Oil vs. water based polyurethane – which lasts longer on hardwood floors? (2024)

Health & Fitness

Posted Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 9:45 am ET

Which type of polyurethane is better for refinishing hardwood floors - oil-based or water-based polyurethane?

At Floor Coverings International, we offer both options, but I strongly recommend oil based polyurethane over water based because:

1. It looks better

2. It lasts longer

3. It costs less.

So, it seems like a no brainer, right? Well, usually it is a simple decision, but there certainly are some exceptions and different customers have different needs.

So, let's explore this a bit further.

Advantages of oil-based polyurethane.

1. Oil based polyurethane looks better. It has a more depth - both in color and shine and it looks the way we expect hardwood to look. Water based polyurethane has both a duller color and a duller finish.

As you can see from this picture, the difference is pretty dramatic. The water based polyurethane (left) is lighter and duller than the oil based poly on the right. These are both oak natural (no stain, just polyurethane).

The other issue when it comes to appearance is that over time the polyurethane amberizes and darkens a bit...usually giving it a richer look while the water based poly just continues to get duller over time.

2. Oil based polyurethane lasts longer than water based. There is no contest on the durability between the 2 options. Water based polyurethane has lower VOC's - which is a bit of an environmental benefit (more about that in a moment) - but because it has lower VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), it doesn't last as long. Water based poly is thinner, and you often need 4-5 coats to equal the durability of 3 coats of oil based.

While I do not have detailed analytical studies, most customers who call me to refinish their floors and previously had water based poly, call me after 5-6 yrs vs. most customers that call me to refinish their oil based polyurethane call me at around the 10 yr mark. And, at those points in time, the water based poly looks way worse than the oil based - in fact, it's usually peeling off and the hardwood is starting to look gray. What' s also interesting is that almost all of my customers who have had water based polyurethane tell me they would NEVER do it again. They felt mislead by their previous flooring contractor. While sanding and refinishing is not terribly expensive, it can be rather inconvenient if you live in the home. You need to move all the furniture out and often go away for a week. So, if you're going to go though the hassle of refinishing your floors, I recommend doing it right so it last longer.

3. Oil based polyurethane cost less than water based. The water-based material is more expensive, so often you will pay around 10-25% more. But, on top of the initial cost, you also need to consider that you will need to redo the whole job sooner...you will probably redo them almost twice as often.

Now, there are several benefits to water based polyurethane and in some circ*mstances, water based poly is a great option.

Advantages of water based polyurethane:

1. Water based polyurethane dries faster. In my opinion, this is the largest benefit of water based polyurethane. Usually, water based jobs can be done in 2 days and you can walk on it that night; oil based can take 3-5 days (pending on humidity) and you need to wait at least 24 hrs before walking on them. This option can really make sense for commercial businesses such as restaurants or stores as longer drying time means the store is closed, and there is a true business cost to that. But, for regular homeowners, usually, it's worth waiting the extra 2-3 days in order to have the job last longer.

I have many customers who are in a rush to move into their new home, but I always recommend that it's worth delaying move in by a few days and get their floors done right. If they don't, they will spend more time and money paying for this later. For customers already living in their home, I recommend that they do this while they will be away for a while. I would rather wait 6 months for their next trip and have them pay less and do it right with oil based. Why do I feel this way? Because they will be happier and save money. I rely on happy customers who recommend me to their friends and come back to me years later for the other flooring in their home.

2. Water based polyurethane doesn't smell as bad. Because of this, many co-ops are now requiring their homeowners to use water based poly. I think this is a bit of a shame, but I understand it due to all the neighbors. For a regular house, it will not make much of a difference to your neighbors, and I will also point out that both water based and oil based poly smell, and I still recommend that customers go away or stay somewhere else while this work is being done.

3. Water based polyurethane is a bit better for the environment...but it does depends on how you look at it. Since water based polyurethane has lower VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), it is a bit better for the environment. As mentioned above, the VOC's are lower not non-existent. And, importantly, this environmental benefit only has an impact during the DRYING time. Once the poly is dry, there is no difference in smell, off-gassing, etc. And, yes, I did validate this with the manufacturer - and they offer both water and oil based (and they make more money on the water based so they have no reason to mislead here).

Now, the skeptical New Yorker in me always sees both sides of the equation. So, I will point out that while water based is a bit better for the environment, remember that it doesn't last as long and the floors will need to be redone in a few years, thereby eliminating that benefit. Furthermore, this will lead to an earlier demise of the wood, which in turn will result in more cut trees...so everything has a flip side.

Because water based polyurethanes only contain 30-35% solids (vs. oil based contain 45-50%) solids, you will need to add more coats of water based poly. Water based poly tends to cost more than oil based poly. And, when you add in an extra 1-2 coats, your cost will increase further. Among water based polyurethanes, most experts agree that Bona is the best brand, and specifically Bona Traffic line. This product definitely costs extra, but if you are going to use a waterborne polyurethane, Bona is the way to go.

Other useful flooring articles:

• How long does it take to sand and refinish hardwood floors?
  
• Can you change the color of your hardwood floors?
  
• Stain color trends on hardwood flooring
  
• What types of hardwood are best for dogs (and pets)?
  
• FAQ’s for hardwood floor refinishing
  

If you live in Westchester County NY, and you would like advice on refinishing your floors, please give The Flooring Girl a call at 914-937-2950.

If you live in Westchester County and need to refinish your hardwood floors, feel free to give The Flooring Girl a call at 914-937-2950 or visit our website. (For out of state customers, please call 914-407-3899.)

Oil based vs. water based polyurethane : Which is better for refinishing your hardwood floors?