We have a history of buying fixer-upper homes so have gone through the hardwood floor refinishing process in multiple homes. I’ve learned a lot, including the pros and cons of using oil- versus water-based polyurethane. Today I’m sharing everything I learned with you to help you decide between these two types of polyurethane. These are the major deciding factors…
Drying Time
Water-based polyurethane dries much faster than oil-based polyurethane. With oil-based, you typically have to wait until the next day to add another coat of polyurethane, but water-based polyurethane can be recoated in as soon as 2-3 hours. Since refinishing wood floors involves multiple coats of polyurethane, this means that the total time of your refinishing job is longer with the oil-based.
Also, once the last coat of polyurethane has been placed on the floor, the time before you can walk on your floors and put your furniture and rugs back in place is much shorter with water-based polyurethane. When we refinished our wood stairs and used water-based polyurethane, by the end of the day we were able to walk up our stairs in our socks and sleep in our own beds. If we had chosen oil-based polyurethane, we would have had to spend several nights away from our home since no foot traffic is recommended for at least 24 hours (and due to odor – more on that next!).
There is also a significant time difference for how long you have to wait before putting furniture and rugs back in place on polyurethane sealed floors. With oil-based polyurethane, you should wait at least 3-4 days before putting furniture back and 2-4 weeks before putting rugs back. With water-based polyurethane, common recommendations are to wait two days before putting furniture back and at least one week before putting rugs back.
Odor
Oil-based polyurethane is much higher in VOCs so it has a strong odor and is not environmentally friendly. Water-based polyurethane is a low VOC product with little to no smell. The odor and possible health effects of using a high VOC product should always be considered, particularly if you’re refinishing hardwood floors in the winter when you can’t air the house out well. Several states have regulations regarding oil-based finishes due to their high VOC with their sale being either restricted or banned.
Because of the odors associated with oil-based polyurethanes, it is recommended that you stay out of your home for at least 72 hours after applying an oil-based polyurethane finish.
Color
Floors that are finished with oil-based polyurethane tend to amber (turn an orangey yellow) over time whereas floors finished with water-based polyurethane are not expected to change color significantly with age. Some people like the rich ambering that occurs with oil-based polyurethane and feel that this type of polyurethane adds more richness and depth to the floors whereas others don’t appreciate the change in color.
Here’s an example of the orangey hardwoods our home had when we bought it due to being finished with oil-based polyurethane. In comparison, the lighter hardwoods are our newly refinished hardwoods with a water-based finish:
Cost
Water-based polyurethane is a more expensive product than oil-based polyurethane. However, some companies don’t charge a whole lot more for water-based polyurethane because there is less drying time between coats, allowing them to get your job done faster and move on to the next job. When I’ve gotten bids for hardwood refinishing, I found that the added cost of water-based polyurethane varied greatly from company to company.
Durability
I’ve come across all sorts of different opinions about the durability difference between oil-based and water-based polyurethane. Some refinishers feel that oil-based polyurethane is more durable. Others feel that the durability is fairly equal if you are using a high quality water-based polyurethane.
Which is Best?
You’ve probably guessed my preference by now – I prefer using water-based polyurethane. For me, the extra cost of water-based polyurethane is worth it due to the faster drying time and lower VOCs. I also like that the color doesn’t change over time, as our floors that were finished with oil-based polyurethane years before we moved into the house look downright orange.
Want more info on refinishing your hardwood floors? Check out my post on hardwood floor refinishing with all the details on the process and my preferred finishes. Also see my post on how to clean hardwood floors so you know how to best care for your beautiful new floors!
Have you tried both types of poly and, if so, which type would you use the next time you refinish your floors?
Darrel Saul says
Great tips, in my opinion oil based polyurethane are better that water based.
Anonymous says
Have you ever had a white haze, known as blushing, using the wated based polyurethane?
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
I haven’t had any issues with blushing but from reading a little about it, it seems like blushing is usually caused by applying the polyurethane when the humidity is too high or not allowing it to fully dry between coats.
Kay says
Hello Kris-
I love how your floors turned out in your office? We are in the process of getting bids to have our red oak floors refinished as they are really orange in color.
Would you mind sharing the kind of hardwood that is in your office and the brand/color of stain and water based polurethane you used?
Thanks.
Kay
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Hi Kay – the hardwoods in our office are just your typical white oak flooring. They are “common” grade oak, meaning that there is some color variation, wood knots, etc. as compared to “clear” or “select” grade oak, where they select boards that have limited color variation and no wood knots or other character marks. The “common” grade is much cheaper but I actually like it better than the select because I think it gives the floor some character. As far as the polyurethane used, it was a water-based Bona product but unfortunately I don’t remember which one. We didn’t use any stain – the floors are natural. Good luck with your project!
Kay says
Hello Kris-
Thank you for your response it was really helpful. One last question – you mentioned that the people you hired put a sealer on your floors after they were sanded. Do you know if they used a sealer with a tint of color or just a clear sealer? Bona has a product called Amberseal that we are considering and just wanted to know if they happened to use that on your floors.
Thank you.
Kay
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Sorry I can’t help you out on this one Kay. I didn’t question the brand of sealer that they used so I’m not sure if it was Amberseal or not.
Faith says
It has been a couple years since you wrote this post. I was wondering if you are still happy with the water based poly. Do you still feel like it is just as durable as your oil?
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Faith! Actually, we just had some hardwood floors refinished last week and went with water based poly again. The ones that we did several years ago with the water based poly didn’t get at all orangey over time like floors done in oil based poly do and I love that there is so much less odor and you can walk on the floors so much quicker. We’ve got kids and a dog and have no complaints with durability either!
Meghann says
I love the idea of water base, but I am not sure if it last as long as oil. I have read water doesn’t tint yellow/orange after a few years but it fads. Plus I have read more maintenance to keep it clean, moist bare feet can leave footprints. I am going to do the whole main level of my house right now, that includes the kitchen. I have 2 kids and a dog. Can water base hold up to this? Also have you tried the non slip one for the stairs?
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Meghann,
Personally, I’ve had no trouble with my water based floors after having them for over five years. I didn’t see any difference in maintenance or wearability (and, like you, we have a dog and kids). I haven’t tried the non slip one for stairs – haven’t even heard of that actually!
Toni says
I wish I would have read this before having my white oak hard wood floor refinished. I loved the dark walnut color chose after is was down, but after two coats of oil based polyurethane, my poor floors are now showing some orange to them. I have white oak floors stained dark walnut. I hate the orange. I had them refinished to get rid of the orange in the first place. I do not like the oil based polyurethane, but it’s too late now. So many contractors use it. I didn’t know any better to tell them to use water based instead. I miss the neutral coolness of the dark walnut on the white oak. Orange. yuck.
Anyone know a way to fix it besides starting over with sanding and refinishing again using water based poly?
Kris Jarrett says
That stinks that your contractors didn’t tell you about that but I know in some areas of the country not many of them use water-based poly (although actually where we lived, there weren’t may using oil anymore because of environmental regulations). I’m no expert but I don’t think there’s anything you can do to fix it other than sanding and refinishing again. 🙁
LMC says
I know that if you just wanted to change the coating, sometimes floor refinishers would do a screen and recoat.
Marta Heine says
I would love to give you a big friendly hug for such a wonderful post! I greatly appreciated the way you have constructed it, which is sort of like we’re actually talking and I just find it quite engaging. I also love how you layout the keypoints I have to look out or consider in decision-making. For quite some time, I have been looking for posts that can help me in refinishing oak beam or how to DIY hardwood flooring refinishing posts and I luckily found your blog! I will definitely share this to my friends and colleagues. Thank you so much and I am looking forward to read more of your posts.
Al says
Hi, had Maple floors refinished 4 yrs ago. and substantial fading due to indirect and full sunlight. When I asked contractor type of surface sealer; he said Water based Polyurethane. Flooring under some large/heavy area rugs is modestly yellowed compared to faded floor sections. Recently, I sanded heavy furniture feet scrapes in hallway to front door. I dabbed and wiped thoroughly, a very, very light touch of golden oak stain (oil based) to the bared wood section to add slight color. I then applied couple very light coats of water based poly to sanded areas. Area still appears somewhat dull in finish as I will apply more. Lighter than expected color is the result. Hmmm! I am hoping the fresh poly acquires a light yellow cast to blend in with adjacent flooring.
Was first time doing this and anticipate better blending in the future work. Did I say Future? Not too soon!
Lesley says
Hello,
I came across your post while searching for information on oil based poly drying time. My oak floors were sanded, stained and sealed with an oil based poly last week (800 sq. Ft). The contractor told us we would be back in our home within two days. He saw that we had an infant, a toddler and a dog but he assured me there would be minimal dust and never made any mention of the horrific chemical smell from the oil based poly. I’m very new to having hardwood floors as my family just relocated from CA and many homes in Los Angeles no longer have the original hardwood flooring. Anyway, here we are one week later and still sleeping in a hotel bc the smell from the poly is still pretty strong. We have high humidity in Virginia and it seems to be affecting the drying time. The final coat of poly was put on Friday morning at 6am. I’m curious how long it took for the oil based poly odor to dissipate in your home? I’d really love to get home with my family but I don’t want to harm my children, dog or asthmatic father with the fumes. Any information would be so helpful!
Kris Jarrett says
Sorry I’m so late in seeing this! I hope everything ended up well with your floors – oil based poly can be tricky to get 100% dry in really hot, humid weather!
J. R. says
We are in the process of laying wood floors. Family room is finished and used water base polyurethane. We haveca 38 lb dog who’s nails leave whitish color scratches on the floor. I hear the oil base won’t get surface scratches like this. I don’t know if that is true? We are getting ready to do the kitchen and living room. I don’t know if i should use an oil base in these rooms instead of the water base. My rooms are open concept, but i did use a threshhold board to divide the family room from the kitchen. I would like for all the rooms to match. I’m not sure how much difference in color there would be if i used oil base. Should i just go ahead and do the watwr base then in a couple of years redo them all in oil base? Can i use oil base over the water base without sanding the floor down completely? If i do use oil base over water base, will the wood /stain “amber” like it would if the water base wasn’t there?
I wish i had read and gathered more information about the two before using the water base. I probably would have chose oil base. I read the water base gets surface scratches easier because it’s a harder finish than oil base. The pil base is softer and will “give” a little. Meaning it will still scratch and dent but they are not whitish colored scratches on the top of the finish.
Kris Jarrett says
That’s a tough call but if you use oil base it won’t exactly match the water base finish in the adjoining room – even if it does initially, over time the oil based will amber more than the water base finish.
Vila says
Thank you so much for this post! It is the most helpful one I’ve read about real-life person living with water-based poly.
It’s been several years for you now…I know you said you had kids and a dog. Does your dog claws leave scratches?
I am getting ready have my floors sanded and refinished. I’m definitely concerned about the scratches my dog might leave (25 pound French Bulldog). I have never done my floors, so I’m impressed that you have lots of experience!
I will probably go with a light grayish floor. So that’s why I need to use water-based (bc oil will yellow).
Do you think the water-based poly will last with a dog?
Thanks for your input!
Barbara says
Thank you so much for your candor on this issue. As it’s winter and mom is 94 I’ll go water based and still stay at a hotel
Cindy B says
As others have said, thank you for your article. And thank you to all the others who shared their experiences. It was nice to see you had experience with both oil and water based. We are just completing the refinishing project for my mother in laws living room. I had to strong arm my husband to go with a water based high traffic formula. He kept listening to some buddy of his who does home construction. I kept telling him this guy does homes that no one is living in when he is working on them. My mother in law is 85 and there are three others in the home none of which have the funds or ability to move out for a few days while the oil based dried. One more coat tonight and then on to the stairs. The only bathroom is upstairs and all the bedrooms. We couldn’t have used oil there anyway due to dry time. Will need to be more careful with how many coats on them due to slippage though. I used water based poly on my stairs 12 years ago and they still look good and show no signs of wear. I was sold then and after seeing her floor today am even more sold that the water based products are even better today.