Water based over oil based

[stuartpaul]

I have a floor to refinish that I originally used oil based on.

I now have to refinish and have a couple of bare areas where built in furniture has been removed.

The floor is generally in good condition and will be well sanded before refinishing.

I'm struggling to find an oil based floor varnish and worried that water based will peel as I can't see them 'sticking' together long term. It's not a high traffic area (bedroom) and I want to get it right as re-visiting such subjects is painful on the knees!

Anyone have any direct experience of water over oil based?

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Try asking the technical department of manufacturer of the water borne product you are considering for their recommendations or experience. There may also be technical data sheets on their website. On the whole though, most water borne finishes are finicky about what's underneath - they tend to adhere best when the initial coat is applied over a clean freshly prepared wood surface. However, one trick worth considering is that dewaxed shellac is a pretty good universal undercoat for just about any finish that might be applied subsequently. Dewaxed shellac, in common with other shellacs, adheres well to pretty much anything. So if you are suspicious of contaminants or other problems that might affect adhesion of a different finish, the dewaxed shellac will adhere, and the subsequent finish will then adhere to the shellac, even water borne finishes, which won't adhere very well to normal waxy shellac.

Overall, however, I suspect you'd be better off going with something compatible with your original oil based varnish, unless you're willing to try the shellac barrier coat idea in a small area, or snad back to bare wood and use a water based or borne product. Polyvine is one brand of oil based floor varnish, and you could check out Wood Finishes Direct to see if they have an oil based varnish. Slainte.

 

[stuartpaul]

Thanks Richard.

As you might guess I'm not really in to shellac for the floor. I have emailed Ronseal and waiting for a reply. All the websites I've looked at say if sanded down it should be OK but I'd like something a bit more defiinative!

If all else fails I think I'll take a chance and just use 'ordinary' oil based on top of a well prepared surface.

 

[Parquet Dave]

What I would use is a barrier seal, available from Morrells.
I think they might have renamed it an Isolating seal. Once you've sanded it apply a good coat of barrier seal, once dry 'de-nib' and then apply your water based finish as normal.

AS for water based seal, you could have a word with morrells as they do a good range, or alternatively look into Bona Mega or Junckers Strong if its for a domestic job.

 

[RogerS]

I also rate Smith and Rodger's stuff and for advice

http://www.frenchpolishes.com

 

[Dusty]

Hi Stuart , give Western Decorators in yeovil a call , they are a trade outlet but deal with the public too and no doubt will be able to help you .

Kind regards Dusty

 

[stuartpaul]

Thanks everybody.

Roger, - Smith & Rodgers actually have some solvent based floor varnish! I'll be ordering some soonest.

Dusty, - thanks for the tip, I'll give them a bell if I get stuck.

Interestingly conflicting advice from manufacturers. Morrells basically say strip back to bare wood and Ronseal say should be OK (!) given age of current finish.