How To Tell If Wood Floor Has Polyurethane

If a small amount of linseed oil applied in an inconspicuous area beads rather than absorbs then it is probably not an oil finish and is likely shellac lacquer varnish or polyurethane.

How to tell if wood floor has polyurethane.

There s an option for everyone. To take care of your furniture it can be important to know what type of finish was used on the wood if you suspect that your finish is polyurethane but not quite sure how to determine it here are a few tests you can perform on your furnish to tell if it s finish is polyurethane. Diyers have the choice of a water or oil based. If you can feel the graininess and texture of the wood the floor probably has a coating of penetrating oil and perhaps wax.

If a product is water based even paint rubbing the surface with a rag wetted with denatured alcohol will transfer either color or finish onto the rag. If it becomes tacky than it is shellac or varnish and if it beads it has a polyurethane. Identifying the finish on wood floors or furniture is necessary if you plan to strip and refinish the wood surface. How to apply polyurethane to wood floors 3 and save a shit ton of money with your boy from brooklyn chef shannon ambrosio.

You ll find it in. Polyurethane is a highly durable finishing material that comes in high gloss gloss or matte finishes. Test for wax by rubbing an out of the way floorboard with the edge of a coin and looking for telltale wax buildup on the. If the floor was installed and finished or simply refinished within the past 10 years it s probably covered with a polyurethane of some type.

Use a clean cotton swab dampened with acetone and apply in an inconspicuous spot. The easiest way to test a floor finish is to run your hand along the surface of the floor. Manufacturers make polyurethane from synthetic resins that are resistant to water and most solvents. Polyurethane shellac varnish and lacquer use a cotton swab with acetone on it and apply to the wood.

That said it could be an oil or waterborne urethane the latter of which have become popular for their lack of solvent odor and fast drying properties. Oil based polyurethane has a slight amber or yellowish tint and can yellow even more over time which adds a bit of rich warm amber color to the floors if that s your goal.