As I understand it, a few years ago, latex paint was applied on top of oil based paint.
The top layer of paint is now peeling off. Would like to apply a new coat of latex paint, but I'm unsure how to proceed.
Thanks!
Latex paint should never be painted straight onto oil paint. In this case you'll need to remove as much of the new paint as possible.
Then you can use a water based primer with an adhesive like Gripper from Glidden. There are other brands of course, but an adhesive based primer will stay on oil paint or other surfaces that water based latex paint would peel off of.
Painting over a glossy oil paint is indeed different than painting over an oil primer. I just came from a customers's home where the seller did the former - you can literally pull sheets of the paint off the trim. Maybe there are better latex paints that tend to adhere more strongly and you can get away with putting them over oil, but I'd never do it.
Don't take the chance. Either stick with oil-based paint on trim that already has it, or sand and prime first before switching to latex.
I just had the same problem with latex paint peeling off the interior of my front door. The hardest part was removing the latex paint. I discovered that the best way to remove it was to apply tape and pull it off rather than sand. It was somewhat time consuming but it sure took it off.
Edited to add every kind of tape worked, packing, scotch type, duct, masking, and even green painters tape worked vey well.
This is all bad, I am sorry to say. This is the result of poor surface preparation (sanding) prior to the application of the paint that is peeling. There is no easy solution, you must remove all the peeling paint along with any that even might peel. Sanding with coarse paper (maybe a heat gun but be careful) is the likely solution. On top of that, you will need to properly sand the underlying finish, to remove any sheen, prior to repainting.
Good quality latex paint will adhere just fine to old oil-based paint IF the surface is properly prepared. No primer is needed unless you take it all the way down to bare wood.
I would sand all the baseboard that is peeling, wipe clean for sanding dust. Then prime it all, using a strong water based primer. Zinser 123 is good. Then re paint it using a water based paint that is 100% acrylic . Not just latex or vinyl latex. Make sure it's 100% acrylic and you'll have no problems.
When in doubt OIL IT OUT...
There is no easy or lasting fix to this, weigh out the labor Vs replacing. probably could use some updated trim anyway.
I'm actually painting a job now that was latex over oil one year ago and is already peeling like mad. I am applying Stop Peel by Zinzer and over that, a hybrid paint (latex/oil) by Glidden.
This topcoat dries more like oil (hard finish), but doesn't yellow like oil. The good news is that it also cleans up with soap and water. The paint of the future when oil is no more! Most paint stores carry the hybrid type now, but Glidden's is less expensive.
