Oil vs. Water-Based Wood Floor Finishes

Water-based wood finish

What is better- water based or oil based finish? I am asked this question all the time. Both have their pluses and minuses, but here is what I usually say: There are three main differences between oil and water based finishes. First, is the look. Water based is going to give you a more natural look on the floor. It is not going to tint the floor really. It will bring out the natural colors of the wood. Oil based finishes will tint the floor a little bit and give it a darker look. It brings out a lot of amber tones in the wood. Because it is a little darker people usually like it better then water based. Second, oil takes longer to dry then water based. Oil usually takes about 8-12 hours to dry, versus water based, takes usually takes 2 hours to dry. So some times it is more convenient to use water based become of the dry time. Lastly, in general, oil based finishes are a little more durable . There are a lot of different products in both water and oil, you can get a really strong water based finish with a hardener in it, or a lower grade oil based finish. But when your comparing apples to apples, if you want a more durable finish, I would use oil. 8 of 10 customers will use oil, 1 will use water based, and 1 will want to stain the floor. If you have any questions ask your local Minneapolis floor sanding and refinishing expert.

Oil-based wood finish