Yes the oil based does smell strong but we would much prefer to get the best durability and so the tradeoff is worth it.
Oil based vs water based polyurethane for hardwood floors.
Excellent information about oil vs water based polyurethane.
The biggest difference is in appearance.
Here are our expert.
We ve given some key points to consider when making your decision oil based poly is simply more durable and lasts about twice as long as water based polyurethane.
At floor coverings international we offer both options but i strongly recommend oil.
Which type of polyurethane is better for refinishing hardwood floors oil based or water based polyurethane.
Water based and oil based polyurethane each offer good protection.
Polyurethane is actually the most durable hardwood floor finish.
It s due to the chemical makeup.
Oil based polyurethane or water borne polyurethane.
Oil based polyurethane is much higher in vocs so it has a strong odor and is not environmentally friendly whereas water based polyurethane is a low voc product with little to no smell.
We chose oil based for our hardwood floors which are being refinished right now.
This color difference is less noticeable over a stained hardwood floor but an oil based poly will still exhibit an amber hue that will continue to darken over time.