Oil vs water based paint for woodwork

[rodeoshoes]

Just realised i have bought oil based by mistake so would really appreciate some advice on this!

I need to repaint pretty much all the woodwork in the house and am wondering what the difference is & which would be better to use?

All of it will be in eggshell - white. I've read oil based paints yellow..? I'm also 7 months pregnant so fumes & drying time are an issue. Would i be best of with water based? which is more durable?

TIA

Water based acrylic paints are a lot less fumy, but might need an undercoat, anyhow, if you're painting over existing paint or varnish. Until the past 5 years or so, most paint for woodwork was oil based, with just a few premium brands having an acrylic line.

The durability of either type of paint is about as good as your preparation. I've only ever seen oil based paint yellow if it gets no daylight.

Acrylic paint also dries a lot faster - just takes a couple of hours and can be overcoated in 4.

I've only ever used oil based in the past,but I painted the woodwork in a room almost a week ago and it still smells incredibly fumy in there.
I've also heard oil based paints yellow but acrylic paints don't,but I have no personal experience.
If the tin is unopened could you possibly exchange it for acrylic - I think that's what I would do,and at least try it.

I much prefer the finish of oil based, it's nicer to use and easier to clean I find. I really like the fumes! Not sure how much risk they pose to you as you're pregnant tho'. I think acrylic looks a bit plastic, which of course it is.

Acrylic (water based) paints are supposedly kinder to the environment (both immediate and generally) and are easier to work with but alkyd (oil / solvent based) paints generally give a better finish, are more hard wearing and need fewer coats.

I have just finished a refurbishment of an old peoples home where I had to specify acrylic paints because of the residents' susceptibilities to fumes. The poor decorating contractor to use several coats to get an even finish on large flat surfaces e.g. doors which nearly drove them mad. Another problem was the paint dried too fast causeing problems with even application.

The "plastic look" sounds a bit odd - I have acrylic on my walls and they do not look plastic!

I have used oil based in the past but I wouldn't use it again because it takes 16hrs to dry - anyone rubbing up against it during this time will ruin the finish. Brushes are incredibly hard to clean, you need to use white spirit. The fumes are awful. Paint goes yellow. Doesn't tend to drip. Spillages are a nightmare - see bush cleaning. High VOCs - environmentally more damaging.

Acrylic is lovely to work with dries quickly - good on a humid day, a bit too quickly sometimes on a dry hot day - so turn your heat off if this is the case. Brushes can be washed easily with arm soapy water. Spillages can be wiped clean if caught in good time. Low VOCs, pleasant smell. Not as tough as oil based paint.

Think that's it!

oil paint is more durable outdoors.

Oil based is best in terms of durability BUT (1) you need to be careful pick a brand that won't yellow (I recommend Sikkens) and (2) it is much fumier.

Water based/acrylic is less durable but you don't have to worry about yellowing or fumes (so much).

Sorry, it's a bit of a toss up either way.

If you go for water based/acrylic, I wouldn't recommend Dulux Satinwood, I had some woodwork painted in it last summer and it's peeling already! (other woodwork done at the same time in Sikkens oil based is fine).

Thanks for the replies. I think i'll stick with the oil based them as after something pretty durable.

Thanks again.

Oil based - fumes, does yellow (we've just re-done the entire hall skirting board, door frames, picture rail etc) that was only painted 12 months ago because it looked really yellow. But, less labour intensive as easy to apply and takes fewer coats.

Water based - needs hundreds of coats - did the spindles of our stair case (were dark wood previously) and needed about 8 coats. Obviously better for you in terms of the smell and really happy with it now its done and it still looks very white!

the multiple coats thing - for opacity, you are better off applying an extra coat of undercoat. White acrylic primer undercoat, which is water-based and adequate for indoors, is quick to apply and easy to rub down. Gloss topcoat is not intended for opacity so much.

Oh bum 12 months - really. may need to rethink it then as i want it to stay white. All the woodwork is currently an off white so opacity shouldn't be a problem.

Might go back to the shop then.

Can you put a water based paint over an oil undercoat?

it is less likely to stick well, as any remaining solvent will make it a bit "oily" so water will not wet it. Let it dry well, and fine-sand very lightly to take any shine off the surface.