How to Apply Polyurethane to Floors?
Going straight – always try to follow the manufacturer’s instructions accurately. It is better to apply more than one coat, while three coats offer the best output on your wooden floor. Here is what to do:
Preparing
Start with removing moisture or humidity from the area where the polyurethane will be applied to the floor – don’t keep the doors and windows closed. Wear socks instead of shoes, as using shoes will leave marks on your floor permanently. Take a 25-grit to 400-grit screen (based on the particular floor and manufacturer’s instructions), and sand for a while before applying the first coat.
Applying
Get the right option for your floor. Open the pot, get the finish, mix nothing such as water, and apply the first coat to the floor using a quality floor finish applicator. You can consider several options for the purpose, such as brush, roller, t-bar, pad, or foam.
To dry, it may take at least 2 hours (for water-based poly) to 4 hours (for oil-based poly) if you apply airflow or a few hours more. It is very unlikely for the floor to be smooth after the first coating. Sand and screen the coat once it dries (if necessary) before applying the second coat.
Apply a second coat then, and for some floors (based on wood type and condition), this should bring the ultimate result. If it still does not look perfectly smooth, sand again before applying the third coat – things are perfect now!
Curing Time
Our experiment shows you can get it ready to walk within 5 hours of applying the last coat (if water-based) to 12 hours (if oil-based), although 24 to 72 hours should be your entry point based on type of poly and floors. However, waiting one week to let it fully cure before you start living inside the room or moving furniture on the floor should be the best thing you can do.
Polyurethane for Wooden Floor
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