Can I use water based topcoat, stain or paint after it has frozen?

Usually not but not all water based products respond the same way to a freeze. Most stains will be fine because freezing doesn't affect color. Some of the dyes will coagulate.

The best advice... don't let water finishes freeze. Once frozen, most water based finishes such as General Finishes High Performance Water Base Topcoat are no longer useable. Other manufacturer's products may not freeze because solvents or plasticizers have been added. To check the integrity of your possibly frozen oil based product, open the can and stir to see if the contents are still liquid. If it's still liquid the product should still be viable. Just make sure to mix well to reincorporate the additives into the finish.

If your product is indeed frozen and unusable, we recommend you contact the retailer you purchased the product from for a replacement. Amazon resellers should easily take the product back if you have concerns. General Finishes does monitor weather conditions before shipping to avoid product freezing, but cannot control happens when the shipment arrives at its destination.