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Wooden floors are designed or constructed to look very good and last long, longer than most forms of flooring. They give interior spaces a cozy and natural warmth look which beautifies the environment. However, if one does not take care of their hardwood floors, they might end up causing wear and tear due to constant use.
Keeping your wooden floors nice and neat is important and giving it a glossy finish would bring out its luxurious nature. Polyurethane products are just the best solution for your project. It helps protect your floors while keeping it neat for a long period of time. In this article, we are going to look at some of the water-based polyurethane you can get your hands on in the market.
- Best satin polyurethane for floors: Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Satin
- Fast drying polyurethane: Minwax 710330000 Water Based Oil-Modified Polyurethane
- Best for Interior and Exterior: General Finishes High-Performance Water-Based Polyurethane
- Best polyurethane wood floor coating: Bona Traffic HD Commercial Satin
- Best polyurethane floor finish: RUST-OLEUM FBA 230031 Varathane Gallon Gloss Waterborne Diamond Floor Finish
1. Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Satin– Best satin polyurethane for floors
Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Satin is a water-based polyurethane solution that is used for wood floor finishing. It is a solution for people that are on a budget but require the full specifications and requirements of a quality water-based poly. It is made available in semi-gloss, satin and gloss. The Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Satin has been tested and proven to work accurately while meeting all the standards of water-based poly.
The application of this product is very easy. To get the best results, try applying three coats with sanding in between or not. It is also advisable to apply it on a humid or warm day.
- It has a low odor.
- It dries quite fast.
- The application is very easy.
- It has a glossy look but it is not slippery.
- It is durable.
- The finishing looks great on the hardwood.
- It needs regular reapplication because it wears off after a while.
Overall Impression
2. Minwax 710330000 Water Based Oil-Modified Polyurethane– Fast drying polyurethane
Minwax 710330000 Water Based Oil-Modified Polyurethane is a chemical that forms a protective coating that is crystal clear and ultra-fast drying for interior wood. It is manufactured with the sole purpose of use on interior wood surfaces such as panels, cabinets, doors, trims, and hardwood floors. The coating of this product is fit for use on bare wood in both waterborne or oil-based stains and it cleans up easily using just soap and warm water.
Recoating does not take time because this product has little amounts of Volatile Organic Compounds and it can be done within two hours after the first application. Compared with most solvent-based products, Minwax 710330000 Water Based Oil-Modified Polyurethane dries fast, has low odor and is very clear, forming a protective layer around the beauty of your project.
- This water-based poly dries easily.
- It has little or low odor.
- It is easy to clean with just soap and clean water.
- High resistivity to scratching and abrasion.
- It protects the beauty of your wood.
- May cause eye irritation during application.
Overall Impression
3. General Finishes High-Performance Water-Based Polyurethane– Best for Interior and Exterior
This General Finishes High-Performance product is a Water-Based polyurethane, produced and manufactured by General Finishes. It is rated as one of the most durable and hardest products available in the market. It helps protect all underlying stains which prevent discoloration and fading. It also includes a UV stabilizer that helps the surface which is applied on to be resistant to sun rays or sunlight.
Unlike most water-based poly, the General Finishes High-Performance Water-Based solution can be used on floors. It is resistant to scrubbing, scratches, bruises, etc with low or no odor. The application is very easy as this product sticks and glides easily on any surface without any bubbles showing up. This water-based poly dries very quickly in no time and sometimes, it doesn’t require more than 2 coatings. This is a perfect finishing product for both professional and DIY enthusiast.
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- It is one of the most durable forms of water-based polyurethane.
- It has a UV stabilizer to protect your surface from the sun.
- It can be used on floors.
- Perfect for beginners.
- It is very easy to apply.
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- It is quite expensive.
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Overall Impression
4. Bona Traffic HD Commercial Satin– Best polyurethane wood floor coating
Bona Traffic HD Commercial Satin is a water-based residential and commercial hardwood floor finish which is Manufactured by Bona. If you want your project to have a premium finish while remaining durable and beautiful, this is the right product for you to use. It is designed specifically to be used in residential and commercial hardwood floors where there is a heavy flow of traffic.
It is certified by GREENGUARD for indoor air quality. It can be used in various places such as offices, shopping malls, stores, garages, theaters, etc. and due to its low VOC content, it is not harmful to the person applying the coating. A minimum of two coatings is required to get the best results while a third coating should be applied if it’s used on a commercial or residential surface which has a large flow of traffic.
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- It comes with a hardener.
- It is durable in nature.
- It dries as fast as 2-3 hours.
- It is resistant to scratches and stains.
- Once used, no sealer needed on a stained floor.
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- Users sometimes start to see scratches after a period of time.
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Overall Impression
5. RUST-OLEUM FBA 230031 Varathane Gallon Gloss Waterborne Diamond Floor Finish– Best polyurethane floor finish
The RUST-OLEUM FBA 230031 Varathane Gallon Gloss Waterborne Polyurethane comes in a one-gallon packaging just like all the other products on the list. Due to the unique formula which was derived by the RUST-OLEUM, it is perfect for hardwood floors whether they are dark or light. The RUST-OLEUM FBA 230031 Varathane Gallon Gloss Waterborne Diamond Floor Finish is characterized by its high resistivity to stains, scratches, and abrasions as well as its superior durability.
The company also tested and made sure that no cleaning products would react with this product. Users can clean the finished floors with various cleaning chemicals which would not affect your work. The RUST-OLEUM FBA 230031 Varathane Gallon Gloss Waterborne Diamond Floor Finish is also used to repair dented or stained floors. Professionals advise that coating with this chemical twice will restore any surface to its original taste while giving it a glowing or glossy finish.
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- It gives off little or no odor.
- It dries off quickly within 2 hours.
- Can be used to cover stains and repair dented surface.
- Works on all wooden surfaces including hardwood.
- It can be cleaned with any cleaning product.
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- It can form cloudiness due to high humidity.
- Might slack on deeper scratches.
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Overall Impression
Buyer’s Guide
Why is Purchasing a Good Water-Based Poly Important?
Whether you are a DIY enthusiast, a professional woodworker or a hobbyist, Purchasing a quality water-based poly is not only needed but absolutely necessary. If you make use of Low-quality water-based poly, you can make mistakes which can lead to loss of materials, time and an increase in difficulty when trying to achieve your desired project. Take your time and make research on the product you decide to buy and invest in the one that meets all your needs and specifications.
A good water-based poly is very affordable but it is important that you compare different products and their prices before you make any decision. If you have different products available, rest each and every one of them on a sample strip of wood so you can determine the texture, color, scent, durability, drying time, etc. Once the decision is already made, try as much as possible to buy more than you feel you need. You do not want to run out of polyurethane in the middle of your project.
When is it Recommended to Use Water-Based Polyurethanes rather than Oil-Based
If you are using a whitewash, gray stain or greige or gray blend
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- When you are using any of these, use only water-based poly. Using an oil-based poly will turn these yellow and so is using a low-quality water-based poly just that it won’t be as bad as oil-based polys but they will have an amber-like appearance which will turn yellowish over a period of time.
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If you decide on refinishing maple and going natural
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- Maple is far lighter than oak and it is more sensitive to ultraviolet rays and sunlight, so if you decide on using an oil-based product, it will change its color to yellow and look faded or outdated within a year.
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If you want a more natural and lighter look
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- It is recommended to use water-based poly rather than oil-based poly because you want to avoid yellow coloration on the floor.
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If it’s on short notice
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- When using a water-based poly, it can go a long way to save you 1-2 days of wait and you can get to rearrange your properties back to their original state. Since it dries faster than oil-based poly, your pets can be able to make use of the floor sooner and they tend to prevent scratches over a period of time.
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When Odor is a major factor
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- This could be as a result of you or your family member, preferring a font or rather reduced odor. You would also want a Polyurethanes which is low in VOCs if you live in an apartment, are concerned about the Neighbour’s or if you have younger ones that are in danger when exposed to VOCs.
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When is it Recommended to Use Oil-Based Polyurethanes rather than Water-Based
If you want a very dark stain
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- If you decide or prefer dark stain, oil-based poly is the way to go. This tends to look better and make your finishing more attractive.
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If you are on a budget
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- Oil-based poly is much more affordable compared to water-based poly, especially if you are comparing the oil-based poly to a high-quality water-based poly.
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If you make use of dark species
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- Woods such as Brazillian Walnut or Brazillian Cherry are often dark and sometimes red and they tend to look better and richer when coated with oil-based polyurethane.
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FAQ
Comparison Table
| Product Name | Coverage | Recoat dry (hours) | Sheen | Size (liters) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish Editor's Choice | 125-150 sq ft per quart | 2,5 - 3 | satin, semi-gloss, gloss | 3.79 | Polyurethane |
| Minwax 710330000 Water Based | 125 sq ft per quart | 2 | gloss, satin, semi-gloss | 3.79 | Water Based |
| General Finishes | 125-150 sq ft per quart | 3 | flat, satin, semi-gloss, gloss | 3.785 | Water Based |
| Bona Traffic HD | 350-400 sq ft per gallon | 2 - 3 | satin, semi-gloss, extra matte | 3.48 | Water, Polymer(s), and amorphous silica |
| RUST-OLEUM FBA | 185-370 sq ft per gallon | 4 | satin, semi-gloss, gloss, matte | 3.78 | Water Based |
Conclusion
A polyurethane coating is essential for a hardwood floor because it provides a layer that acts as a protective cover so that you do not wear out your product. Water-based poly is as effective as oil-based poly and they provide a lighter and clearer color impact. We have gone through the various products we believe are the best when it comes to water-based polyurethanes and we hope to have helped you come to a decision. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, you can consider researching further on your choice.