Thanks Cindy. I will definitely invest in a respirator. A couple weeks after we do the initial 2 coats, DD has school vacation so we thought we'd do the final 2 coats and go to my in-laws for several days while it cures. and no, we won't stay in the house after we apply it. :) marie

We have butcher block counter tops including around the sinks in the kitchen and the bathrooms. I used Waterlox on all of our butcher block counter tops two years ago. We loved it at first. But after 2 years it has some deep stains that can only be removed by deep sanding down to the wood. This brown stain is caused by getting baking soda based cleaning and bathing products on the surface especially around the tub and the sinks. This causes a medium brown stain wherever the baking soda water splashed onto the surface that must be sanded out. There are also some light colored stains around the sinks that I don't know what caused them. These look like water marks, but I don't think they are caused by water. Possibly these are caused by splashing mouth wash containing alcohol, but am not sure. I would not use Waterlox again if I had to start over. I would use an oil based exterior poly urethane made specifically for wood floors that can also be used on counter tops. Just my opinion. Try a small spot to experiment.

I seem to be seeing that people use four coats when finishing with Waterlox. We have a floor bid that only includes three coats. Wondering if three will do. We will probably go with the Waterlox glossy for the final finish.

You should really apply poly to the sample to get a true read of the finished look. As soon as I apply stain, it’s darker initially but the stain will lighten a bit after it is dry. Then when you apply poly, the stain will darken just a bit. Plus, the poly itself is not completely clear. It usually has a slight amber hue depending on the brand. Also, applying the poly enhances the wood making it look richer.