How Do You Know if You Have Enough Coats of Polyon Your Wood Floor?

March 15, 2022 Post a Comment

When it comes to hardwood floor refinishing and water-borne poly, what number of coats should you lot utilize?

This question comes up ofttimes when people are sanding their hardwood floors with water-borne polyurethane, especially as these coats are thinner…and many brands of water based poly are non as durable.

But the truth is in that location'south a simple answer for the number of coats of polyurethane you should utilize…and I need to dispel a few myths nigh the durability of water borne polyurethanes, considering at that place are some water based poly brands that are extremely high quality (and just every bit durable as oil based poly) and there are others that are essentially less durable.

Commencement, I'one thousand going to commencement discuss the advantages of using a water-borne poly (equally well equally the disadvantages).. So, I'grand going to explore the best brands of water based polyurethane (and where y'all can buy them). I'm also going to provide a few fundamental tips when working with polyurethane for the best results.

How many coats of water based polyurethane should yous use?

You are all-time off using 3 coats of water based polyurethane for the best results. And, this is is especially of import on the 1st floor of your home and heavy traffic areas (e.grand. kitchen, entryway, family room).

Not merely is h2o borne polyurethane thinner, but information technology also raises the grain of the forest, and so the floors can sometimes feel rough with only 2 coats of poly (peculiarly if it'due south a cheap brand of poly). 3 coats gives you more protection and an extra buffing and then it volition smoothen the surface more than and show the wood's imperfections less.

Advantages of water borne polyurethane

i. Water borne polyurethane smells less

I of the biggest drawbacks to refinishing the floors is the olfactory property. Water based poly, specially Bona Traffic HD smells way less. It smells less while the work is being washed, and the remaining odor dissipates MUCH faster. It's infinitely ameliorate.

2. Water borne poly has lower VOCs

VOC's are Volatile Organic Compounds, and the lower the better. Bona Traffic has super depression VOC's (just 125) which I believe is the lowest in the marketplace. (For perspective, nearly mid grade water borne polyurethanes have effectually 200.)

Then this is merely healthier for you and your family/ And, of course, it's ameliorate for the surround.

three. Water borne poly dries and cures faster

This is a huge advantage as you can motion into your house much sooner. (Or, if you're doing this while on vacation, yous can movement back in much sooner). Sanding and refinishing often takes much longer than what people recollect, peculiarly when you factor in the time you lot need to look before the furniture can get back on the floors. (See: How long does information technology accept to refinish your floors? and How long does it take for polyurethane to cure )..

With h2o based poly can salvage y'all several days in the drying time…so that you can move in faster and paint faster. Drying is the showtime stage, but in that location is likewise curing time. For oil based poly, it usually takes 30 days to fully cure. But, with water based poly, the curing time tin be cut downwardly to 2 weeks.

While you can walk on the floors much sooner (often later 24 hrs), the floors are however vulnerable during the curing process, and that means they can scratch much more than easily. This is peculiarly important if you take a dog. (and you would desire to go on the dog off the floors longer…unless you buy some doggie socks ).

four. H2o based poly doesn't yellowish as much…and has a color advantage for many lighter colors and species

This is a huge do good as yellows tend to be rather dated these days. Oil based polyurethane adds an amber tint to your floor…and as information technology ages from exposure to the sun and interior light, information technology amberizes more than. Nearly people are looking to cut out the yellow, and the style to do that is employ an water based polyurethane.

So, if you're looking to go natural and light without the bister tones, water based poly is the fashion to go. And, if you lot're doing a white done or gray (or biscuit) blend, water poly is mandatory. If you lot practise an oil based poly, information technology will plow yellow…and go more than yellow over time. The best choice to avert this is to utilize Bona Traffic as that is the least yellow. Lower course water borne polyurethanes amberize more than and only don't look right (not to mention that they are less durable).

Besides, if you have a lite hardwood species, such as maple, you'll want to use a water borne poly. With an oil based poly, maples plough super yellow and expect erstwhile (and unhealthy). You would generally apply a water poly on other lighter species such as bamboo or ash. Or, if you're looking to reduce the yellow and orangish tones on pine or Douglas Fir, water would be the way to go.

Wait!

Are y'all about to sand your floors? Not sure how long to wait before using them? Avert these common pitfalls that can affect your floor's durability!

DOWNLOAD YOUR Floor TIMELINE HERE!

Disadvantages of water borne polyurethane

1. Water based polyurethane is more expensive than oil based poly.

This comes as a surprise to some, but yes, the textile costs are higher as it'southward more challenging to make a water based poly.that really adheres and works. Expect to pay an extra $0.fifty – $i.50 per foursquare human foot for a water borne poly, awaiting on the brand used. And, if your installer is charging yous the aforementioned for oil and water based poly, they are using a cheaper brand that won't last!

2. It doesn't give as dark or rich of a await for darker stains.

If you are looking to go dark, I generally adopt using an oil based poly equally it volition look darker, richer and have more depth. This is especially important if y'all want very nighttime colors (e.grand. night walnut, jacobean, ebony, true black or ebony blends. If y'all looking for a swell oil based poly, cheque out this commodity: All-time brands of polyurethane.

3. If you use a inexpensive or mid priced water borne poly, it won't last as long every bit an oil based poly.

At that place is a broad range of immovability among h2o borne polyurethane brands (and the I highly recommend Bona Traffic Hard disk drive). But, if you are using a mid grade water poly (or depression form), expect the durability to be significantly lower than oil based poly. When I say lower durability, I mean that it will scratch and peel more easily and it won't concluding last as long (oftentimes 2 to 4 years less, but anybody's wear and tear is different).

All-time brands of h2o based polyurethane

[easyazon_link identifier="B0040RXD7Q" locale="US" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-xx″ cart="n"]Bona Traffic Hd[/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_image align="right" cart="n" height="320″ identifier="B00B3A86S4″ locale="US" src="https://theflooringgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/31Vb1bgDvL-1.jpg" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-xx″ width="320″][easyazon_link identifier="B00B3A86S4″ locale="US" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-twenty″ cart="y"]Bona Traffic Hd[/easyazon_link] (Heavy Duty) is hands downwards the all-time water borne polyurethane on the market. Information technology has the highest immovability and is considered commercial class which ways it's corking for busy restaurants and retail stores, and will certainly hold up in your residential home. Bona Traffic definitely costs more, but it is worth it. If y'all inquire almost whatever experienced floor professional, they will agree.

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Bona Traffic is a ii office product. Information technology comes with a hardener that you mix in, so information technology becomes very difficult and durable. It has a gimmicky and upscale look as it doesn't have the yellowish glow that you lot see in oil based polyurethane. And, compared to other water borne polyies, it just looks cleaner and more natural.

Bona Traffic is the best product for gray and white launder stains, as well equally maple as it amberizes (or yellows) the least vs whatsoever other product. Besides, if you want your oak floors to be as light every bit possible (and the to the lowest degree yellow), this is the best option.

In add-on, Bona Traffic is environmentally friendly. It has very low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) – less than 150. Information technology has low olfactory property. Information technology's GreenGuard certified meaning it'due south condom for children and pets and it'southward school certified.

[easyazon_cta align="none" identifier="B00B3A86S4″ cardinal="broad-orange" locale="U.s." tag="hwcoatsofpoly-20″]

Bona Traffic is available in [easyazon_link identifier="B00B3A87WO" locale="US" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-twenty″]semi gloss[/easyazon_link], [easyazon_link identifier="B0040RXD7Q" locale="United states" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-20″ cart="y"]satin[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link identifier="B00B3A87BA" locale="US" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-twenty″]extra matte[/easyazon_link] finishes.

Desire to meet the flooring cleaning products I recommend?

StreetShoe Polyurethane

[easyazon_image align="right" summit="300″ identifier="B0079NBSE8″ locale="US" src="https://theflooringgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/41gyziO5qHL.jpg" tag="hwpoly-20″ width="300″][easyazon_link identifier="B0079NBSE8″ locale="United states" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-xx″ cart="n"]StreetShoe[/easyazon_link] would be my 2nd choice h2o borne polyurethane. It used to be the gilded standard (and we used to use information technology) until Bona Traffic came forth. It's a strong polyurethane and last much longer than virtually all water based polyurethanes on the market. It costs a bit less than Bona Traffic (and more than your bones polyurethanes) as it'due south a higher grade.

[easyazon_cta align="none" identifier="B0079NBSE8″ key="broad-orange" locale="US" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-xx″]

Bona Mega

[easyazon_image align="correct" height="320″ identifier="B00793YIEK" locale="US" src="https://theflooringgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/31jEfuEKPzL.jpg" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-20″ width="320″][easyazon_link identifier="B00793YIEK" locale="United states" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-20″ cart="n"]Bona Mega[/easyazon_link] is a mid grade water borne polyurethane. We use this when our customers want (or are required by their co-op) to use water borne poly, merely their upkeep won't accomodate Bona Traffic. Information technology's a practiced h2o borne poly. There are certainly better ones out there (run across above), just in that location are certainly many many lower grade ones out there.

[easyazon_cta align="none" identifier="B00793YIEK" central="broad-orangish" locale="United states of america" tag="hwcoatsofpoly-20″]

WAIT!

Are you about to sand your floors? Not sure how long to wait before using them? Avoid these common pitfalls that tin can affect your floor'south durability!

DOWNLOAD YOUR FLOOR TIMELINE HERE!

Some quick tips when using polyurethane

Stir the tin can, never shake. Shaking will introduce air bubbles then those tin show upward on the flooring.
Keep the indoor air temperature between 65-75 degrees and normal humidity levels (even if you don't live there)…and keep information technology that way during the entire sanding, drying and curing process (i.eastward. up to thirty days after the last coat).
Keep the area well ventilated (but practise not open up the windows as dust and pollen tin can blow in and settle on the flooring. Later on the final coat has stale 24 hours, you can open the windows to help it dry and cure faster.

Determination:

And then hopefully, this helps analyze the advantages of water based polyurethane, when information technology makes sense to use information technology and the best brands. If yous're looking for my recommendations on the all-time oil based polyurethane, cheque out The best brands of polyurethane (this has info on both water and oil brands, so coil downward to the second second). I'thou a big fan of Bona Traffic due to it's durability, looks, low smell and quick drying time. This is the brand we prefer to use when we are doing water based poly.

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

If you alive in Westchester County NY, I offer color consultations to advise customers on pigment colors and stain choices. My designer discount at the paint stores unremarkably more offsets the toll for the hour consultation. Read more hither. Due to many requests, I'chiliad now starting to offer phone consultations, also.
Did y'all find my tips helpful? If so, feel gratis to purchase me a coffee and support my blog

For more info, check out my Ebook – Detect the half dozen Secrets to Refinishing Hardwood floors.

How many coats of water based polyurethane should y'all use when refinishing hardwood floors?

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Source: https://theflooringgirl.com/hardwood-flooring/number-coats-water-based-polyurethane/

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