General Finishes Flat Out Flat Topcoat, Gallon

I of to say, I am really happy with this product. It is my first time using it and I am very pleased with it so far. it is a bit pricey for the size, but i got more out of it, than what I paid for it. It really lives up to its name, flat out flat. I’ve always used the polyurethane waterbase matte finish, but sometimes when I would use more than one coat, it would end up with more of a satin look, than a Matte with white streaks. I used 3 coats of the Flat Out Flat on this piece, because i knew I would be using it a lot and it still have a flat look finish and no white streaks. It is easy to use and clean up is easy peezy. Like I mentioned before, I use this piece a lot for cocktail serving, so I’m always spilling stuff on it. I was very happy after using it for a party on a Friday night, wiping it down the next day, I was very happy that it held up. GREAT PRODUCT GREAT COMPANY!.

Wanted to top coat a sanded wood dresser and not change the color of the wood. It made it slightly darker but not much. A nice flat finish. Easy to apply. No odor and water soluble.

This topcoat is easy to apply without streaks or bubbles. It is very durable and leaves a beautiful, smooth flat finish. Worth every penny.

We purchased this to apply as protective sealer over chalk paint on dresser. We wanted to keep the very matte finish that chalk paint has. We originally used and minwax matte finish polyurethane, but it had a fair amount of more sheen than the chalk paint and it also made the color slightly different. When I tried this product on a sample board painted with the chalk paint, the wife and I were really surprised as it keep the matte finish of the chalk paint and did not darken the paint color. It is easy to apply and easy to clean application tools. I can swear to durability yet as I have only just applied it to the dresser. If you are looking for a truly matte finish this is the product for you. It's expensive but seems to be worth it.

I was doing so much research looking for a varnish that would keep as much of the natural color of the white oak and maintaining the knots and grains. I decided on general finishes flat out flat ultimately and was satisfied. Application was so easy compared to a standard polyurethane. There were no brush strokes as it laid out flat almost immediately. Being that it is water based, in between coats one and two there was enough grain pop requiring a very light sanding with 220 grit. The end result was a deep rich natural tone with bold hi-lighting of the grain and knots, there’s absolutely no sheen to it either so no light can reflect off the surface. It withstood putting the finished beam up without any scratching and marring of the surface. The picture of the beam is about a month after applying the finish.

If you’re looking for a protective topcoat that delivers a smooth, professional finish without adding unwanted shine, General Finishes Flat Out Flat Topcoat is an excellent choice. Designed for projects where a low-sheen, almost invisible finish is preferred, this product really lives up to its name. Ease of Application: It brushes, rolls, or sprays on with minimal effort and levels nicely, reducing visible brush strokes. It dries fairly quickly, which helps speed up multi-coat projects, though it’s best to allow proper curing time for durability. Finish Quality: The sheen is truly flat—perfect for pieces where you want the natural character of the wood or the paint color to stand out without a glossy or satin reflection. Once cured, it feels smooth to the touch and has a soft, velvety appearance that looks high-end. Durability: While Flat Out Flat offers good protection for most furniture and decorative projects, it’s not quite as tough as General Finishes High Performance Topcoat. It’s ideal for low-to-moderate traffic pieces like coffee tables, dressers, bookshelves, and cabinets, but if you need heavy-duty protection (like on a kitchen table), you may want to opt for something stronger. Pros: True flat, matte finish with no plastic-looking sheen Easy to apply and self-leveling Water-based and low odor Excellent clarity—doesn’t yellow over time Cons: Not as durable as other GF topcoats for high-traffic surfaces Requires careful application to avoid streaks in the flat finish

Provides a nice semi flat protective finish. The container is very small though, so you might need to order two containers for larger projects.

I used this on walnut wood, I didn’t want a finish that would alter the natural look of the wood. This product was absolutely perfect! It seal the wood, gave it a glass smooth finish and didn’t alter the natural look of the wood at all. I couldn’t be happier.