Minwax "Polyurethane for Floors", Anyone use it yet?

[yy4me]

I gather this is a fairly new product only for floors and I'd like feedback if you have used it. We have a 200 year old house and are on the 3rd refinish of the heavily traveled kitchen floor (old soft pine). We've stripped the old surface again. Used Minwax regular Poly (3 coats) on the floor the last time and it lasted about 10 years except on the areas in front of the sink, refrig etc. We hope this new stuff is harder, we're too old for this. Spot refinishing was not an option here.

Getting the old stuff off has been a job but needed to be done. We don't expect to do this again. Is it as easy to work with as the regular poly? Bought a gallon yesterday and thought I'd better ask before opening it. Thanks in advance.

[Kolesar]

1. Sounds good. Glossy is better because it is stronger

The house I moved into had a "lower" grade of Minwax varnish and it scratches easily. I read the can and it is more of a "furniture grade" varnish. I don't remember if it was polyurethane or something weaker. But since yours says "floors", you ought to be ok. Use ventilation and eye protection, please.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. I've used it

the more coats you put on, the longer it will last.
just remember to give each coat plenty of time to dry in between.

:)

[Kolesar]

3. oil-based is tougher than water-based

I would use water-based if I did not have a choice. Like the previous poster said, lots of coats.

[Warpy]

4. I've used all sorts of things on wood floors

and water based polyurethane is the least obnoxious when the house is occupied (although you'd be wise to pack the pets into their carriers, put 'em outside, and then leave for a few hours while it dries).

Regular oil based poly is a little more durable, but you'd have to check into a motel overnight to avoid the fumes.

The most durable stuff out there used to be some stuff called Fabulon. It is incredibly toxic stuff. I once refinished floors in the whole downstairs of one of my smaller houses. All the windows were wide open. I did the last brush stroke as I exited the front door, turned around, and puked into the shrubbery. I don't even know if it's still around, but if you set up exhaust fans at the windows and planned to be gone overnight, it's the hardest finish you'll ever find.

My floors in that house were soft pine. If I had it to do over again, I might put a light stain on them and just let them wear naturally, dings, dents, foot traffic wear patterns, and all.

[Kolesar]

5. Camp in the backyard for a few nights.

Cook on a grill. Eat out of the cooler or live on jerky. The Boreal Avenger has spring fever.

[yy4me]

6. Job done, looks great. This product has a matte finish which

is good for our use. You are all right, it does smell to high heaven. Had everything open and well aired. As the stuff dried, the smell faded. Seems like a good product, certainly easy to use. We'll see if we get a good number of years from this as opposed to the regular poly. Thanks for all your advice!

[hippywife]

7. We have soft wide pine floors

that are as yet unfinished. It's the next project on our list. I think that in the high traffic areas, like in front of the kitchen counter and sink, I'm going to put down runners of some kind after it is finished. I definitely don't want to do this more times than is absolutely necessary.

[yy4me]

8. Just what I did. I like the look of plain wood flooring but this

has been a lot of work again. Bought an inexpensive 12" runner in a pseudo oriental design. It was inexpensive and if it gets too dirty from use, it will get trashed. It costs too much now to have rugs cleaned, this rug was only 19.95. I will try washing it myself in the bathtub but if that does not work, out it goes. We have a store here in Massachusetts called Building 19 and they sell cheapie rugs suited for this purpose.

[hedgehog]

9. Take it out in the back yard and hose it off.

You can scrub it with dish soap and a cement broom proabably, too.