With both clear coat and latex paint both seeing a spike in their popularity right now for a number of different use cases, its no surprise that we have seen people asking if you are able to use the two together or not. We have noticed more and more people specifically reaching out and asking if you can clear coat over latex paint or not so we have decided to publish this article.
We are hoping that this article will be able to help our readers understand how and when they should be trying to use clear coat with latex paint and when it is usually better to avoid it. Clear coat really is an excellent product with a ton of great use cases but it is very common for people to make easy to avoid mistakes with it that really ruin its performance.
Thankfully, once you know these common mistakes that so many beginners make time and time again, they tend to be easy to avoid. This can help to ensure that you avoid any potential problems while also getting you the best end result possible with a whole range of paint types including latex paint.
Can You Clear Coat Over Latex Paint?
You can apply clear coat over latex paint provided that your latex paint is totally dry prior to applying your clear coat to it. The clear coat will dry as normal on top of your latex paint and offer you an excellent finish that offers your paint some great protection against the elements.
So many people, especially beginners try to apply their clear coat to their latex paint as soon as they have applied their paint to their surface. This is a mistake and you have to let your latex paint dry prior to applying your clear coat or the end result will not be anywhere near as good as it could have been otherwise.
As there are multiple formulas for clear coat on the market with some of them being low quality and almost always offering poor performance, be sure to go with a high quality clear coat if possible. We know that some people are on a tight budget but the majority of the time, the decent clear coat formulas are only around $5 more than the cheap, low quality ones while offering much better performance.
How Do You Apply Clear Coat Over Latex Paint?
To apply your clear coat over latex paint, apply your paint to the surface that you need to paint as normal using a brush, roller, or sprayer and leave it to dry. Once you are sure that your latex paint has dried, apply your clear coat as instructed on the label of the product as different clear coat formulas need to be applied in different ways.
The most common application method for applying clear coat is a spray based system that needs to be held around six inches away from the surface. There are a number of other systems with some being applied by brush but we usually recommend that you go with a high quality spray applied clear coat due to it usually being easier to apply.
Although the brush formulas are usually decent, they are a little harder to apply on top of the your latex paint on most surfaces. On top of that, the clear coat formulas that are applied using a brush also have the risk of left over brush marks where as the spray based formulas don’t.
Is Clear Coat Over Latex Paint Essential For Outdoor Use?
Although using clear coat over latex paint for outdoor use is not essential as there are other sealant products on the market you can use, clear coat is one of the best options. Depending on your budget, requirements, and goals for the project, clear coat can be the best option available to most people for many situations.
Depending on exactly what you are doing though, you may not have to use clear coat over your latex at all, especially if you live in a warm, stable climate that has good weather. If you live in an area that does have cold winters or constant cold weather with lots of rain or snow then we would highly recommend that you do use a sealing agent on your latex paint though.
It may be a good idea for you to do some research on if clear coat is the best option for your situation too. Although it will usually be the default option for a large number of our readers, depending on the specifics of your situation, other products could out perform it.
Should You Spray Clear Coat Over Latex Paint?
In many cases you should apply some form of sealant over your latex paint to help protect it and improve the final look while ensuring that it lasts for as long as possible. A good clear coat formula can suit the needs of many people offering all of these advantages for a low price.
As we touched on earlier in the article though, there are some situations where you may not have to apply clear coat at all. This is why we are not able to offer a blanket statement when it comes to should you apply clear coat over your latex paint or not as you have to factor in your own specific situation and circumstances.
We would like to say that the majority of people should apply something on top of their latex paint if it will be outdoors and exposed to the elements though. The additional protection of the sealant outer coat will protect your latex paint from the elements and ensure that it lasts for as long as possible without peeling, flaking or fading.
Conclusion
That brings our article going over if you can use clear coat over latex paint to an end. In most cases you should easily be able to use clear coat over latex paint without issue. In our opinion, clear coat is an excellent option due to it being so cheap, easy to use, and offering such a high level of performance right out of the canister making it a great option for beginners, intermediates, and professionals alike.
