Hardwood Floor Beautification Part 2 : Polyurathane

Their are many options when it comes to the protective coating for your freshly stained hardwood floor.

1. Oil-modified urethane is generally the most common surface finish and is easy to apply. It is a petroleum base with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film forming ingredients that produces a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. It is a solvent-base polyurethane that dries in about eight hours. This type of finish ambers with age. and comes in different sheen levels.
2. Water-based urethane is a water-borne urethane with a blend of synthetic resins, plasticizers and other film forming ingredients that produces a durable surface that is moisture-resistant. These finishes are clear and non-yellowing and are  different sheen levels. They have a milder odor than oil-modified finishes have and they dry in about two to three hours. Water-based urethanes are generally more expensive.
3. Penetrating Sealers - These sealers are spread on the floor and allowed to penetrate and are solvent based. The excess sealer is removed with rags or buffed in with synthetic or steel wool pads. This type of finish often have a color and can be used to stain and seal the wood floor. Penetrating Oil Sealers are made from tung or linseed oil, with  additives improve drying and hardness.
4. Varnish- Vinyl-alkyd varnishes have superseded natural varnish made from vegetable oils. This product was commonly used before urethane finishes where introduced.

5. Lacquer - The flammability and incompatibility of this floor finish is NOT a recommended by many manufacturers. This finish should avoided.
6. Shellac - This product (natural shellac) contains wax and is not widely used for top coating in today's wood flooring market. Dewaxed shellac is becoming used more and more for a wood floor sealer.


I chose to go with the Oil Modified as it is the easiest to work with and gives a nice warm amber glow to the wood. The water based Poly is super clear and has no warming effect.


The finished Product:

Isn't it Pretty ;) Its so shiny because at the time it was still wet. I ended up with 4 coats of poly on these floors. I let each coat dry over night and gave it a very light scuff sand prior to the next coat. To keep hair and other debris I also recommend going over your floor with a tack cloth to pick up all the really small stuff.