Best Polyurethane for pine floor

Wooden floors take a lot of abuse as they are high-traffic areas. Pine being a softwood is more vulnerable to tear, wear, warps, and splits than hardwoods. To protect your pine wooden floor you need a good protective finish like poly. 

But with so many brands available in the market it can be hard to analyze each and establish the best polyurethane for pine floors. 

We did the legwork for you so you can easily find a good polyurethane that gives good protection for your pine floor.

But before we get to our favorite poly, here are some considerations when shopping for poly

Best Polyurethane for pine floor – Buying guide 

Pinewood can be used to floor various surfaces indoors in a domestic household, in outdoor areas, or in office space. There are several factors to consider when deciding the type of polyurethane suitable for which type of floor. 

First, deciding whether you need an oil-based or water-based polyurethane is essential.

Oil-based polyurethane

Oil-based polyurethane is the go-to poly for a sturdy protective effect. You can achieve a hard protective layer on your pine wood with only a few coats. The superior protective nature is why oil-based poly is regularly mentioned in talks of the best polyurethane for pine floors. Comes with a variety of sheens. However, it is common with oil-based poly for yellowing to happen. This is not a big issue if you stain your pine before applying a poly top coat.

Due to its higher protective qualities, an oil-based poly is your best choice for any high-traffic area such as an office space where people frequently walk over or a living area with a higher frequency of activity. 

This type of poly has several advantages:

• The best protection for wood
• Fewer coats required
• Self-leveling

Some of the disadvantages of oil-based polyurethane include

• Long drying times
• Not easy to clean, may require mineral spirits
• Pronounce odor which makes it uncomfortable to work with
• Tends to have a plasticky look
• Yellowing light lumber like pine

Water-based Poly

On the other hand, water-based polyurethane requires more applications or coatings to achieve the same level of protection as oil-based ones. Applying these polyurethanes is easy as they have a faster drying time and little to no odor. Moreover, once adequately applied to your pine floor, clean-up is easier as only water and soap are required in most instances. 

These types are suitable for use when a thinner coating layer is required. Moreover, their use is preferred because they are easier to handle due to their odorless quality.

The advantages of water-based polyurethane include

• Clear sheen 
• No smell
• Easy to clean
• Multiple purposes for thin and thick coats

Disadvantages of water-based polyurethane include

• Requires considerably more coats for a thicker finish
• Prone to scratches hence unsuitable for high traffic and high activity areas
• Not good for dark lumber as it has a greyish suspension when cured 

Water-based vs Oil-based

Sheen

Polyurethane for pinewood has other categorizations that meet your specific needs. For instance, there are categorizations based on sheen: The most common glosses are satin and matte. These can be found as both oil-based and water-based.

Drying time of poly

Once the sheen or appearance of the pine flow is decided, other considerations are the drying time of the poly. Different oil-based polys and water-based polys have been tweaked in various ways to achieve varying drying times. 

Ease of application

Ease of use and handling is other essential point to consider before deciding on the best polyurethane for pine floors. Oil-based polys produce a sharp odor which makes them uncomfortable to handle. Moreover, their application is more complicated compared to most water-based polys.

Based on these considerations above, our guide for best polys is as follows:

Best Polyurethane for pine floor – our top picks

1. General Finishes Enduro VAR II
2. Varathane Ultimate Oil-based Polyurethane.
3. Rust-Oleum 298273.
4. Minwax water-based Oil-modified Polyurethane.
5. Minwax Wipe-On Poly.
6. Bona Mega Waterborne Wood Floor Finish.

Best Polyurethane for pine floor – More detailed review 

General Finishes Enduro VAR II -Best Overall

General Finishes Enduro-VAR II Water-Based Urethane is a popular polyurethane finish on pine floors. It is a water-based polyurethane known for its durability and resistance to yellowing. It is available in gloss, semi-gloss, and satin finishes, allowing you to choose the level of shine that best suits your preferences and the style of your home.

One of the benefits of using General Finishes Enduro-VAR II on a pine floor is that it dries quickly and has low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it a more environmentally-friendly choice. It is also easy to apply and can be recoated in as little as two hours, making it a convenient choice for busy homeowners and professionals.

General Finishes Enduro-VAR II is a high-quality, durable polyurethane that is well-suited for use on pine floors. As with any polyurethane, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and drying times to ensure the best possible results.

Varathane Ultimate Oil-based Polyurethane – best oil-based polyurethane for pine floors

Varathane Ultimate Oil-based Polyurethane is an oil-based poly that can be used on pine wood flooring. This specific poly stands out from the crowd because of its superior qualities, making it a top choice for softwoods such as pine.

The first advantage of using varathane poly is that it has the fastest drying time compared to other oil-based products in the market. Another advantage is that it provides superior protection to your pine floor compared to other products on the market. Aesthetically this product gives a better-looking sheen of a warm golden shine. 

Another benefit over other polyurethane products is that this particular one is self-leveling, meaning it does not require brush strokes when applied to the pine floor. Moreover, for the desired finish, you can apply a minimum of two coats of Varathane poly on your pine floor. 

Varathane poly exists in the water-based variety as well. The water-based variety of this product dries faster than the oil-based one. Additionally, it has a low odor, making it comfortable to work with. Water-based varathane poly is easy to clean as only soap and water is required.

Minwax water-based Oil-modified Polyurethane Protective Wood Finish

This poly is unique for the sheen it gives your pine floor and its considerably fast drying time. The time you would take to apply the second coat is only two hours. 

This poly is perfect for people that don’t want to stain their pine. When used on light woods, oil-based poly tends to yellow over time. But with an excellent water-based poly like Minwax, you do not have to worry about that.

Minwax highlights the natural color of your pine floor, leaving the original appearance more enhanced and highlighted. This is our Minwax comes second as our best polyurethane for pine floors.

Like Varathane, this poly is easy to clean up with soap and water. The resulting protective qualities of this poly last for a long time after application with deterioration of the pine floor or compromising the appearance of the wood. 

Being water-based means that this poly has a low odor making it easy and comfortable to work with. Minwax is also a reputable brand widely recognized by amateur and professional woodworkers. 

Bona Mega Waterborne Wood Floor Finish 

If price is a consideration, then Bona Mega is the best water-based polyurethane for your pine floor.

Bona Mega is a water-based polyurethane with a relatively short drying time (2-3) hours. Also, it provides a unique amber sheen for your pine floor. This polyurethane is odorless, making it suitable to work with. 

Bona Mega is a certified product for environmentally friendly use. Moreover, the VOC levels meet the set specifications for safe use. Therefore this product is safe to work with. However, using safety ware when working with polyurethane is always recommended. 

Minwax Wipe-On Poly

This poly is best for several good reasons. First, it can be easily applied using a cloth without worrying about the drips or brush marks that are likely to occur when applying regular poly. 

Wipe-On Poly is thinned with mineral spirits therefore dries much faster and allows easy spread and application using a rag. 

The downside to this poly is its composition. While thinner is added to fasten the drying, it compromises the scratch and damage resistance abilities.

This poly is still ideal for minor touch-ups on spots that have received damage. 

Rust-Oleum 298273

For individuals after the practical benefits of poly, such as protection from scratch, wear, warps moisture exchange, and splits. This poly is the best choice for high-traffic areas such as pine floors where kids and pets are constantly walking on and playing on.

Has good value for money. Additionally, being of a clear tint, it highlights the natural color of the pine floor. Has no yellowing and requires fewer layers of coating. Rust-Oleum closes the list of the best polyurethane for pine floors at number 5.

Best Polyurethane for pine floor – A summary  

In determining the best polyurethane for your pine floor, it is essential to consider several factors. Pine floors can be installed in different areas with different activity levels contributing to scratch, wear, warps and splits. 

For instance, the pine floor for that cabin you rarely visit is less prone to the damaging effects of high traffic. For such a floor, a water-based poly would be the best choice, especially since water-based poly will not turn its natural color with aging. 

On the other hand, your pine floor at home is at a higher risk of damage due to kids and pets running, playing, and trying to scratch the pine. Such a floor requires a sturdier topcoat which is only provided by an oil-based poly. The choice of which type of poly to use depends on such considerations, as discussed above. 

check our guide on cleaning and storing brushes used in polyurethane.