Oil Vs Water Based Polyurethane Floor

Since refinishing wood floors involves multiple coats of polyurethane this means that the total time of your refinishing job is longer with the oil based.

Oil vs water based polyurethane floor. The biggest difference is in appearance. This is ideal if you want the natural color of your wood to remain constant. Water based polyurethane dries clear and remains clear. When cost and coats are calculated this works out to about 35 to 50 cents per square foot for oil based poly and 80 cents to 1 35 per square foot for water based polyurethane.

Because water based polyurethanes only contain 30 35 solids vs. This color difference is less noticeable over a stained hardwood floor but an oil based poly will still exhibit an amber hue that will continue to darken over time. Oil based contain 45 50 solids you will need to add more coats of water based poly. It s due to the chemical makeup.

High quality water based polyurethanes is considered by many homeowners flooring professionals to be equally durable. With oil based you typically have to wait until the next day to add another coat of polyurethane but water based polyurethane can be recoated in as soon as 2 3 hours. An oil based polyurethane will continue to amber and darken over time while water based poly will remain clear for the lifetime of the hardwood floor. Oil based polyurethane water based and oil based polyurethane each offer good protection.

Some still insist that durability is the main deciding factor between water based oil based polyurethane. The main difference is usually color. These solids are what make up the poly s protective finish. Water based polyurethane cost is two to three times higher than oil based products.

Water based poly tends to cost more than oil based poly. However if you are using a top notch brand such as bona traffic hd this is not true in this case they are equally as durable. Oil based poly can last around 10 years. One can use these three methods to determine whether the polyurethane is oil or water based.

A well engineered water based polyurethane will be equal in clarity to oil based polyurethane. Polyurethane is actually the most durable hardwood. And when you add in an extra 1 2 coats your cost will increase further. Oil based poly s have 45 to 50 of solids while water based polys only contain 30 to 35 of solids.

Use of a cotton ball if wiping a floor with a cotton ball removes an alcohol stain water based polyurethane was used on it this is because oil based polyurethanes do not react with alcohol. As it ages the amber hue deepens. Today though water based polyurethane has evolved with better formulations that are equally durable as oil based polyurethane. Oil based poly has an amber tone that immediately darkens the wood.

Touch when already applied oil based floors feel smoother than a water based floor. Oil based used to be unquestionably more durable. That is because most water borne polyurethanes are inferior.