Making exterior latex flat

[Locutus]

I purchased several 5 gallon buckets of exterior satin latex to paint my wood siding house, after putting some on, I now realize I should have used flat since the wood is original (70~ years old) and the satin seems to highlight every imperfection in the siding.

I inquired with several paint stores about making the paint flat, and they said it could not be done. I noticed some talk in here recently about making gloss stain flat using some sort of flattening agent, would something like this also work with paint?

I was considering just purchasing new paint, but if I could make the paint I already have flat(er), it would obviously save me a lot of money.

Any advice is appreciated!

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I don't know if it will work with your paint, but here is a start.

?pid=135&familyName=Interlux+One-Part+Flattening+Agent

[Prometheus]

You know, I'd ignore the people at the paint store's advice at my own risk if I were you. You're unlikely to find people who know more about paint by addressing the question to a random group of people on the internet.

That being said, washing semi-gloss interior paint with TSP flattens and cleans it prior to repainting. It does not remove the paint, but it may cause it to fail if it is not repainted, and almost certainly will void whatever warranty your paint may have come with. But if you're really set on doing this, it might be the way to go. Worst case senario, you're out some $$$ for the TSP and have to repaint anyway.

[nailshooter41]

I am with you 100% there. It is hard enough to get those guys to stand behind their product when properly applied, much less when altered.

Anyway, how much is your time and effort worth to take a chance on a flattener?

BTW, you should consider that although we all know of flatteners for oil/solvent based finishes, I have never heard of one (that certainly doesn't mean it doesn't exist) for latex.

Since you need more than one coat to do a proper job anyway whether repaint or new, why not use what you have as primer coats or first coats, and then finish with the proper sheen?

Robert

[Locutus]

OK, for now on I will just take the word of a store employee who may or may not know what they are talking about. It's not like anyone here knows anything about anything.

I don't know why I even bother reading this NG, I should just learn from the best. Home Depot employees!

Thanks for the advice!

[J. Clarke]

Home Depot isn't a paint store. But one who speaks for the BORG should know this.

[Locutus]

semantics.