Bona Traffic is made by one of the most notable brands in the floor treatment industry, and their formula is made explicitly for high-traffic areas. However, you can guard against this by reading reviews and buying better-quality polyurethanes. Previous users are also debating whether the poly can be used on chalk paint. I had no problems with imperfections, so I feel that a true first-timer would have very few mistakes they would need to fix. , at which point you can safely sand and apply an additional coat. Polyurethane will wear down over time with heavy traffic, and there is no product that will last forever. Provided you dont accidentally drip during the application process, youll have very few corrections to make and less sanding to do once the poly cures. It takes about two hours to dry, so the time youll have to wait in between coats is very minimal. I would be confident using this in my homes busiest areas and wouldnt be too concerned with scuffing, scratching, or other physical damage. They make a variety of products for coloring and protecting wood. Without a good protective layer from polyurethane, they will wear quickly and appear damaged. Water-based poly is generally very straightforward to apply because it is thinner than oil-based options. The temperature typically should be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but each product is different. By Tom Scalisi | Updated Jun 2, 2022 8:51 AM. Weve come to the end of our water-based polyurethane reviews. Water-based polyurethane typically lasts about 3 to 5 years at maximum shine and performance, compared to a varnish or oil-based polyurethanes 7 to 10 years. Water-based polyurethane provides an excellent protective layer for your wood floors, but Im sure you can see by now that not all options offer the same durability. Get Bona polyurethane for floors at Amazon, Sears, or Walmart. In fact, this is one reason why oil-based polyurethanes have been slowly phased out by manufacturers. Since 1904, we have been inspiring consumers to Keep on Finishing. All of them deliver exceptional drying and curing time. In their defense, this is not the only waterborne product that has had this report. All of the products we reviewed can be dry and ready for another coat in as little as two hours, while some have been known to be dry in one. Each coat dries in 1 to 2 hours. However, tinting can be a significant problem on white or light-colored floors. I recommend you let it cure for 24 hours before exposing it to physical wear. Protective coating is ideal for woodwork, furniture, doors, cabinets & floors, and is available in a variety of sheens. Given that this water-based polyurethane has superior scuff, adhesion, and scratch resistance, you would expect there to be very few negative reviews, and youll be right. The location of the floor will also help you choose the right sheen or luster. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. . However, a living room or kitchen is much more essential to everyday living, so you may want to choose one that cures rapidly and can take foot traffic within 12-24 hours. For a very long time, General Finishes made the hardest and most durable water-based topcoat on the market. Low-VOC poly is generally safer to use. However, not all water-based polyurethanes offer the same protection and convenience. Most products are suitable for light traffic after 24 hours and furniture after 72 hours. Youll need to take proper safety precautions, always wear a respirator, and maintain adequate ventilation while you work. High-traffic areas are susceptible to scrapes, scratches, dulling, and other undesirable marks. OIL-BASED DURABLE FINISH Clear finish provides long-lasting protection and warm beauty to both finished and unfinished wood projects. If you do make a mistake or experience drips, its best to let it dry and sand down the error. This project is to be undertaken at the users own risk. It covers the top considerations to keep in mind and reviews some of the best options available. Minwax Helmsman Water Based Spar Urethane, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, What's the Difference? Of course, this isnt true for all products, but it is the case with a sufficient number. All of these can also be easily cleaned with warm water when youre done, making this a very convenient waterborne floor finish. We offer consumers a complete line of products to meet every wood finishing need. Its useful to bear in mind that if you want to use water-based but would also like to change the color, its possible to varnish the floor before applying the polyurethane.TextureOil-based polyurethane is much thicker and will create a thick layer as a defence for your wood floors. Although each can will cover around 500 square feet, its costly, and youll likely need multiple quarts for your project. Both types of polyurethane work well for flooring, with a few differences. The poly dries very quickly and begins to cure almost immediately after you put it down, so you have little time to correct any issues. One way to do that is to use water-based polyurethane instead of oil-based polyurethane. I had, If you do make a mistake or experience drips, its, and begins to cure almost immediately after you put it down, so you have. Its available in flat, gloss, satin, and semi-gloss finishes, so you can customize the appearance based on your preference. Better yet, what kind of outcome can you expect? As a result, leading manufacturers churn out different variations each year, making it hard to decide the best water-based polyurethane for floors. I recommend buying a poly that will cure in the most convenient time for your home. His goal is to help you become a successful woodworker, whether as a hobbyist or as a professional. This water-based polyurethane is thin, which makes it a breeze to apply. that Im sure will resist quite a bit of physical wear and tear. This minimizes the time youll have to set aside for your flooring project. It is also a very durable product that will protect your floors from scuff marks, scratches, animal stains, and melting snow. In busy areas, use a high-traffic formula to ensure lasting power. The hard surface will resist scratches, scuffs, and other physical abuse from heavy foot traffic, furniture legs, and more. However, water-based polyurethane makes up for this in other ways. The Bona Traffic HD doesnt need sanding between coats, but you first have to mix the two different components together and then go through the hassle of fine straining it. When applied, you get a crystal-clear finish that makes you forget that you had to apply four coats to get there. But when you are comparing the best of the best, there really isnt much to evaluate here. After the last layer, I recommend. All polyurethane has an odor, but one of the biggest reasons homeowners choose water-based poly is that it is far less pungent than oil-based solutions. Best Router Circle Jig for Routing Small And Large Circles, The Best Router Edge Guides [Reviews & Buyers Guide], Offers excellent protection from physical wear, It isnt the best option for faux-aged wood, Provides excellent protection from physical wear, Comes in several different finish options, Can be challenging and time-intensive to fix mistakes, Maximum time between recoats is inconvenient, Provides good defense against physical damage, Takes a longer time to cure fully than most. Oil-based polyurethane is indeed thicker than water-based, but they both dry hard. You should use high-quality sandpaper to ensure that you get rid of all the particles that have accumulated when it was wet.It produces a much smoother finish and helps it adhere to each coat.Due to the fact that you require a minimum of 3 coats of water-based polyurethane to obtain a smoother and professional coating, you must stand in between layers.Sanding is not needed between layers for adherence, particularly if each coat dries out in less than 6 hours. If youre finishing the floor in a spare bedroom where you dont need ongoing and regular access, for example, choosing a poly that cures in 48 hours isnt an issue. This product is available in gallon, pint, or quart sizes. Most water-based polyurethanes take between 2 and 4 hours to dry between coats. This will help the poly cure nicely and keep the surface smooth and beautiful. It uses oxygen in the air as the curing agent, so I suggest applying it on a warm or humid day when oxygen levels are higher. However, due to the fast-drying time of the poly, it is still more efficient than oil-based polyurethane. Its. As a result, you often need more coats to get a smooth finish. Oil-based poly often takes multiple days to dry, so youll need to wait 24-48 hours between coats and four entire days before it can support traffic and furniture. Im confident that this will stand up to very heavy foot traffic, pets, and dining room chairs being shuffled across it. Polyurethane takes time to cure, and water-based solutions generally need to remain undisturbed for 24-48 hours to allow for the hardest, most protective surface possible. These levels can easily be met with water-based polyurethane. It makes up for this with its superior drying time, but this is still a problem. Do You Have To Sand Between Coats Of Water-Based Polyurethane On Floors? Another benefit of being a hybrid is that it can be applied with a broader range of tools. An oxygen-crosslinking polyurethane (OCP) waterborne formula. 
If you have little experience finishing floors, I strongly recommend a poly that leaves few imperfections, like the Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Stain. It includes some of the best options on the market as well as the shopping considerations to keep in mind when comparing them. It takes about 2 to 3 hrs for it to dry completely.As a result, you are able to recoat your floor the same day. You can easily apply three coats with sanding in between in a single day, which means less time your floor is out of commission. The rapid drying time makes it easy to finish your flooring project in a single day. However, some add a tint to the surface, often yellowish in color. . Water-based polyurethane has exceeded oil-based poly in many ways. Its hard enough to. The options with this hardening additive, like the. Youll need to take proper safety precautions, always wear a respirator, and maintain adequate ventilation while you work. I was very pleased with how, It creates a thick, hard layer over your floor and, Ive seen in a water-based polyurethane. The finish probably still wont reach its total cure for another week or two. , and youll likely need multiple quarts for your project. 
BuildEazy.com may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Each gallon will cover around 375 square feet. When Minwax came up with what many thought was a crazy idea, they happened to strike the perfect balance between the quick drying of water-based polyurethane and the added glow of oil-based polyurethane. Cans of water-based topcoats can be as much as two to three times more expensive than oil-based alternatives. . Its best to wait the longest time possible to avoid ruing the job.What can we conclude? However, oil-based polyurethanes last longer and require less maintenance. VOCs are notorious for causing a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer. The cost is often indicative of the protective capabilities of the poly youre considering. Speaking of snow, you can apply this waterborne poly during the winter, and it still dries relatively quickly, which is something you cant get from oil-based polyurethane. It comes in a 1-gallon jug, and each gallon will cover around 600 square feet, depending on the type of wood youre applying it to and the humidity. Although. For example, the space in front of the couch or a hallway will have much more traffic than the living room corner. Besides the location and emissions, there isnt much that separates these products, so anyone you choose will be excellent. However, it will cause a bit of discoloration, which is especially noticeable on white surfaces. With proper sanding and drying time between coats, I was able to get a beautiful, shiny finish that looked professionally done. The container says that this is a low-odor poly, but it has a more pungent odor than all of the low-VOC polyurethanes Ive used. Its relatively mess-free, so its suitable for beginners. Many of the best polyurethanes require sanding between coats. Sanding the treated wood thoroughly before applying this polyurethane should eliminate any problems. After the final coat, the finished surface needs 24 hours before normal use. BuildEazy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This polyurethane will tint your floor slightly yellow. Full cure depends on the product, but it can take from 24 hours to 7 days. Imperfections are easy to sand, but the added work to correct drips or other mistakes can be time-consuming. Check out this video for tips on making application as easy as possible: All polyurethanes contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are dangerous to inhale. A nice luster on a hardwood floor can bring a lot of natural beauty to your home and make the space feel lighter. Most water-based polyurethanes have a pot life of a year or so, but some have hardening agents that you need to mix in before use. Its very affordable and provides excellent value for the money. 
If you have little experience finishing floors, I strongly recommend a poly that leaves few imperfections, like the Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Stain. It includes some of the best options on the market as well as the shopping considerations to keep in mind when comparing them. It takes about 2 to 3 hrs for it to dry completely.As a result, you are able to recoat your floor the same day. You can easily apply three coats with sanding in between in a single day, which means less time your floor is out of commission. The rapid drying time makes it easy to finish your flooring project in a single day. However, some add a tint to the surface, often yellowish in color. . Water-based polyurethane has exceeded oil-based poly in many ways. Its hard enough to. The options with this hardening additive, like the. Youll need to take proper safety precautions, always wear a respirator, and maintain adequate ventilation while you work. I was very pleased with how, It creates a thick, hard layer over your floor and, Ive seen in a water-based polyurethane. The finish probably still wont reach its total cure for another week or two. , and youll likely need multiple quarts for your project. BuildEazy.com may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Each gallon will cover around 375 square feet. When Minwax came up with what many thought was a crazy idea, they happened to strike the perfect balance between the quick drying of water-based polyurethane and the added glow of oil-based polyurethane. Cans of water-based topcoats can be as much as two to three times more expensive than oil-based alternatives. . Its best to wait the longest time possible to avoid ruing the job.What can we conclude? However, oil-based polyurethanes last longer and require less maintenance. VOCs are notorious for causing a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer. The cost is often indicative of the protective capabilities of the poly youre considering. Speaking of snow, you can apply this waterborne poly during the winter, and it still dries relatively quickly, which is something you cant get from oil-based polyurethane. It comes in a 1-gallon jug, and each gallon will cover around 600 square feet, depending on the type of wood youre applying it to and the humidity. Although. For example, the space in front of the couch or a hallway will have much more traffic than the living room corner. Besides the location and emissions, there isnt much that separates these products, so anyone you choose will be excellent. However, it will cause a bit of discoloration, which is especially noticeable on white surfaces. With proper sanding and drying time between coats, I was able to get a beautiful, shiny finish that looked professionally done. The container says that this is a low-odor poly, but it has a more pungent odor than all of the low-VOC polyurethanes Ive used. Its relatively mess-free, so its suitable for beginners. Many of the best polyurethanes require sanding between coats. Sanding the treated wood thoroughly before applying this polyurethane should eliminate any problems. After the final coat, the finished surface needs 24 hours before normal use. BuildEazy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This polyurethane will tint your floor slightly yellow. Full cure depends on the product, but it can take from 24 hours to 7 days. Imperfections are easy to sand, but the added work to correct drips or other mistakes can be time-consuming. Check out this video for tips on making application as easy as possible: All polyurethanes contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are dangerous to inhale. A nice luster on a hardwood floor can bring a lot of natural beauty to your home and make the space feel lighter. Most water-based polyurethanes have a pot life of a year or so, but some have hardening agents that you need to mix in before use. Its very affordable and provides excellent value for the money.