What Is The Best Way To Clean Hardwood Floors With A Polyurethane Finish
Which type of polyurethane is better for refinishing hardwood floors – oil-based or water-based polyurethane?
We offer both options, only I unremarkably recommend oil based 
polyurethane over water based for dark floors considering:
one. It looks better
ii. It lasts longer
iii. Information technology costs less.
And so, it seems like a no brainer, right? Well, usually information technology is a simple decision, but in that location certainly are some exceptions based on the color chosen, species of wood, and unlike customers accept different needs.
And then, let's explore this a chip further.
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Advantages of oil-based polyurethane.
1. Oil based polyurethane looks better. It has a more than depth – both in color and shine and it looks the way we expect hardwood to look. Water based polyurethane has both a duller colour and a duller end.
Equally you tin can come across from this picture show, the difference is pretty dramatic. The h2o based polyurethane (left) is lighter and duller than the oil based poly on the right.
The other issue, when it comes to advent, is that over time the polyurethane amberizes and darkens a bit…usually giving it a richer await while the h2o based poly just continues to become duller over fourth dimension.
Please note that some people have commented that higher up pic is misleading because the samples shown are not on the same forest (the one on left looks like maple and the ane on right looks similar oak so it exaggerates the difference in water vs oil based poly.) This picture (on the right) is from one of my customer's houses where the previous owners used oil based poly on correct and h2o borne poly on the left. This is not the all-time picture (esp due to the wink), and it'due south time for them to refinish the floors, simply it demonstrates the point.
Hither are some more than pictures – both from the same house. The are both white oak. The 1 on the left is white oak v″ using water based poly (Bona Traffic). The one on the right is ii 1/4″ white oak strip using oil based poly. Notation: on red oak (which is lighter than white oak), the water borne poly looks even paler.
H2o borne poly (Bona Traffic) on white oak Oil based poly on white oak
Also, you can click on these two pinterest pictures to see the bear on of water vs oil polyurethane on oak and yellow pine.
2. Oil based polyurethane lasts longer than water based. There is no competition on the immovability between the ii options. Water based polyurethane has lower VOC's – which is a bit of an environmental do good (more than abo
ut that in a moment) – but because it has lower VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), it doesn't last equally long. Water based poly is thinner, and y'all oft need iv-5 coats to equal the durability of 3 coats of oil based.
While I do non have detailed analytical studies, virtually customers who phone call me to refinish their floors and previously had water based poly, call me after 5-half dozen yrs vs. near customers that phone call me to refinish their oil based polyurethane call me at around the 10 year mark. And, at those points in time, the h2o based poly looks mode worse than the oil based – in fact, information technology's usually peeling off and the hardwood is starting to expect gray.
What' south besides interesting is that nearly all of my customers who have had water based polyurethane tell me they would NEVER do it once again. They felt misled by their previous flooring contractor. While sanding and refinishing is not terribly expensive, information technology can be rather inconvenient if you live in the dwelling house. You need to movement all the piece of furniture out and ofttimes go away for a calendar week. So, if you're going to go though the hassle of refinishing your floors, I recommend doing it right so it concluding longer.
3. Oil based polyurethane cost less than water based. The h2o-based textile is more expensive, so often you will pay around ten-25% more. Only, on top of the initial toll, you lot likewise demand to consider that yous volition need to redo the whole job sooner…y'all volition probably redo them almost twice as oft.
Now, there are several benefits to water based polyurethane and in some circumstances, water based poly is a much amend option.
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Advantages of water based polyurethane:
1. H2o based polyurethane dries faster. In my stance, this is the largest benefit of water based polyurethane. Usually, water based jobs tin can be washed in 2 days and you can walk on it that night; oil based tin can accept 3-5 days (pending on humidity) and yous need to wait at least 24 hrs before walking on them.
This pick can really make sense for commercial businesses such equally restaurants or stores every bit longer drying time ways the store is closed, and there is a true business cost to that. Just, for regular homeowners, commonly, it'due south worth waiting the extra 2-3 days in society to have the job last longer.
I have many customers who are in a rush to movement into their new domicile, but I always recommend that it'south worth delaying move in by a few days and become their floors done right. If they don't, they volition spend more than fourth dimension and money paying for this later. For customers already living in their dwelling, I recommend that they exercise this while they will be away for a while. I would rather await half dozen months for their side by side trip and take them pay less and do it right with oil based. Why do I experience this way? Because they will be happier and save money. I rely on happy customers who recommend me to their friends and come back to me years later for the other flooring in their dwelling.
2. Water based polyurethane doesn't odor as bad. Because of this, many co-ops are now requiring their homeowners to use water based poly. I think this is a scrap of a shame, just I understand information technology due to all the neighbors. For a regular firm, it volition not make much of a difference to your neighbors, and I volition also bespeak out that both water based and oil based poly smell, and I nonetheless recommend that customers become abroad or stay somewhere else while this work is being done.
3. H2o based polyurethane is a bit ameliorate for the environment…but information technology does depends on how you await at it. Since h2o based polyurethane has lower VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), it is a bit better for the environment. Every bit mentioned above, the VOC'due south are lower non non-existent. And, importantly, this environmental benefit but has an bear on during the DRYING fourth dimension. Once the poly is dry, there is no deviation in odor, off-gassing, etc. And, yep, I did validate this with the manufacturer – and they offer both h2o and oil based (and they make more money on the water based and then they have no reason to mislead here).
Now, the skeptical New Yorker in me always sees both sides of the equation. So, I will point out that while h2o based is a bit improve for the environment, retrieve that it doesn't final as long and the floors will need to be redone in a few years, thereby eliminating that benefit. Furthermore, this will lead to an earlier demise of the wood, which in plough will result in more cut trees…so everything has a flip side.
Because water based polyurethanes only comprise xxx-35% solids (vs. oil based comprise 45-l%) solids, you will demand to add together more than coats of water based poly. H2o based poly tends to toll more than oil based poly. And, when you add in an extra ane-2 coats, your price will increase farther. Amongst water based polyurethanes, most experts agree that Bona is the best brand, and specifically Bona Traffic line. This product definitely costs extra, just if you are going to use a waterborne polyurethane, Bona is the way to go.
iv. For Natural maple hardwood, water based poly tends to expect better, especially over time. Maple is lighter than oak, and with oil based poly, information technology actually does tend to yellow a lot over time. Generally, maple (without a stain) looks ameliorate with water borne poly. The bulk of homes in Westchester are made with oak hardwood, and that is followed by older pine floors. I would gauge that this applies to around 5% or less of the floors in our county.
4a. For white washed and gray stained floors, water based poly is a must. Oil based poly will turn these floors yellowish and look tacky and they will go along to amberize (i.e. yellow over fourth dimension). Bona Traffic 
WAIT!
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Video – Oil vs water poly and advantages of oil based polyurethane
This is a two office video web log. Part one discusses the reward of oil based polyurethane and Part 2 discusses the advantages on water borne poly.
Video – Oil vs water poly and advantages of water borne polyurethane
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Other useful flooring manufactures:
- How long does information technology take to sand and refinish hardwood floors?
- Can you change the color of your hardwood floors?
- Stain color trends on hardwood floor
- What types of hardwood are best for dogs (and pets)?
- What are the best brands of polyurethane? Which do I recommend?
- FAQ's for hardwood floor refinishing
- Recommended cleaning products and accessories to maintain floors and reduce scratches.
What brands of poly do we utilise?
While I do not recommend attempting to Sand and Refinish your hardwood floors yourself (as I accept seen countless disasters), I exercise feel comfortable in recommending polyurethane so that you (or hopefully) your installer uses top quality products. This will assistance with the outcome and longevity of your floors. But, think, if you lot don't have a not bad installer and top notch equipment, the chore will never come out well.
H2o borne polyurethane –
When it comes to water borne poly, there is no dispute, Bona Traffic HD is the best in the marketplace place. It looks great, dries quickly, and doesn't amberize. It'due south perfect if you're staining your floors greyness, or white, or merely going for a natural super clean await. It costs more than Bona Mega, just information technology'due south worth it as it looks amend, lasts longer and amberizes less.
Bona Traffic is the merely production nosotros use with gray or white done floors.
Oil based polyurethane –
When it comes to oil based poly, we typically utilize Duraseal. It comes in dissimilar finishes, but nearly of our customers adopt the satin finish.
Complementary products that will prolong the life of your hardwood floors
- Bona hardwood floor cleaner
- Felt pads to protect floors
- Office chair mat
- Doggie Socks
For more than info, bank check out my Ebook – Discover the half dozen Secrets to Refinishing Hardwood floors.
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Thanks and then much for choosing my costless ebook - The top 10 Floor Mistakes and how to avoid them. You'll a link to admission this for free in your e-mail.
Oil based vs. water based polyurethane : Which is better for refinishing your hardwood floors?
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