Painting trim and latex versus enamel

Even though interior trim doesn't cover much space compared to walls or ceilings , it's a small thing that really calls big attention to itself. Window sills are where you place your morning cup of coffee; door casing you pass a million times a day as you go from room to room. It's usually close-up and closely examined, and that's just the visual aspect of it. It also has to perform. Then you'll know that they love to stand on hind legs--front paws on the sill--to check outside activity. If you have kids, you'll know that door trim gets bumped all the time.

Oil vs latex, the two paints are very different, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. For hundreds of years, paint was mixed on site by the local painters adding a little linseed oil, colorant usually lead , some whiting and driers. Most paints were custom formulated by the painter of that region. With the advent of premixed oil paints in the mids, paint manufacturers began to rapidly improve the consistency and quality of their oil-based paints. By the early s, oil paints were incredible products that leveled beautifully, created hard durable finishes, and held up to the harshest conditions. Manufacturers have focused on improving their lines of latex paint and neglected their oil paints other than the reformulation occasionally required to keep them in compliance with new regulations.

I just bought a home. The amount of trim is much more than my previous home, but it looks no where near as good. My previous home's trim was painted with a very high grade SW gloss, oil based paint.

I have a question about repainting the wood trim in our recently bought house. My Dad always taught me to use an oil-based paint for wood trim he preferred Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo. What do you think? I know the Latex will be easier and cleaner to apply, but will it hold up as well over time and be easy to clean over the years? Ok for old style systems!!.