Oil Or Water Based Finish For Hardwood Floors

This is more than the amount of coats required for oil based finishes.

Oil or water based finish for hardwood floors. While each type of finish lasts quite a long time many contractors hold the opinion that oil based lasts longer than water based by a few years. In general it takes 3 layers of oil based finish to complete the job or 4 to 5 layers of water based finish. If you re looking for the most durable hardwood floor finishes on the market today and want the advantage of minimal fumes and smell then these new finish systems are what you re looking for. The amount of coats applied in order to give ultimate protection is on average 2 coats.

Polyurethane is actually the most durable hardwood floor finish. Floors that are finished with oil based polyurethane tend to amber turn an orangey yellow over time whereas floors finished with water based polyurethane are not expected to change color with age. Some people like the rich ambering that occurs with oil based polyurethane and feel that this type of polyurethane adds more richness and depth to. Which hardwood flooring finish is better and which lasts longer.

Hw swears by oil base poly and i do as well. We ve given some key points to consider when making your decision oil based poly is simply more durable and lasts about twice as long as water based polyurethane. The second basic type of hardwood flooring finish is a water based finish. There are many factors to think about when deciding on the finish of your hardwood floor.

However lots of high end customers are asking for dark stained hardwood floors with a matte finish. Water based finish appears milky in the can but appears more or less clear when applied to your floor. Oil based polyurethane or water borne polyurethane. You ll find water based polyurethane is nearly two to three times more expensive than oil based polyurethane.

Wecannot find matte finish oil base poly only water based and the satin finish oil base has a little to much shine for interior decorators and high end jobs. Water based and oil based polyurethane each offer good protection. Water based finish on the other hand is more durable. Some manufacturers even use special aluminium oxide formula to make it extremely durable but the material itself is always applied in a thinner layer.

Due to the way most oil based flooring finishes are manufactured they typically have a stronger odor and contain more vocs than water based finish. Wood floors refinishing water based vs. The biggest difference is in appearance. Here are our expert.