Both water-based and oil-based come in a liquid application, while oil also comes in a gel. Oil-based paint also has a higher resistance to staining, which makes it ideal for hard-usage areas such as kitchen cabinets. Follow . Let’s talk about color. Water-based Polyurethane. It is also virtually transparent, where as oil-based polyurethane has a slight yellow hue to it. Oil-based poly is made from common finishing oils and organic oils extracted from plants; therefore, it is more expensive than water-borne components. Question I would like to know if water-based polyurethane is as hard a finish as oil-based poly. And, when you add in an extra 1-2 coats, your cost will increase further. However, this fact cannot be denied that if you buy a good brand of water-based poly, it will surely able to replace the oil-based polyurethane in terms of durability. Both oil-based and water-based polyurethane works wonderfully to protect floors. It’s a wood finish for furniture, wood floors, and cabinets. Oil-based polyurethane is cheaper than water-based by a good margin. Thorough instructions how to paint Laquer cabinets. Our high-quality paints will last longer than if you were to paint your cabinets on your own. If you make use of dark species Woods such as Brazillian Walnut or Brazillian Cherry are often dark and sometimes red and they tend to look better and richer when coated with oil-based polyurethane. Water Vs. Oil Based Polyurethane for Countertops. Email Save Comment 20. I use both, so I’ll take you through the pros and cons of each. Each has different properties, so let’s check them out! We used Latex, I think it was SW Pro-Classic Waterborne but it may have been the BM top latex product. Water-based vs. oil-based polyurethanes Finishers compare notes, experiences, and opinions on the comparative durability of water- and oil-based polyurethane topcoats. The water based polyurethane home depot keeps on being useful for many reasons. It is not suited for cabinets coated with water-based flat, eggshell or satin latex paint. McCloskey’s water-based polyurethane varnish is crystal clear and is an ideal choice for lightly colored and pickled cabinets. Like mentioned previously, the appearance between water-based and oil-based polyurethanes is a noticeable one. share | improve this answer | follow | answered Apr 21 '17 at 8:15. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint with 220-grit sandpaper. For kitchen cabinets oil paints are best choice but it is not much eco-friendly because it contains VOC. Oil-based polyurethane is easier to apply than water-based ones because of its slow drying time. However, there is one thing that you need to have at the back of your mind before doing so. Water-based provides a more transparent finish and isn’t expected to change color over time. And there are no fixed answers for this because these two differ in their basic formulation. Oil-based varnishes tend to be amber in color, with polyurethanes more so than alkyds. It is commonly used for finishing hardwood floors or furniture or cabinets. So, you can simply avoid oil based ones and get water based coating for the floor. Oil-based polyurethane products tend to yellow with age. if you apply a solvent-based polyurethane over a water-based finish, potential adhesion problems could lead to flaking. Water-based polyurethane takes less time to dry. Water-Based or Oil-Based Paint – Gloss, Satin and Eggshell By Mike Cupit . There are no significant advantages or disadvantages of applying water-based polyurethane over oil-based. Available in gloss and satin sheens, and in oil-based and water-based oil-modified formulations. Oil-based polyurethane keeps the sign of brush on the kitchen table and takes a long time to dry. Dry time: one hour. Once upon a time it was a simple choice, now it isn’t so easy. As a professional decorator, I’m often asked whether you should use water-based, or oil-based paint on the woodwork in your home. It would save you typing time! Polyurethane comes in both water-based and oil-based types. Oil based polyurethane had the edge here for a while, but water based polyurethane (especially the self-crosslinking variety) has caught up – it’s now equal to solvent based products regarding scuff, mar, UV, water, and corrosion resistance. Pros/Cons of Applying Water Based Polyurethane Over Oil Based. When applying polyurethane on vertical surfaces, you may experience drips or runs. Water-based polyurethane dries faster than oil-based. We covered this matter before, so there’s no need to go over it once again. However, water-based polyurethane is very forgiving. More frequently used paint is Alkyd paints, because it is low in price and tougher. bestyears. Some people recommend a quality, synthetic nylon brush; but, I prefer sponge brushes over bristle. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. If so, which brands are recommended? Acrylic, or water-base, paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Both water-based and oil-based products give off strong fumes as they dry (although oil-based is decidedly worse), so proper ventilation is a must. Application Method. The curing time means how much time it’s going to need to properly dry out. On the other hand, water-based polyurethanes have little to no pigment. On the other end, oil-based polyurethane will accent your wood with a rich amber tint. 11 years ago. It dries quickly, has no odor and isn’t flammable. When you work with Booth7, we will uninstall your cabinets, take them to our facility, prepare them and repaint them with our water-based, low VOC lacquer and solvents that are very consumer and household-friendly. It’s usually applied to furniture by spraying or wiping. If it comes to using polyurethane on floors, everyone wants that poly to be more durable. There are water-based polyurethanes not suitable for application over lacquer or shellac. If you have used water-based paint for your cabinets, please tell me how the finish is holding up. Difference between the water-based and oil-based polyurethane. Solvent-based polyurethane is suited for cabinets coated with oil-based paint. Water-Based Polyurethanes. Water-based polyurethane is transparent and leaves little to no odor when applied. It takes more coats of water based poly to reach the same level of toughness compared to the solvent based. As most polymers are, polyurethane is either oil-based or water-based. So, use either a water borne or oil based paint for this method (see below section). Oil-based paints are considered more durable as compared to water-based paint. So really price is not a significant deciding factor either unless you’re doing it yourself. It dries faster, as well. However, make sure to pick the right one for your tabletop. Featured Answer. There are hotly debated discussions over which reigns supreme, oil-based or water-based polyurethane. These are the more obscure variants of polyurethanes that have a water base rather than oil. Fast-drying water-based polyurethane and its newer water-based oil-modified cousin can be applied with a fine-bristle brush, foam roller, spray, or rag. Water-based polyurethane contains less odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than its oil-based counterpart, so less hard on your lungs and your nose. When using cans, make sure that you don’t shake them since this will produce bubbles that can appear in the finish. The reason for its usage on wood is its transparency and water-resistance. Of course, you need to read the label to determine the application options. But oil-based paints take longer to dry, these paints are made of alkyd (synthetic) or linseed (natural) oils. Traditionally, this gloss appearance was desired, but for a more muted, softer look, these water-based polys keep your wood grain more discrete and subtle. Here is another detail. For that, many suggest oil-based polyurethane in comparison to water-based poly. There are also the best water based polyurethane for cabinets that give you explicit results in the most difficult parts of your home. In both cases, it is better to apply thinner coats when working with vertical areas so that there are minimal drips or runs. The water-based polyurethane requires several layers to give you the right finish, whereas the oil-based polyurethane needs fewer coats to obtain the same finish. Water-based Polyurethane. 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. So, after all, is said and done, oil-based polyurethane is a better choice than water-based polyurethane for some projects. Quality water based polyurethane can cost 2-3x that of oil based. Most polyurethane finishes can be wiped on with a sponge brush, lint-free t-shirts or a sprayer. July 18, 2000. Can we get an automatic comment of "It depends.." added to every question about finishing? Polyurethane varnish is one of the best finishes for a countertop -- it's durable and, when applied properly, can be just as subtle as lacquer. They're best for keeping your wood tone from popping and becoming very stark, high-contrast, and glossy. Oil-Based Paint . In fact, oil-based as well as water-based polyurethane can be used on all types of wooden floors but there is a noticeable difference on the floors when either one is used. It also comes in two varieties which is the satin or gloss finish similar to polycrylic. Water-based Polyurethane vs Oil-based Polyurethane Water based polyurethane is much lower in toxicity than its oil-based counterpart, and produces significantly less odor. Graphus Graphus. Just don’t finish your work outdoors, where you can’t control dust, bugs, and other flying finish-runners. However, water based polyurethane has naturally less smell, which is a great thing for you. Do you want oil-based, water-based, or another type of polyurethane? Shellac vs. Polyurethane: Colors. As a result, water-based polyurethanes are a better choice for light and graying woods. Can I apply water-based polyurethane over an oil based stain? The first kind of polyurethane is water-based polyurethane for floors which has a clear finish when it is applied directly onto the wood. Curing Time. Thus, your project timeline increases and there is a chance that bugs may attack the table before it dries correctly. Water-Based v/s Oil Based Polyurethanes for floor. Thanks. Oil-based paints also fade less with time and are easier to keep clean. Clear finishes include lacquer, shellac, varnish, tung and Danish oil, linseed oil, as well as polyurethane. Water based polyurethane can dry pretty fast, which is amazing. I have researched on the paint forum and there are differing opinions. However with oil based, because of the added dry time requiring repeat visits, the contractors’ price is often about the same for both. Sometimes it is used for decking as well, although this is usually true of the oil-based versions since they are more weatherproof and resistant to water and extreme temperatures. Let us first take a look at the water-based variation of polyurethane and discover its strengths as well as its weaknesses. Water based poly tends to cost more than oil based poly. Oil-based poly is much more affordable compared to water-based poly, especially if you are comparing the oil-based poly to a high-quality water-based poly. It will also provide a longer lasting protection which will cut the costs even more. Water based vs. oil-based polyurethane can both be applied by brushes and spray-on cans. Also, consider whether you need satin, gloss, or semi-gloss to avoid any issue. 50k 2 2 gold badges 35 35 silver badges 114 114 bronze badges. Prime with a stain blocking primer like KILZ. The amber tint of aging oil-based polyurethane products tend …