While leaving wood floors unfinished isn’t uncommon, many choose to finish for the sake of keeping floors durable, stain-proof, and long-lasting. Once you opt-in for that extra layer of protection (and insurance), most remodelers find themselves stuck between a water and oil-based finish. Rest assured, there’s no difference in durability. But there is a difference.
So what’s better, water or oil-based finishes for hardwood floors?
Neither option will leave your flooring worse for wear, but there are factors to consider like budget, wood selection, and even your zip code. Regardless, both options prevent things like dust, animal fur, and wine stains from seeping into your beautiful hardwood floors and compromising their elegant appearance and longevity.
What Does It Look Like?
Chances are, you went with hardwood floors because you love the look and feel of a classic, natural material. But choosing a floorboard material isn’t the end of your design journey. The finish you choose can dramatically alter your home’s look and feel. Not to mention, one finish often compliments specific wood types better than its counterpart.
For example, oil-based finishes work nicely with Walnut, Red Cedar, or Brazilian Cherry – woods with natural color. That’s because oil-based finishes accentuate rather than diminish those natural hues. Regardless of wood type, oil finishes dry with a rich warm tone that darkens a wood’s natural color as the years progress.
On the contrary, water-based finishes dry clear. This clear shine will stay colorless and reflective for years to come. Water-based finishes work well with colorless woods or woods with primarily white or gray hues. In fact, if you’ve chosen a gray-stained, white-stained, or white-washed floorboard, oil-stained finishes will turn them yellow, and that harsh yellow hue only darkens as the years go on.
Rule of Thumb
All in all, if you’re looking to darken or enhance a wood’s natural colors, oil-based is your best bet. If you’re looking to keep colors as-is, water-based is the finish for you.
What’s Your Budget?
Aside from the general look and feel, your biggest concern is probably the price point. And if you thought each finish hit your bank account with the same ferocity, think again. In terms of affordability, oil-based finishes are the bargain brand. Quality water-based finishes can be 2-3 times the price of oil-based, especially if that water-based finish comes with an added hardener. However, oil-based finishes take longer to dry, so when you factor in additional visits, the cost may be the same.
Where Do You Live?
It’s not often that location impacts interior design decisions. But when it comes to wood floor finishes, your zip code can make all the difference. What does that mean? Well, you can’t choose a finish if that finish isn’t as widely available, let alone legal. In California for instance, the government has banned oil-based finishes. In less extreme terms, oil-based finishes are generally less available in rural areas while urban areas lean towards water-based finishes. There are of course exceptions, but it’s helpful to understand what’s widely used near you.
How Long Have You Got?
Looking for finished floors today? A water-based finish can have a second coat applied the same day. On the flip side, oil-based floor finishes need the night to dry, meaning your finishing servicer has to return for a second or third time to complete additional coats. If you’re in a time crunch or just can’t stomach the thought of elongating your floorboard renovation process another hour, water-based will save you time and a second or third appointment.
Talk to a Wood Floor Professional
Far from a rash last-minute decision, the finish of your hardwood floor can transform the wood’s original color, your home renovation budget, and the time it takes to finish that final step in your floor’s remodeling. Regardless of the finish you choose, make sure you’ve considered every important factor before pulling the trigger and sealing the deal. A wood flooring company can provide useful advice and help you decide.
Cameron the Sandman in Michigan is a family-owned hardwood flooring company that can help with your flooring needs. Our hardwood flooring services include wood floor restoration, refinishing and repair, new wood floor sales and installation, staining and so much more. If you have questions or are trying to decide what to do with your wood floors, contact us and explore your flooring options!