The Wood Flooring War that has lasted 15 plus years
Oil Based Finish
An oil based finish is sometimes preferred to a water based finish because the oil based finish is said to give the wood more depth and more color. The oil based finish is absorbed into the wood and the oils penetrating the wood surface will accentuate the wood grains, giving them more presence. The natural oils in the sealer which penetrate the surface of the wood give the wood a muted but natural-looking and long-lasting shine. Additionally, when the wood absorbs the oil based finish, the wood absorbs moisture which helps to keep the wood from drying out and cracking over time. With the oil based finish, you only need to apply two coats.
Oil Based finish has odor of natural oil that sometimes can bother people since it can take 8 to 16hrs to dry. Though you don’t need to sand in between coats, it’s recommended that you finish by buffing the surface of the second coat. Oil based finishes require nearly two weeks to fully cure. Oil based finish does scratch easy and shows because it has a color to it amber and does age after 6months so you will see white marks and waterborne finish scratch’s clear like a clear coat on your car.
Waterborne Finish
Water-based polyurethanes provide a clear finish with UV protection and have low odor. One of the biggest differences between water based finishes and oil based finishes is the discrepancy in drying time you can recoat them in two to three hours. Water based finish products dry more quickly on a hardwood surface, taking only a fraction of the time it takes an oil based finish to dry or cure.
For many of our customers (almost 80%, in fact), Pick waterborne finish for the durability and for the convenience of drying fast. Waterborne floor finish technology has only been around for about fifteen years. We have had great success with waterborne products for many years, and as the technology becomes more and more advanced.
We here at Courduff Hardwood Floors have been using waterborne finish since 1993. The fast dry time and low oder really benefit the homeowner. The finish is very strong if you use a high end product like Bona Kemi Mega or Traffic or Basic Coatings Streetshoe or Emulsion. If a customer like’s the oil look but wants the benefits of waterborne finish use Basic Coatings Emulsion for that oil look and finish off with Streetshoe or Mega, Traffic.
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