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Flat Out Flat is a matte water based topcoat with a velvety feel and was developed as a durable alternative to our Satin Wax.

Choose this product if you want a finish that looks more like wax and your project will not require high use. Like wax, it dries softer to the touch than High Performance when completely cured, and it will show more marring and fingerprints. Flat Out Flat is made with a stable self cross-linking acrylic instead of urethane.

No, you should not mix Flat Out Flat and High Performance topcoats. They are engineered with different resin systems.

You can mix High Performance topcoats to adjust sheen. For example, you can mix HP Flat and HP gloss to obtain a different sheen.

Flat Out Flat is a self-crosslinking water-based topcoat that mimics the lustrous look and feel of wax. The increased matting agents used to create "flat look" cause this wood finish to have less clarity, show fingerprints more and provide slightly less durability than High Performance.

The popular flat sheens are lovely but they have different attributes than glossy finishes. The flatting agents required to reduce sheen in flat or matte topcoats also slightly reduce clarity, water resistance, durability and resistance to chemicals such as ketchup, soap, chemical cleaners, or ammonia. This is not much of a concern in low use areas but is important for table tops or kitchen cabinets.

Hazing or a cloudy appearance can occur when applying a super matte finish over dark colors. In the paint industry, we call this DOI – Distortion of Image. The waxes that give Flat Out Flat its soft feel and the additional matting agents in the formula do not allow light waves to completely refract outward when used over dark colors. Plus, dark colors naturally absorb more light. DOI does occur over light colors, you just can’t see it. Best practice is to always test your finishing schedule before completing the entire project to make sure it meets YOUR satisfaction.

Winner of Fine Woodworking's "Best Overall Choice Award," High Performance Topcoat was voted as the hardest, most durable consumer polyurethane topcoat. It is so versatile, it can be brushed or sprayed.

Flat Out Flat is safe to recoat with proper cleaning and scuff sanding.

General Finishes does not use a wax such as parafiin, carnauba or PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) that cause adhesion failures in the finish Flat Out Flat.

We do use a very small amount of a different wax (part of the secret sauce) and it is used to improve matting, abrasion and mar resistance.

NOW AVAILABLE! High Performance & Enduro Clear Poly IN DEAD FLAT!

NOW AVAILABLE: High Performance & Enduro Clear Poly in DEAD FLAT

You asked for a SUPER MATTE sheen, and now it's ready to order.

Exciting New Features:

Traditionally, flat topcoats were created by adding matting agents to gloss topcoat. These agents decreased the durability of the topcoat and produced a slight haze that reduced the vibrancy of an underlying stain or paint. 

Using newly patented polymer resin technology, matting agents are no longer required.  Our new Dead Flat topcoats produce a brilliant clear finish while providing significant improvements to chemical, water and mar resistance.

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