Almost every other hard flooring needs some polishing after some specific time to gain a fresh look. Ideally, coats of poly on hardwood floors are used to polish the hardwood flooring, especially when you get it refinished or re-coated so that your flooring could last longer and continue adding beauty to the entire space. However, poly is used to make the wood flooring shiny and graceful, but it is recommended to not go for so many coats.
The specific coating should be applied for the perfect results. So, here in this article, you will get to know how many exact coats of poly should be applied on the floor. There are different types of poly and there are obviously different numbers of layers that should be applied for each.
Different Types of Polyurethane Used to Polish the Hardwood Floor
As there are different numbers of coatings for each polyurethane type. So, most often people get confused about how many coats of poly on the SPC flooring should get applied. Well, the following are the two most common types of polyurethane which are used to polish the floor. And, here is well explained how many coats of which type should be applied, so that your flooring could gain an attractive look.
1. Water-Based Polyurethane
Water-based polyurethane is most commonly used to polish the wood surfaces of furniture items or even flooring. Actually, they are much easier to use and clean off, as well. They give a proper neat finishing after getting applied, and your entire space gets transformed into a whole ravishing place. Moreover, water-based polyurethane provides a protective layer over the surface of wooden flooring, which protects it from quick wear and tears.
In this way, your flooring lasts longer, and that’s why in every refinishing or re-coating process, polyurethane is always used. The floor starts to gain a shiny look and gives a feel of freshly installed flooring. Thus, your space becomes worth appealing.
Also, it dries out quickly, giving a perfect finishing look. You can use it even on the doors, cabinets, other raw or finished wood surfaces. Now, if we talk about the coating of water-based poly on the floors, your beautifully designed floor should get a minimum of three coats of it for better results. As water-based poly is much thinner than oil-based poly, there could be the need for some more coating layers for a perfect finishing look, if the floor is too old.
2. Oil-Based Polyurethane
Unlike water-based polyurethane, oil-based urethane is much harder to work with. But, if you compare it with water-based poly, it is much more durable and is water-resistant. It gives a more perfect finishing on the vinyl flooring than the previous one and is also sustain or scratch resistant, thus making itself much more appealing in the entire market. Talking about its difficulty level, you won’t easily get rid of it once it gets dry on your hands, as it is not easy to get cleaned.
Also, it has a very strong smell, so you might have to use a protective mask while working with it. Moreover, it is recommended to use it in high-traffic areas, where durability matters. Use these amazing oil-based polyurethane on the staircase, hallways, living areas, etc. Because these are the places which are more exposed to the high-foot traffic.
Coming forward to the coating glares of oil-based poly on the floor, it is highly recommended to stick with only two coating layers of it. Because they are much harder to get cleaned off and are much thicker than water-based polyurethane. One coat is enough for the sealing, which will act as the protective layer, and the other one is for the perfect refinishing look.
Give Time to Let the Poly Get Dry While Coating
When you start the application of poly on the floor, it is recommended to do the process slowly. You have to wait after applying the first coat of poly on the floor, before applying the second coat so that it could get dry enough to take the other layer on it, perfectly. If you are working with water-based polyurethane, then it will be better to wait for at least six hours before applying the second layer on the first one.
On the other hand, if you are working with oil-based polyurethane, you should wait for at least 24 hours to apply the second coating layer on the hardwood floor. Although, it highly depends on the temperature and humid level.
Moreover, if you want your hardwood flooring to be much stronger and last longer, then have a time gap of almost 48 to 72 hours between each coating, no matter if it is water-based or oil-based. After applying the first layer, check if the poly is still tacky to touch or not. If not, then you are ready to apply the second coat over it.
To Sum Up
At the end of this article, I hope that now you have a complete idea about how many coats of poly on hardwood floor used. And, also how long you should wait after applying the first layer of poly on the floor, before applying the second cot over it, for better results. Consider the above-mentioned points and get a feel of freshly installed hardwood floor which amplifies the beauty of your home decor at its best.
