If you are reading this post, chances are you want to know how long does it take for water based polyurethane to dry on hardwood floors. Maybe you have finished with installing a hardwood floor in your home and you have made up your mind to make use of a water based polyurethane on it. One information you might be struggling with is finding out how long it will take the water based polyurethane to get dried. If you are looking for answer to this question then you have found the right page, so continue reading this post with us.
The fact about water based polyurethane is it takes twenty eight to forty eight days to get dried, and water based polyurethane takes about thirty days to get completely cured. The truth is the type of polyurethane being used will determine how long it takes for it to get dried or get completely cured, and this is because there are two different types of polyurethane. This is because we have the water based and oil based polyurethane, and the weather condition of the environment where you are working also has a role to play in how long it will get dried.
Before we go ahead to talk about the two polyurethane and how long it will take for them to get dried, let us talk about polyurethane itself.
What Is Polyurethane
Polyurethane is simply liquid plastic, and polyurethane varnish is what is needed for coating woodwork. Polyurethane varnish is made using polyurethane resin that is dissolved inside of a liquid solvent which could either be water or oil. The good thing about polyurethane is it forms a shield that offers protection to wooden floors, and protecting the wood from scratches and spills everyday is the duty of polyurethane.
The easiest way of applying polyurethane varnish on wood is by pouring it on wood, or using brush to apply it on wood. The solvent will end up getting evaporated on time, and the poly resin will be left on the wood to form varnish. Depending on your specification, you will have to make up your mind whether you want to work with the water based or oil based polyurethane. Whatever decision you make has to be based on the floor type you intend working on and and time frame you will love to move into the floor you applied the polyurethane varnish on.
You can identify the water based polyurethane by the smell it produces when applying it, and it has a fast curing and drying time. Oil based polyurethane on the other hand takes about six hours to get dried, and the floor will end up looking not so tacky and dry. This is the point where you can no longer walk on the floors with bare feet or with shoes, because it will end up smearing the varnish. However, you will not have to wear socks and walk on the floor for as long as twenty four hours.
Oil based polyurethane has a longer curing and drying time, and it is considered as the most durable option. You will need a well ventilated area when working with oil based polyurethane, because oxygen is the catalyst that makes it get dried on time. However, oil based polyurethane is resistant to solvent, heat, and moisture.
How Long Does It Take For Water Based Polyurethane To Dry On Hardwood Floors
Polyurethane Drying And Curing Time
Every woodworker should not confuse both phases of polyurethane as they are the drying and curing time, and polyurethane is said to be dry when it is no longer tacky. It is also dry when it no longer needs you to apply another coat or looks wet, and this is the time when you can freely walk on the floor. When polyurethane has formed a shiny and rigid plastic barrier, it is said to be totally cured, and this barrier offers protection to the floor.
Polyurethane resin starts reacting with oxygen inside the chemical, and the oxygen will react with the polyurethane. There reacts in a cross linking of polymer molecules so they can bind more firmly together. Applying multiple coats means each resin coat will binds with the former, therefore resulting in the cross linking of each layer. These layers blend to form a dry sizeable layer that will offer protection to the floor.
How many coats you need to use is the next question that needs to be answered, and the type of finish you decide to use determines how many coats that needs to be applied. Using oil based polyurethane means applying more than one coat, as the first coat will quickly and easily get absorbed by the wood. This is why two coats will be required, and a third coating might be required at some point.
However, three is the maximum amount of polyurethane oil based coating, while water based polyurethane requires four coating. These are the coatings that will provide you with a perfect finish, and the factors that affect the drying and curing time of polyurethane is what we will be talking about in the next lines.
Factors Affecting Polyurethane Drying And Curing Time
Wood Type
There are woods which contains chemicals with the tendency to affect drying and curing time of polyurethane, and we are talking about woods like aromatic cedar or rosewood as they have natural oils that can delay polyurethane’s drying and curing time. These chemicals can serve as a major high drawback when waiting for polyurethane to get cured and dried.
Polyurethane Finish Type
There are manufacturers that add stains for color, solvents, and drying agents, and trust this post when it says these extras can affect the during and curing time of polyurethane. These extras might also cause you to change how you apply polyurethane.
Application Surface
Sanded and raw wood features open grain which makes polyurethane gets absorbed easily when applied on a surface, and applying subsequent coats means it will have a longer to get dried as well as a longer time to cross link.
Humidity And Temperature
21 degrees celsius remains the best temperature anyone can apply polyurethane on a surface, and this temperature makes sure polyurethane doesn’t take so much time to get dried. Drying time can be lowered if there is a decrease in humidity and an increase in temperature, so cold days can affect the drying time of polyurethane. This can also interfere the curing time of polyurethane.
Conclusion – How Long Does It Take For Water Based Polyurethane To Dry On Hardwood Floors
It is a glaring fact that there are some factors that might affect the drying and curing time for polyurethane, but the truth is water based polyurethane has a fast drying time compared to oil based water polyurethane. The water based polyurethane also has a fast curing time than oil based polyurethane.