Hardwood floors... Which wood species?/Oil based vs. water based stain
rmverb
7 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
gregmills_gw
7 years agormverb
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Oil vs Water for Hardwood Floors
Comments (3)We went with 3 coats of waterbased lnl 1500. It is supposedly very strong and contains aluminum oxide. It's also supposed to have additional water resistance. I stayed out of the house during sanding, staining, poly, and returned home the day after the last coat of poly was put down and I found the fumes to still be very strong. However, not sure if it was the finish or the oil based stain. However, I am sensitive to smells. I don't even want to think about what the fumes would have been like if we did oil based poly. Water based cures faster than oil based. Good luck!...See MoreOil vs water based poly for hardwoods
Comments (7)Well, first, thanks to all for not abusing me for failing to realize there is a GW Flooring forum. Duh. I have hung out for years on the kitchen and appliance forums and just assumed this would be the place to post. Appreciate all of you helping despite the mistake. At any rate, I did search Bona Traffic and clearly it's the only water-based poly that gets props. Otherwise, oil based is regarded as more durable than other water based polys. Not sure if we'll like the yellowing with the oil, but the floor guy is willing to do some samples so we can see. Would you reject water based if they can't do Bona Traffic (which I gather requires some expertise, and not all vendors will use it) and go with oil based? The location is second floor hallways and master bedroom, not super high traffic areas, but also the stairways, which do get a lot of traffic. Finally, can Bona Traffic be used over existing water based poly? It's time to rescreen our kitchen floors, which were done with generic water based (before I got smart and posted on GW)....See Morewater based or oil based finish for wood floors?
Comments (11)This is an old post so I imagine this has long since been resolved for the OP, but since I just saw it, figured I'd throw our experience in anyway for future searchers on this topic: We have an interesting case study in that the floors in our house and our neighbors' identical house were both redone about five years ago (before we were on the scene, so don't know specific products used). The floors are identical hundred-year-old white oak installed at the same time (same family built both). Both were sanded down, neither was stained, and ours was finished with a water-based finish, theirs with oil-based. Both still look fine five years out (if you ignore the scratches from our dog!) but the looks are different. As someone noted above, the oil finish is a bit warmer and much shinier. I think it's fair to say it looks newer as a result, though how much of that is the wear-and-tear we put on our house (significantly more than our neighbors!) is hard to say. Our water-based finish is more matte-looking and pulls out more browns and beiges than yellows and reds (if that makes sense). There are apparently some differences in how you can clean and touch up the two finishes as well. (We use Bona hardwood cleaner on ours, which seems to work fine.) Anyway, just food for thought on this!...See MoreOil based poly vs. water based poly
Comments (2)I would have them redo it anyways. Your floors have a lot of chatter in the sanding. Waves throughout, which needs to be addressed. Bona Mega is a upgrade from Woodline and Traffic is a upgrade from Mega with HD being their top of the line finish. If, these finishes do not outperform Woodline. It is because it was improperly installed/applied. The contractor's drum sander is no good. It needs to be looked at. The drum or motor shaft is no good, causing the chatter. A hard plate system can remove it, but will take a lot of time based on the severity of the chatter....See Moregregmills_gw
7 years agopdmd
7 years agorjs5134
7 years agoBingham Lumber, Inc
7 years agojnavarro31
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agormverb
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agormverb
7 years agoAnnKH
7 years agoBingham Lumber, Inc
7 years agoNational Hardwood Flooring & Supplies
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Related Stories
DIY PROJECTSCool Tip: Mimic Stain With a DIY Color Wash
Get the look of an oil-based stain without all the bother, using this easy wash made with paint
Full StoryDESIGN DETAILSDesign Workshop: The Modern Wall Base, 4 Ways
Do you really need baseboards? Contemporary design provides minimalist alternatives to the common intersection of floor and wall
Full StoryMATERIALSWhat to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor
We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN12 Great Kitchen Styles — Which One’s for You?
Sometimes you can be surprised by the kitchen style that really calls to you. The proof is in the pictures
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHouzz Quiz: Which Kitchen Backsplash Material Is Right for You?
With so many options available, see if we can help you narrow down the selection
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESContractor Tips: Smooth Moves for Hardwood Floors
Dreaming of gorgeous, natural wood floors? Consider these professional pointers before you lay the first plank
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean Hardwood Floors
Gleaming wood floors are a thing of beauty. Find out how to keep them that way
Full StoryFLOORSWhat's the Right Wood Floor Installation for You?
Straight, diagonal, chevron, parquet and more. See which floor design is best for your space
Full StoryKITCHEN SINKSWhich Faucet Goes With a Farmhouse Sink?
A variety of faucet styles work with the classic farmhouse sink. Here’s how to find the right one for your kitchen
Full StoryFLOORSHow to Paint Your Hardwood Floors
Know how to apply nail polish? Then you can give your wooden floors a brand-new look
Full Story
National Hardwood Flooring & Supplies