What is the best polyurethane for floors? Below we review our top 11 Polyurethanes that we think work best on floors so that you can find the right one for your job. But firstly, let’s discuss why you might want to use polyurethane on your floor in the first place.
Polyurethane Best Polyurethane For Floors In 2024 – Introduction
Have you ever observed the use of polyurethane in our day to day lives? Did you just wonder? Yes, we use them in our daily lives like refrigerators, freezers, footwear, automobile, floors and furniture etc. Polyurethane is the coating that will give protection to the floors or any other thing and the main aim behind using polyurethane is to keep the ultimate charm of the objects for a longer period of time.
The most difficult part is to choose the best quality polyurethane for floors because it is the product that will leave its impact on how your floors will look and how long it will last. This article will give you the complete review about the best polyurethanes that are available, its type and where you can buy it from.
Contents
The 12 Best Polyurethanes for Floors Are:
| 1 | Zar Poly | Check Price Here |
| 2 | Rust-Oleum | Check Price Here |
| 3 | Dura Seal | Check Price Here |
| 4 | Deft Defthane | Check Price Here |
| 5 | Minwax | Check Price Here |
| 6 | Bona Traffic HD | Check Price Here |
| 7 | Bona Mega Wood Floor Finish | Check Price Here |
| 8 | Minwax Water Based Polyurethane | Check Price Here |
| 9 | Loba 2K Supra | Check Price Here |
| 10 | Varathane Crystal Clear Polyurethane | Check Price Here |
Best Oil Based Polyurethane For Floors
ZAR OIL BASED POLYURETHANE WOOD FINISH
The most talked feature about this product is its dry time; it dries quickly that is within two hours or so. It is best for indoor use. It gives you a smooth floor so one can experience the risk of falling and causing injury. The product does not darken the wood as you might expect. So, People who are satisfied with the lighter colors can opt for this product.
PROS
- It dries out fast with no brush marks
- Strong finish
- It is great for hardwood floors, cabinets, furniture, and woodwork
- Smooth and leveling formula
CONS
- Interior use only.
- It is highly flammable
- It does not darken the wood.
RUST-OLEUM VARATHANE POLYURETHANE
It is oil-based polyurethane designed to provide abrasion and scratch resistance to stained wood surfaces. Also, it is not recommended for linoleum, vinyl or glazed tiles and metals.
Just like ZAR, this product also dries out fast within two hours or so. The drying time can also vary depending upon the temperature and humidity. It is suggested to read instructions and then apply carefully to achieve the best results. You can also contact true worth homes, importer of this product for any query related to its application or anything.
PROS
- Its thick consistency prevents it from soaking
- Dries quickly
- The smell is not strong as others
CONS
- It is expensive
- All wood does not suit this satin finish.
DURA-SEAL POLYURETHANE
The product is available in four sheens namely satin sheen, semi-gloss sheen, gloss sheen, matte sheen.
DuraSeal poly is a well-known brand for flooring, gives wood floors its depth and richness while protecting them from dent sand spills. It is harder and has the best durability among oil-based poly all that it requires is its multiple coats to achieve the level of durability that it saying.
mostly, satin base is suggested as it gives high glossy stunning look to the floors but with time it can dull the gloss because of high traffic. If any piece of gravel or anything like that stuck through your shoes and you walk over through those floors, it might get scratch on the floors. So you can eliminate this by renovating your floors. Rest talking about the durability, it is amazing. It is hard and super easy to clean. And it does not react with VOC’s.
PROS
- It has a great durability.
- Gives glossy finish
- Super easy to clean
CONS
- Require multiple coats.
DEFT DEFTHANE INTERIOR EXTERIOR CLEAR POLY
Defthane provides protection from water, sun and wind damage. This has both UV absorbers and UV inhibitors to give UV protection and prevents fading and discoloration caused by the sun. It is ideal for stained or bare wood surfaces and ideal for wood doors, interior floors, furniture, garage, doors etc. It also protects metal from rust. It is waterproof but still is not good enough to use as marine paint. Even if you tend to use, use it on a boat or things that are above the waterline. Cost is reasonable and this product can be used on any surface.
It is not environmental friendly. Amazon does not ship to those countries where they have stringent environmental laws like Alaska, California, Hawaii and New Hampshire.
It can be recoated in 6 hours. The product has also got bad reviews from the customer over the formation of bubbles and cracking.
PROS
- It Can be used on top of any existing surface or coating
- It Protects against the sun, rain wind damage
- It enhances both finished and unfinished wood.
- It takes longer dry time
- The product is of high-use areas like floors
- It has UV protection
CONS
- It leads to bubbling and cracking
MINWAX SUPER FAST DRYING POLYURETHANE
The product is available in three bases: Gloss, Semi-Gloss, and Satin.
The product gives superior durability for hardwood floors. It has an optimized drying technology because of its thin coat application which enables you to recoat faster thereby no wastage of time. It provides slightly amber tone to the floor. It states 3 hours drying time but as per consumers’ review, it is recommendable to keep it undisturbed for 24 hours.
This product has more demerits than the merits. Two major issues are bubbling and its durability. Customers who have used this product reviewed that the product got hardened in the can before it could be used.
Many people recommend not using Minwax for polyurethane. Duraseal is highly preferred over other poly.
PROSs
- It is Specially designed for the use on floors
- It dries out fast. Hence, it can be recoated quickly.
CONS
- The product has many bad reviews hence not recommendable.
Best Water Based Polyurethane for Floors
BONA TRAFFIC HD
It is the best water-based polyurethane, formulated for high traffic commercial and residential hardwood floors. It is a two-part product as it comes with a hardener that is used to mix in and makes hard and durable. It is said to be the best product for gray and whitewash stains as well as maple as it ambries (or yellows).
The product is environment-friendly, has very low volatile organic compounds and has low odor. It is a green guard certified which means it is safe for kids and pets.
BONA MEGA WOOD FLOOR FINISH
The product is available in satin, gloss, and semi-gloss. There are no additives to the mix. Thus, it enhances the natural wood color to show the natural beauty of the wood.
It is advisable to apply three coats for the best results. At first coat, the floor will remain rough but after the second and the third coat, the floor looks perfect. The floor gets hard and ready to use within a few days.
The directions for using Bona Mega are easy to follow. Even on high traffic floors, this poly gives outstanding results. It is, however, advisable to apply it on a warm or humid day. While applying the poly, you should be wearing socks as shoes will leave permanent marks on the floor. The poly produces nearly zero odors, and your pets are safe around the floor even immediately after application. In this regard, people with breathing problems can apply the poly without facing any difficulties.
PROS
- It is easy to apply
- Has low odor
- Looks great on the hardwood floor
- It dries quickly
- It is very durable
CONS
- Should be applied in multiple layers to produce excellent results
MINWAX WATER-BASED POLYURETHANE
The product is available in clear satin, clear semi-gloss, and clear gloss. Minwax Polyurethane has an ultra-fast drying protective topcoat with superior durability for interior wood. It is recommended for use on interior wood surfaces such as doors, paneling, trim, cabinets, furniture, and sure floors. It can be cleaned easily with warm water and soap.
It can be recoated in as little time as two hours as it has little volatile organic compounds. It has a low odor, dries fast, and is crystal clear.
Application: it is easy to apply this oil-based polyurethane. It is advised to stir before use as the content might settle at the bottom. Begin with drying of the surface. Then the second step is to do Sanding is important to do to get that smooth surface then clean the surface and wait for it to dry. Then apply poly and it is recommended to apply three coats .you can use foam brush, synthetic bristle brush, or a lamb’s wool applicator for applying the polyurethane.
LOBA 2K SUPRA
As said it is the water-based poly, therefore, it has great wear resistance. It is suitable for all wood floors and it also be used as a recoat on cork floors or cured wood. It has excellent chemical resistance, durability, scratch protection and elasticity.
Available in semi-gloss, satin, matte
The consumers love this product because it is so easy to use, it dries and cures quickly. If you use this product then you don’t have to worry about foaming, lap marks or yellowing.
After applying this poly, you will get smooth and silky floors. As said it dries quickly, you can start walking on floor in 24 hours but wait for three days to put up your furniture so that it can cure so well. It can work as a sealer over cork floors.
In case you are in a rush to move in to your home, using water-based poly can reduce time as compared to oil-based, so this is the one merit that you can experience.
Most people tend to go for satin and matte finish because it gives a grandeur look. But also keep in mind that water-based are little duller than oil-based, so gloss and after color can vary little.
Little things about whether to apply primer or sealer, yes one has to apply primer or sealer depending upon the wood. This product calls their sealer as primer only, so do not get confused. Like on hardwoods you have to apply sealer as the first coat as this sealer will penetrate into the wood and gives more elasticity as the sealer will allow the wood to move without breaking the poly bonds. Hence creates a thin buffer layer.
If you doing with stain then first apply stain then there is no need to apply sealer, if you want then you can apply on top of satin. But it can cost both your money and time.
VARATHANE CRYSTAL CLEAR POLYURETHANE
It is designed to provide excellent protection for all your wood projects from scratches and stains. It is ideal for interior projects such as interior stained, bare or painted wood surfaces, including furniture, doors, windows, cabinets and trim. It is crystal clear, odorless and provides for easy water clean-up.
Finally, the choice is yours to select the best premium products for floors. As said there are both oil-based and water-based each having their own characteristics. The decision on whether to use water-based or oil-based polyurethane depends on what kind of finishing you want.
Tips to consider when buying Polyurethane for floors:
- Cost: water-base is cost-effective as compared to oil-based and it is durable, cures easily and looks best.
- Water-borne polyurethane is highly regarded as the dry fast and allows you to use your furniture within a few days after application. For high traffic floors and heavily used furniture, poly with ultra-fast drying speed should be considered.
- Look for poly that gives ease of cleaning.
Read Also:
Best Brush for Staining Wood
Spar Urethane vs Polyurethane
About The Author: Hi There! I’m Dave. I’m a certified millworker and carpenter, and have been working in the industry for over 10 years. I created this website to pass on my knowledge so that other enthusiasts, no matter what their skill level, can enjoy the craft as much as I do. I hope you enjoy!
