The water based polyurethane (left) is lighter and duller than the oil based … Don’t confuse dry time with curing time which can take up to 1 month depending on conditions. There is no contest on the durability between the 2 options. Any dust will get caught and embedded in the finish. Still the best for high traffic areas like floors and heat resistance oil-based polyurethane has a higher solids content which means more leftover materials to seal and coat your wood when everything is dry which is why you can get away with only three coats versus the four coat minimum required with water-based polyurethane. On the downside, water-based poly tends to raise the grain of the wood, is susceptible to watermarks, and can be temperamental when applied over some wood stains. Dewaxed shellac is unusual in being compatible with both water- and oil-based finishes, and in fact is sometimes used as an "adapter" layer between those. Oil-based Polyurethane. Oil based poly can last around 10 years. It i… The general answer to your question is yes, you can apply one over the other - with a caveat - since oil and water don't mix you'll need a sealer coat in between the two. Learn more... Oil and water are famous for repelling one another and not mixing. What lasts longer on wood, penetrates, Etc. Not all paint thinners are suitable for oil-based polyurethane finishes. It has a more depth - both in color and shine and it looks the way we expect hardwood to look.Water based polyurethane has both a duller color and a duller finish. Water-based polyurethane has all the benefits of the oil-based ones, but it dries a lot faster and the odor is not as distinct. Polyurethane will not bond or grip well with the lacquer and will peel off over time with general use. In most cases, it is OK to use a water-based polyurethane over an oil-based finish in good condition. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Rent a power buffer and buy a fine … Oil based polyurethane looks better. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. usually yes— I do it all the time on my hardwood floors. Over 20 years we have used most brands of both Oil and Water based finishes. But, now due to all the improvements and added advantages to water borne polyurethane, my answer for whether to use oil or water based polyurethane really depends on the look/stain color choice, budget and type of wood being used. If you don't let the first coat cure, the next coat may not cure properly, resulting in a permanently tacky finish. This is because the curing process for oil … Even if the water-based polyurethane was applied after 1978, if the surface you are working on predates 1978, don't sand the surface until you have taken precaution for lead-based paint and stain. References. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Oil-based finish gives your wood hints of yellow. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg\/aid9049980-v4-728px-Use-Oil%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-over-Water%E2%80%90Based-Polyurethane-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"