Q: I have natural maple floors and need to finish some unfinished nosing. My question’s about matching stair nosing to my floor. Some paint stores are unsure if the finish on the floor is water-based or oil-based. One place tried water-based and oil-based Sico natural polyurethane on a piece of wood to try and determine which it was and to me it’s neither one.
How can I tell if the finish on my floor is a water-based or oil-based polyurethane? How can I match the finish for my nosing perfectly with my floor? Which is a better finish water or oil? Can you recommend a finish made by a particular company?
A: Water borne finishes tend to stay very light with little to know ambering. You may have a difficult time matching your maple nosing ‘perfectly’ regardless. You can have such a wide range of colours in maple as it is. I’m an old timer so still prefer oil modified finishes both for their ease of use and appearance. Which is better? It depends on the situation. In some cases, water borne will be the better choice. I love Poloplaz finishes and the company too. Their Primero omu is excellent and I’ve heard nothing but good things about their 202 commercial grade waterborne.
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