Correcting a bad floor finish
After laying a new clear red oak floor, these were poorly finished with two coats of water based poly. It is flat and ugly and I think inadequately protected, even IF I liked it. What would be the cheapest, fastest and most effective way to do them over with oil based poly. I think this…
After laying a new clear red oak floor, these were poorly finished with two coats of
water based poly. It is flat and ugly and
I think inadequately protected, even IF I liked it.
What would be the cheapest, fastest and most
effective way to do them over with oil based poly. I think this is a nicer, more finished look, but don’t want to bankrupt myself. These mistakes are getting expensive.
Thank you!!!!
I know oil takes longer to dry and will have fumes. But you will get a better finish and it will last longer than water base poly. So it takes a few days longer, big deal! In the end you get a finish that will last 30-40 years and you can get in in semi-gloss so it will not look like a bowling alley!
I agree that you will probably get best results from an oil based poly but there are draw backs to oil. It will take a hell of long time to dry particularly in this summer humidity (at least a few days and as long as a week) and the fumes are seriously noxious. I would continue with the water based poly, except use a clear or semi gloss. I personally think the clear gloss is too glossy but you may disagree. What ever you choose, you should add at least another three coats. Do a light sanding between each coat and make sure you wipe down the floors before you add the next coat. Water based poly dries really fast so you can get through all three coats in a day or two. Five coats of water poly should give as much protection as two oil based coats.
I think I was just talking about this same topic a week or so here on Brownstoner. Anyway…..I like your request for ” cheapest, fastest and most effective way to do them over with oil based poly” Because I’m a contractor my answer is…. “Watch me pull a rabbit out of this hat! ” ( yes, I said HAT, lets keep this clean folks! ) Anyway, sorry to tell you, but I think you will only get nice results by sanding the floors over and using an oil base poly. Water base poly on floors gets the thumbs down in my experience. Good Luck!