Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Poly - Oil or Water based?

Which provides the toughest, longest lasting finish for hardwood floors?

I had a floor refinisher, tell me that they use the Bona products and that the water based is just as strong as the oil based! Is he steering me to water based becuase its easier for him to apply the two coats?

http://www2.bona.com/?sr=us

Thanks,

This question comes up on a regular basis, but it is often a presonal preference, and many of us old guys still think oil based is harder and richer looking. Oil takes much longer to dry and cure and the odor is high, so it takes longer to do the job by several days to a week. Oil will darken the wood and will yellow somewhat, but I like that. Water based can often have 2-3 coats in a day(long day), which means the job is done quickly. Water will not change the color of the wood, so the finished product is usually what you see before the finish, and the odors are low.

I too prefer the oil base for durability and appearance. There are some 2 part water based coatings that wear well.

I think more people will say the oil based provides a more durable finish than water, but the downside, as Bill said, are the orange color it adds, the odor and the longer dry time. Latex paint has imporved to the point it's just about topped oil based in quality, but I think the answer is more uncertain with poly.

I haven't had anything to do with applying an oil based floor finish but the water based one we used 8 years ago has stood up fairly well.
It is now due for a tune-up but after raising three kids in a rural setting I would not expect oil based would have done much better.

I also like the clarity of the finish.

Which provides the toughest, longest lasting finish for hardwood floors?

I had a floor refinisher, tell me that they use the Bona products and that the water based is just as strong as the oil based! Is he steering me to water based becuase its easier for him to apply the two coats?

http://www2.bona.com/?sr=us

Thanks,

I've done a lot of work with urethanes and have now seen the light. I just recently complete a maple staircase using oil based stain and water based poly.
Originally I had reservations because of the gel time on water based products.
After completing the 10 step method on this staricase, I am convinced on water based products. No smell, no messy thinners etc.
This stuff is hard as a rock and smooth as glass.

I am a changed man.