« Plank Flooring | Main | Porcelain Tile Flooring »
Polyurethane Flooring
Polyurethane flooring is a protective coating that adds longevity to many floors. Consider lightweight polyurethane flooring for your next hard-surface floor to reduce damage from moisture, dirt and grime, and daily wear and tear.
Wood floors are the main type of flooring that needs polyurethane as a top coat, but polyurethane can be used in other situations too. For flooring that needs to be protected, polyurethane is an excellent choice.
>
You need to educate yourself about polyurethane before you make your purchase. You don't want to purchase the wrong kind of polyurethane because it could ruin your flooring. There are several pros and cons when it comes to polyurethane flooring, the pros including:
* Polyurethane protects almost any type of floor
* Inexpensive
* Durability
The problems associated with polyurethane flooring include:
* Dangerous to use
* Hard determine the best match for your floor
* Off gassing
Polyurethane is created by a very scientific process. It begins by reacting a polyol (an alcohol with more than two reactive hydroxyl groups per molecule) with a diisocyanate with of course the suitable additives to go along with it. Polyurethane is not only a chemical resistant coating but also it can be turned into specialty adhesives, foams of all kinds, and more. Our interest is in polyurethane, the floor coating.
Polyurethane is the toughest floor coating that you can find for any type of floor. It was created to resist chemicals, which means that it is strong enough to resist most liquids that hit your floor. This designed resistance makes cleaning polyurethane a breeze. Another advantage of polyurethane is the way it strengthens floor surfaces for a longer life. This coating will protect various floor surfaces and keep them looking good longer than many other coatings will.
Otto Bayer and his co-workers discovered polyurethane in 1937. Ever since its creation, polyurethane has been developed further. Otto Bayer discovered that it was more than just a floor coating, it could be much more because it can take many forms.
Polyurethane is a great coating for any type floor because of the strength that it contains. If it can resist chemicals and moisture of all kinds, it is a good choice in your laundry room, kitchen or bathroom. The best part about polyurethane is that is quite affordable. Wood of course, is the most common flooring that polyurethane is used for.
Polyurethane can be dangerous. You need to be careful to not inhale too much of it because the toxins can make you ill. It's also flammable, so be careful when using it near flames. Once it is applied, it's safe. It does off gas for awhile, so chemically sensitive people need to be aware of that as they make decisions about flooring sealants.
Polyurethane is a great choice to coat your floor with because it protects and strengthens the flooring surface. The added resistance will help your flooring survive almost anything that comes its way!
Comments
I have raw red oak floors laid down. I am concerned about the off gassing of oil based polyurethane because of a large 7 person family and had two questions for you:
1. How long does a professional grade polyurethane off gas for?
2. What do you think about the durability of AFM's polyurasil BP? It is water based and the company AFM is supposed to be the gold standard in green healthy floor products.
courteney at September 22, 2009 07:41 AM
Courteney,
There are now many products that are low-VOC, keeping off-gassing to a minimum. Much better health-wise than they used to be! Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane products have listened to their customers as well as other manufacturers. I recommend their water-based poly. I am not familiar with the AFM's polyurasil BP.
I have cabinets in the pantry that were finished with the oil-based version -- five years later I can get a whiff of the product in cabinets that aren't opened often.
The Flooring Lady at September 23, 2009 02:20 PM
I have wide pine floors, they are 5 yrs old ,minimun wear but I want to re do them do i need to sand the floor first before I put on poly?
mary at October 12, 2009 07:50 PM
Mary,
Unless the floors are unfinished you will need to screen or sand them so that they can accept the new finish.
Since pine is soft, and the floor is not in bad shape, I would recommend a light screening.
The Flooring Lady at October 14, 2009 08:55 AM
I have unglazed (un sealed) porcelein tiles much like the ones in the malls. I am tired of trying to strip and wax them every year. Can I use polyurethane on them and will it last?
Anne at October 14, 2009 01:18 PM
Anne,
Polyurethane will protect the floors, and will last longer than wax. However, it will eventually wear down. I would be sure to door mats to the areas that get heavy traffic, to keep off any excess dirt or grit to help it last longer.
The Flooring Lady at October 19, 2009 08:47 AM
I am buying a 1947 home. The owner that had the house 14 years ago said she removed carpet, sanded the floors down very thin, and they can't be sanded any more. They had polyurethane applied to them at the time. Before I move in should I "re-polyurethane" them? If so, how?
Gloria at October 22, 2009 10:33 PM
Gloria,
You shouldn't have to re-polyurethane unless the finish is worn and scratched.
But, if needed, you may still be able to screen the surface of the floor without removing any of the actual wood. The best way would be to remove the old finish and reapply.
The Flooring Lady at October 26, 2009 08:50 AM
Our office at work has a gym on the first floor, they are redoing the floor and using polyurethane. There alot of fumes that reach our offices, even though we open the doors it still is giving everyone headaches. They have been working on it for 2 wks and won't be done for a while yet. I had to stay home from work one day because I had a bad headache. What can I do to protect myself.
Barb at November 9, 2009 12:35 PM
Barb,
The best thing is plenty of fresh air. Not just in the area you are in, but the office as a whole. If it is giving everyone headaches, there are too many fumes in the building.
The Flooring Lady at November 13, 2009 09:53 AM
