Review: Water Versus Oil Based. Which One For Me?

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 Oil based finish brushed 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:

• Low Price: least expensive at $18-$30 per gallon
• Simplicity: easiest to use, slower drying*, longer flowing
• 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:

• High Price: more expensive at $39-$110 per gallon
• Fast Dry: more coats in fewer days and shorter cure time
• Durability: improved scratch resistance and chemical resistance
• 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.

Submitted By: Ashley Blythe, President and Founder of HSW Floors
Specialty: Custom Hand Scraped Floors
Location: Dallas, TX

Contact: 972-755-4850

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