An oil based polyurethane will continue to amber and darken over time while water based poly will remain clear for the lifetime of the hardwood floor.
Water based vs oil based polyurethane for floors.
It s due to the chemical makeup.
There s an ongoing debate over which is more durable long lasting.
Oil based polyurethane cost less than water based.
Some still insist that durability is the main deciding factor between water based oil based polyurethane.
But on top of the initial cost you also need to consider that you will need to redo the whole job sooner you will probably redo them almost twice as often.
If you want your floor to stay the same color choose water based polyurethane.
The biggest difference is in appearance.
The water based material is more expensive so often you will pay around 10 25 more.
There are many factors to think about when deciding on the finish of your hardwood floor.
Oil based polyurethane or water borne polyurethane.
Water based and oil based polyurethane each offer good protection.
Oil based used to be unquestionably more durable.
Durability of water based vs oil based polyurethane.
Wood that is gray white or light looks better with a clear coat i e a water based finish.
Woods with a hint of yellow in them already such as pine fir and ash become even yellower with an oil based finish.
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.