These cookies do not store any personal information. I do the opposite on most of my floorsâ I use three coats of water based poly over an oil-modfied/based poly or stain. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Woodworking Myth: You should never put a water-based finish on top of an oil-based finish. Water-based polyurethane will give off little if any odor compared to oil-based polyâa real issue if your finish room happens to be in your basement. Woodworking Myth: Never, ever put a water–based finish on top of an oil–based finish.. not only acceptable to use a water–based finish over and oil finish – provided you do.I use the General Finish High Performance Polyurethane top coat. Please use the following guidelines: To ensure the color fastness of Minwax Wood Finish prior to applying Minwax Water-Based Polyurethane⦠... All About Oil Based Varnish ... Can I Put Oil Varnish Over Water-Based Paint? SUBJECT: Minwax Water Based Polyurethane Over Minwax Wood Finish Stains. If you sand it lightly and get a fine powder, it is dry and ready to go. Dewaxed shellac is unusual in being compatible with both water- and oil-based finishes, and in fact is sometimes used as an "adapter" layer between those. Oil based polyurethane lasts longer than water based. Dries more slowly than water-based polys, so there's a longer wait between coats. Consider these advantages of oil-based lacquer vs. water-based to determine if it’s a proper application for your hardwood floors: I do the opposite on most of my floors— I use three coats of water based poly over an oil-modfied/based poly or stain. You should remove grease, dirt and wax by scrubbing the surface with a wood prep/cleaner/de-glosser, or ⦠If the polyurethane is too thick, thin it by 10% with mineral spirits. Water-based polyurethane is ideal for lighter woods, as oil-based will give your grain a yellow tone. Oil based polyurethane looks better. The general answer to your question is yes, you can apply one over the other - with a caveat - since oil and water don't mix you'll need a sealer coat in between the two. Log in. Oil-based polyurethane has a more distinct odor and takes a longer time to dry than water-based ones. Let’s cover a few basics before discussing which is best for specific wood types. usually giving it a richer look while the water based poly just continues to get duller over time. Water-based polyurethane contains lesser Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than does oil-based polyurethane. Oil-based polyurethane only requires around two to three coats since it contains 45 to 50 percent of the solids that create the protective finish. Last Updated: December 26, 2019 Rent a power buffer and buy a fine ⦠This should be ok if you gave the stain 3-4 days to properly dry out. What are the key differences between a water-based polyurethane and a oil-based polyurethane? Another downside of oil-based polyurethane is that if you decide to use brushes, you will have to take time to clean them with a thinner. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There are as many different formulas for stain and water borne polys as their are such existing. Once you start to apply an oil based finish, you would not want to utilize water based. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Any dust will get caught and embedded in the finish. Jim Carroll explains why it’s not only acceptable to use a water-based finish over and oil finish – provided you do it correctly – but that it can be the best solution when you want to bring out the natural character and color of the wood. Ensure that you remove dirt, grease, and wax from the surface by scrubbing the surface using a wood cleaner or de-glosser. There are as many different formulas for stain and water borne polys as their are such existing. Short answer: yes. Higher in VOCs than water-based finishes and therefore not available in … Product Options. Make sure that the water-based polyurethane coating is fully cured. When should there be one used over another (for a given project)? Some brands take longer than others, but it is typically between 30 to 60 days. I just finished a wood floor with oil based polyurethane.I only have one coat. Water Borne Polyurethane Water borne polyurethane goes on clear and has a low luster. Spray lacquer is commonly used on new furniture and in new construction. Water-based polyurethane has all the benefits of the oil-based ones, but it dries a lot faster and the odor is not as distinct. Still the best for high traffic areas like floors and heat resistance oil-based polyurethane has a higher solids content which means more leftover materials to seal and coat your wood when everything is dry which is why you can get away with only three coats versus the four coat minimum required with water-based polyurethane. For wood with a dark stain, you may not notice the amber tint as much as you would with a lighter-toned wood. Not all paint thinners are suitable for oil-based polyurethane finishes. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Because there are less solids in water-based poly, four coats may be needed as opposed to three coats of oil-based poly. Make sure that you use the right kind. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. I'd like to use a water-based polyurethane over a staircase I stained last night with a Sherwin Williams oil-based stain to avoid yellowing. Over 20 years we have used most brands of both Oil and Water based finishes. Furniture shouldn’t be placed on the flooring for 12 hours after the last coat is applied. The problems with water-based polyurethane are that it doesn't level out as smoothly as an oil-based finish, and it doesn't protect as well against the elements. On the downside, water-based poly tends to raise the grain of the wood, is susceptible to watermarks, and can be temperamental when applied over … What are the key differences between a water-based polyurethane and a oil-based polyurethane? However, water-based polyurethane dries faster, saving you a lot of time if you are working on a large project. Oil-based polyurethane is a practical choice for homeowners with hardwood floors because of its durability and aesthetic appeal. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg\/aid9049980-v4-728px-Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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