor of election season, let the debates begin

BTW, the product is MINWAX quick drying poly....satin finish

Brushjockey

If you need to listen to Joe or Ric- take ric every time...

__________________
"It's better to come here with questions before you screw up than to come here after and ask how to fix them."- JS

fishacura

Well I certainly didn't mean to start a fight!!!

Brushjockey

No fight. Fact.

__________________
"It's better to come here with questions before you screw up than to come here after and ask how to fix them."- JS

fishacura

Well Ric seems more in line with what I have read (meaning it's probably not the BEST alternative, but there's really not much harm in doing it as long as you know about the yellowing, particularly if it's a light shade of paint AND is sun exposed). But I really can't find anything to warrant not doing it in my circumstances so I'll go for it. THANKS....saved me some $$ and some time...

poppameth

Why not just put water based urethane over it instead of oil urethane? Minwax Polycrylic is in just about every store you could imagine. It won't yellow either.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

fishacura

1. Was at Depot and they only had it in gallons (another brand too...not the brand I want)

2. Already have oil based...why spend the $$$

3. Less coats required than latex based

That's it in a nutshell