Does Adding Extra Polyurethane Ruin Durability On The Floor

This is the length of time it takes for the oxygen induced crosslinking to occur.

Does adding extra polyurethane ruin durability on the floor.

Then the finish goes into a tacky or sticky stage for an hour or longer. The final step in finishing your wood floors will be to apply polyurethane to give it a protective layer and attractive sheen. My husband said that there is a water based polyurethane out on the market so we were wanting to know if we could just add a little to the paint to get a glossy shine to it. Adding a faster evaporating thinner doesn t speed this crosslinking.

First coat apply the first coat of polyurethane thinning it out with up to half of its volume of paint thinner. Let s start by looking at the operational differences. However you could use polyurethane but would need to take extra precautions to protect it. You ll know it s time to recoat when the floor looks dull and there are light scratches in the finish that aren t removed by a deep clean and polish.

Recoating is just what it sounds like. Take your time like the pros do and you ll create a durable smooth lasting finish. Generally you should recoat every 3 5 years depending on the amount of use your floors see. When you apply polyurethane you notice that it stays wet on the surface for a short time as the thinner evaporates.

And oil based polyurethane handles high. Adding a new layer of polyurethane coating to your floor. There are basically two types of polyurethane oil based solvent borne and water based polyurethane water borne. It s best to apply polyurethane to flat as in level surfaces so the finish can self level and is less likely to drip.

Oil based polyurethane is very durable making it the best choice for finishing wooden floors or furniture that gets a lot of use such as a kitchen table. Minimize this problem by applying thinner coats or by switching from standard brush on poly to a wipe on or spray finish both of which can be applied in very thin coats. This article does not cover pu cements or other types of pu coatings operational differences. When applying polyurethane on vertical surfaces you may experience drips or runs.

Epoxy floors are harder more durable and have a much higher compression strength than polyurethanes. Choose the right brush. When working with any finish. Polyurethane application tips how to apply polyurethane.

Wax isn t durable and will interfere with any subsequent coats. Use natural bristle for oil based finishes and synthetic filament polyester nylon or a blend of the two for water based and water based oil modified finishes. While this can be a pain it is a great way to make use of the durable finish that polyurethane provides without damaging the table.