What Is Floetrol? (Pros, Cons & When You Should Use It) (2024)

Many people don’t realize that there are many different types of paints available, some of which are suited for specific conditions, such as high humidity or higher temperatures or lower temperatures, or different exterior surfaces like metal surfaces.

Floetrol is an ingredient that people often use when painting.

You may find yourself asking, “What is floetrol?” The product is an additive that you can use in different types of paint because it works to condition the paint, providing a smoother finish.

You can easily buy it from paint stores. If you’d like to learn more about the product and its benefits, be sure to use this guide for reference.

Page Contents

What Exactly Is Floetrol?

It’s common to have questions about this product commonly added to different types of interior or exterior latex paint.

People will often ask, “What is Floetrol made of?” Before you use it, it’s important to know its purpose and the benefits of floetrol paint mixture when painting using latex paints.

Floetrol is a conditioning product that gets added to different types of oil based paints like latex paint additive. Oil based paint consists of polymer emulsion and water based paint.

The reason people use this product is because it makes the paint a lot easier to work with while preventing the appearance of brush strokes on the walls of the area from getting painted.

When added this paint additive to a traditional can of latex paint additive, it becomes a lot like an oil based paints. The oil based paints are that much easier to work with while using a brush or roller by professional painters.

What Is Floetrol? (Pros, Cons & When You Should Use It) (1)

Pros & ConsOf UsingFloetrol

Benefits

Drawbacks

  • The product can get lumpy if it unused for too long.

  • It will dry with a matte appearance that not everyone wants. However, a topcoat is an easy fix for that problem.

  • You’ll need to be careful when working with the paint and brush because of how this product will make the paint flow with ease.

When Should You Use Floetrol?

It’s best to useFloetrolwhen painting specific surfaces throughout the property, such as the trim, doors, or cabinets. If you plan to repurpose old, fine furniture, you should also consider adding the product to your paint before getting started.

When dealing with hot weather while painting the outside of a building, you may want to use Floetrol. The thing about hot weather is that it often causes exterior paint to dry at a faster pace.

Not everyone wants the paint to dry too quickly, especially when they’re still working on it. With that in mind, you can add the Floetrol to the paint before getting started to extend the drying time.

If you’ve noticed brush marks and roller marks when painting and you hate the way that it looks, Floetrol. The product will improve the flow of the paint, allowing it to brush on the surface with ease and eliminate brush marks.

In addition, you wouldn’t need to apply nearly as much pressure to the object or wall when working with a roller brush because of this conditioner.

It’s also the perfect solution for those who are tired of dealing with hard paint that gets stuck to rollers and paint brushes. When you want to improve the ease of cleanup after painting, Floetrol in your can of paint.

What Is Floetrol? (Pros, Cons & When You Should Use It) (2)

How To Use Floetrol (GuideFor Different Applications)

If you want to know how to use Floetrol and how much Floetrol use, be sure to follow these simple instructions. The paint conditioner is safe and effective for numerous types of applications, whether you’re using paint brushes, rollers, or even acrylic paints sprayer. Check out these helpful tips to get started with using the product in your next can of acrylic paints.

With A Brush Or Roller

First, add three volumes of acrylic paints to your paint bucket or tray, followed by one volume of the Floetrol. Use a painting stick to mix the two ingredients together before carefully submerging your brush or roller into the paint to get started with the painting process. It’s that simple to use Floetrol with a brush or roller.

With An HVLP & Cup Gun Sprayer

When using the HVLP & Cup Gun Sprayer, the first thing you want to do is combine your paint with the Floetrol. You should use ½ a pint of Floetrol for each pint of paint you’re adding to your gun sprayer or airless paint sprayers.

Combine the two components, seal the spray guns, and give it a good paint store shake before you get started. You may thenproceed with using the HVLP sprayer to complete your painting project.

With An Airless Sprayer

When you plan on using an airless sprayer for painting, be sure to mix 32 oz of Floetrol with every gallon of paint you’re using. Once you’ve measured out the two products and have added them to your airless sprayer, you can begin the process of using the sprayer to apply paint to different surfaces and will quickly notice the ease of use because of the paint conditioner.

For Faux finishing

When using Floetrol to complete a faux finish, use a minimum of four ounces and a maximum of eight ounces for each quart of paint that you plan to use. You may then pour the mixture into a paint tray to get started with using a brush or roller to apply the paint to various surfaces.

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Things To Remember When Using Floetrol

Before you use Floetrol, be sure to cover everything you do not wish to paint. Because it flows better than traditional paint, things can get messy rather quickly. Be sure to test before you paint to ensure that it’s compatible with the surface.

It’s also important to remember that Floetrol won't change the paint color. However, it can reduce the sheen in some gloss paints or high gloss paint or semi gloss latex or oil based paint, so be sure to consider that before you use it. Most importantly, please don't use it in any oil based paints because it doesn't work correctly with those types of paint mixes.

Frequently Asked Floetrol Questions

What is a substitute for floetrol?

The cheap and simple substitute for Floetrol is Elmer’s Glue.

Is Floetrol worth using?

Yes, Floetrol is worth using to make painting easier while avoiding or eliminate brush marks and stroke marks.

What happens if you add too much Floetrol?

If you add too much of the product, it can make your paint too runny to the point that it won’t stick well.

How long is Floetrol good for?

Floetrol can stay good in unopened condition for 12 months.

Is Floetrol the same as acrylic pouring medium?

No, it’s not the same thing. An acrylic pouring medium is used as an additive to make paint thinner, with an paint easier flow.

Conclusion

If you’ve never heard of Floetrol before, you now know what it is and how it works.

If you’re looking for a way to make painting easier and more flawless, be sure to consider using this conditioner with some of the paint that you’ll use to spruce up the walls, cabinets, trim, and other areas of your home.

What Is Floetrol? (Pros, Cons & When You Should Use It) (2024)

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