Question for the Pros: I’m having a new solid maple floor installed in our completely gutted (and rebuilt) kitchen. I’d appreciate input about oil vs water-based finishing.
What are the pros and cons of each? The recommended coats for a kitchen? Any particular products or brands?
We do NOT want a high-gloss gym/bowling alley look, but we do want a durable natural finish. (We can deal with fumes etc if need be.)
Also, how much should sanding & finishing run in the NYC metro (burbs) area for 250 sq feet? Thanks.
Replies
It really depends on how you want your floor to look. Oil based finishes will yellow over time. So if youre looking to keep a whitish maple look youll need to go water bourne as it wont yellow over time. The upside of oil based is that it gives IMO a deeper (brings out the grain etc) finish whereas a water bourne wont give a deep look.
My own preference for maple is water based since i like the the white tone of maple.
Massive strides in water based finishes have made them viable where they once where just a novelty.
Best route i can give is to take some scrap flooring and try out an oil and water based system. Your floor finisher should be able to show you some various finishes.
You gave a lot of really helpful information. Thanks very much.
I wasn't aware of the yellowing effect with oil-finish. I just did a little web research, and learned that there's something called a moisture-cure urethane that comes in a non-yellowing and satin type. But it's got a strong odor on application. (I think we could put up with this if the finish is more durable than water-based urethane.)
I did 1200 feet of maple with water based poly two years ago in an apt I designed for a customer. I used it to keep the white tones of the maple though I usually like bringing out grain more. It fit the design and decor of this place but too many peoiple have asked me if it is real wood or not because the water based looks too plastic-ee. It's wearing OK so far but another customer who used it on cabinets ten years ago wishes he had used oil.
I don't have any experience with the moisture cured polys.
Post pictures of watever you do to share with us..
Excellence is its own reward!
I used both, first coat oil base poly followed by two coats water base floor finish. The oil brings out the grain and gives it a nice amber tone (if that's what you like) while the water base adds durability as top coats.
Put Water Lox MC urathane on my floors. 12 years latter still going strong. Used water base satin.