Whether
you’re refinishing antique wood floors or purchasing new
site-finished wood floors, there’s a sealer/finish
that’s right for you. Let’s take a quick look at some of
the products available to your local wood flooring pro
and try to
figure out which one might work the best for
your application.
Oil-Based Polyurethane (OBP) floor sealers and finishes
have been around for over 60 years. When they came into
popularity among contractors and homeowners, the
previously acceptable finish was paste wax, which
required frequent ongoing maintenance to keep up with.
OBP offered a significant leap in durability over paste
wax and changed wood flooring forever. They’re still
used today and quite popular with the old guard of wood
flooring pros.
When I think of Oil Based, I think of 3 things:
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Low Price: least expensive at $18-$30 per
gallon |
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Simplicity: easiest to use, slower drying*,
longer flowing |
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Strong Fumes: very strong odor which lingers
for days |
Water-Based Polyurethane (WBP) floor sealers and
finishes were introduced to the wood flooring industry
in the 1990’s as an answer to OBP’s two biggest
downsides; smell, and long dry times. *Now
you may be scratching your head right now because
earlier in the discussion, I said that longer, slower
drying was a plus because it made the product easier to
use. This is true. Longer drying time does translate
into a more forgiving product for the installer to
apply; however, this is a double-edged sword. Slower
drying products translate into more project days
compared to fast drying WBP. The unique benefits of WBP
were almost immediately recognized by wood flooring pros
but they weren’t universally adopted by all.
When I think of Water Based, these 4 things come to
mind:
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•
High Price: more expensive at $39-$110 per
gallon |
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Fast Dry: more coats in fewer days and
shorter cure time |
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Durability: improved scratch resistance and
chemical resistance |
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Low Odor: many of these are certified Low
VOC |
Oil-Based vs. Water-Based. Translated Into Square Feet
Costs
Question:
Why would I recommend OBP over WBP?
Answer No.1: Price. For example, if I install 1,000
square feet of red oak floors I could use OBP and spend
$220 in product or choose a WBP and spend $440. A homeowner on a tight budget might
not spring for the extra $220.00.
Answer No.2: Condition. Recently we refinished very old
floors in a very old house. The slower drying, deeper
penetrating OBP offered enhanced fortification for the
antique wood that the faster drying WBP wasn’t likely to
provide. Some pros may criticize us for that choice but
the end result looked as good as it gets. Besides, the
top layer can be recoated with WBP to take advantage of
the enhanced durability that it offers.
Question: Why would I recommend WBP over OBP?
Answer No.1: Convenience. The absence of the strong,
irritating odor of OBP makes it possible for a homeowner
to stay in their home instead of sleeping somewhere else
at night. The fumes from OBP are not good for food,
pets, or people.
Answer No.2: Durability. Enhanced chemistry in the WBP
means that your floors won’t need recoating as soon as
they would have if OBP was used. If you plan to sell
your home in less than 3 years, you won’t reap the
benefit of improved durability.
Answer No.3: Environment. If you're really sensitive to
environmental issues, WBP will offer the peace of mind
that your finish isn't polluting the air or your lungs
nearly as bad as the OBP.
Hopefully this provides you with some insight into the
process of selecting an appropriate wood floor finish.
Ask your contractor what they recommend for your project
and why.
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Submitted By:
Ashley
Blythe, President and Founder of
HSW
Floors |
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Specialty: Custom Hand Scraped Floors |
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Location: Dallas, TX |
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Contact:
972-755-4850 |
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