Polyurethane is considered a varnish and varnishes are the best protection for wood. In the case of pine, poly will work remarkably well to build a protective film on top of your pine floorboards.
Therefore the question is, will polyurethane protect pine? the answer is a solid yes.
But before deciding on poly for your pine floors there are some things you should note.
In this article, we will cover all you need to know before using poly on your pine floorboards.
How do you polyurethane pine floors?
As we have highlighted above, poly is a perfect coat for pine floors offering protection from scratch, grime, and moisture exchange that cause splits and warping of pine floorboards. But the application of a finish is a tricky part that will cost you money if done wrong.
How do you polyurethane pine floors?
There are basically three ways that you can polyurethane pine floors: use of brash/rollers, use of spray equipment, or use of rags (in the case of wipe on poly).
We will discuss in short detail each method for a detailed guide of each method we have added links to resources with a detailed process for each.
using a Spraying system
Finishing your pine floor using a spraying system is perhaps the closest you can get to professional-grade finishing. A spray gun atomization makes poly dry very quickly a condition that makes possible application of multiple coats within a short span of time.
Spray systems may be expensive and intimidating to shop for one as a beginner. We have a detailed guide on purchasing the best spray guns for polyurethane.
Using a Brush to apply poly
If you can’t afford a spray system all is not lost. You can still apply poly with a Brush. The brush is okay to use and still produces a decent finish.
However, the process is slower and you may need to sand between coats. A steady hand is a key to applying poly without running into common poly application problems.
Not all brushes will perform well with poly. Some will give you a headache. We have a list of good brushes that work well with poly.
While applying with a brush consider the drying time of your chosen poly because the longer the drying time the more the wet poly is exposed to dust that later makes the finish looks “smoggy”.
When applying poly with a brush, be mindful of cleaning and storing your brush between coats to ensure a smooth finish.
Wipe on Poly
Perhaps the easiest to apply is the wipe on poly. It’s so hard to mess up with the wipe on varnishes. They are just like regular varnish but thinned with two parts mineral spirits. The mineral spirits make the poly dry faster. Wipe-on poly can be reapplied as soon as it dries to form a thicker coat.
Should you choose this kind of poly note that the protective quality of the poly is compromised in the process of thinning it to make it “wipe on/off” which is the ease of application angle.
What is the best finish for pine floorboards?
When it comes to finishes there are several ways to gauge performance but perhaps the biggest of all scales is protection. We want the best protection for the wood. though there are cases when protection is a secondary concern.
The best finish for pine floorboards is a topcoat varnish. Penetrating finishes like oils do not offer much protection to softwoods like pine.
Though the best finish for pine is varnish it may not be clear which one to pick when shopping. luckily we have a recent article on the best poly finish for pine floor that includes a buying guide.
Poly is a type of varnish and the names poly, polyurethane, urethane, and varnish are sometimes used interchangeably.
Will polyurethane protect pine A summary
Polyurethane is a great finish not only for softwoods like pine but also for hardwoods. Will polyurethane protect pine? yes, it will protect your pine floorboards extending their lifespan.
In this article, we tackled;
how to polyurethane pine floorboards using a brush, spray system, and rags.
We also discussed the best protective layer for pine floorboards.
We hope that we have equipped you better to make a solid decision in finishing or refinishing your pine floor.