Why does nobody talk about using a paint conditioner versus just adding water?

I tried thinning some leftover paint with water for a small touch-up job and it went on streaky and dried patchy. Used a proper conditioner on the same wall a week later and it leveled out perfectly, no brush marks at all. Anyone have a favorite brand for this, or is it worth it for every project?

3 comments

3 Comments

kaigibson17d ago

lol is it really that big of a deal though? sounds like you just got unlucky with the water. i've thinned paint with water a bunch and it's been fine.

john_fisher17d ago

Honestly, water works fine for most small jobs if you don't overdo it. That streaky finish might have been from adding too much water, not the water itself. For basic latex paint, a couple tablespoons of water per gallon is all you need to help it lay down. Conditioners are great, but they feel like an extra cost and step for something simple. I've gotten smooth touch-ups for years just by going light with the water.

beth71117d ago

Yeah, I'm totally with john_fisher on this... water can work if you're really careful. But I had the exact same patchy mess happen to me last month, and it was such a pain to fix. The conditioner just makes it foolproof for me now, especially on bigger walls where a smooth finish really matters. I keep a bottle of the Floetrol stuff around for any project bigger than a tiny spot.